I would like to tell you a story, my reader friend. The story is found in Acts 17 and is about a man named Jason. Jason lived in Thessalonica (emphasis on the I) during the time soon after Jesus Christ was crucified, when people began to believe in His resurrection and appearance as the Son of God. The apostle Paul had been preaching in Thessalonica and had influenced this man, Jason, even when the Jewish priests were not amiable to Paul's preaching.
Jason wanted to help Paul in his ministry and opened the doors of his home so that Paul, Timothy,
and Silas, Paul's working partners, could stay as guests there while they were in Jason's city.
Paul's preaching influenced many others, as well as Jason. Some Jews, God-fearing Greeks and a few prominent women were persuaded. But the temple Jews refused to listen and became so angry with jealousy that they rounded up some bad characters in the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. They found out where Paul was staying and rushed to Jason's house. Seeing Paul was not there, they seized Jason, dragged him and his other brothers all the way to the officials of the city, claiming that Jason and the others defied Caesar by saying there was another king, one called Jesus. Turmoil erupted at this, and all, including Jason, were forced to post bond for their "crime" before they were finally let go.
Jason hurried home and he and his brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast to be escorted to Athens while Silas and Timothy were instructed to join him there as soon as possible.
What must the whole ordeal have been like for Jason and his brothers? Obviously, the family believed what Paul and the others preached or they would not have protected them the way they did. Paul and his apostolic friends obviously believed in Jesus as the Christ or they would not have found themselves "out on a Thessalonican limb" as they were. Paul, of course, had many dangerous journeys during his time on earth, and all for the sake of letting the world know about Jesus Christ.
How difficult it must also have been for the Jewish priests to watch and hear these Christian upstarts changing the minds of the persons who have for centuries been idol-worshippers! Their own Jewish rabbis had not influenced them in all these hundreds of years. Jealousy must have burned in their spirits.
However, I for one had not remembered Jason and his brothers although I have read the New Testament and Thessalonica many times. Do you think a movie starring ....who? (I'll let you choose.)would get the point across that Jesus is the Christ of both the Old and New Testaments? No, I guess that has been done.
Frankly, I believe our world today needs something; maybe burning hearts desperate to tell the story of Jesus, just as Paul, Timothy and Silas had. They didn't hide behind a "blog." No, they got right up front in the Jewish temples and gave out the Word, including especially the various places in Scripture where Jesus was prophesized. Yes. But I guess it's going to take millions of prayers to get to the place in this world where more Pauls, and Timothys and Silases are willing to be harassed and beaten for Christ's sake.
There are a few of these people and places today. We call them missionaries and they go to countries where the people are hungry, for both food and for a savior. But mostly, where we need the biggest change is in the countries that have everything. Everything, that is, but faith in Jesus Christ.
I'm hoping that there are a few of you that haven't already skipped the last paragraphs here. And maybe you'll pray along with me:
Lord Jesus, we need to be toughened up so we can be less hesitant to tell others about You. And we hesitate praying for toughness, as we know it may lead to changes. We're kind of adverse to change as it always seems to hurt, even a tiny bit. But the world needs you and we're not so sure how to go about changing it. We are open to suggestions, but you might have to speak really loudly so we don't ignore them. If you think we're up to the job, Lord, just let us know!!
Yours truly...no, Really Truly!
Jo and Readers....(thanks for the help!)
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