Acts 6: Stephen Sees Jesus

Acts 6 introduces us to Stephen. Stephen's name, according to NAS Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible means crown. He is known in history as the first Christian martyr. He was chosen by his peers to serve as one of 7 elders to serve the needs of the people. He was known by them as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Look how God describes him in Scripture. 8Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. He wasn't an apostle. He wasn't even an elder when he began to do the same miracles Jesus did. He didn't need a title, or a position or a job; He needed to be full of the Holy Spirit. And that he was!  9But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They disputed with Stephen, 10but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. So, they stirred up a crowd with false accusations that brought him before the Sanhedrin. When they looked in his face, it looked like the face of an angel. Acts 7: 1Then the high priest asked Stephen, "Are these charges true?" Stephen's answer began with Abraham, continued with Moses; then he preached all the way to Jesus. 54 On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged,  and they gnashed their teeth at him. This is important!!! Things were spiraling out of control (man's control). Where was Stephen looking?  55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He told them what he saw! 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." What ya lookin' at? When you are facing difficult situations, where do you fix your eyes? I'm not talking about your natural eyes. You may not have a heavenly vision of seeing Jesus, but you can fix your eyes on the Word. I am convinced Stephen did both. There is something incredibly important happening here. Jesus told his disciples in Luke 22:69 BSB But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." Seated. Jesus said and numerous scriptures repeat the reality that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. But when Stephen sees Jesus, Jesus is not seated; He is standing. I believe He is standing because He is cheering for Stephen. Jesus knows that Stephen's race is almost over. Stephen has been faithful and Stephen has a victor's crown waiting for him. It is easy and perhaps normal for people to feel sorry for Stephen. Poor, Stephen. Why do bad things always happen to such good people? I get it. I totally get it…I've been there. Done that. But what I (we??) sometimes lose sight of and Stephen never lost sight of, is…JESUS! The actions of these people were horrible!!! But Stephen stepped into Heaven. A real place that is really beyond anything we can image. We have no capacity to comprehend the place Jesus has prepared for Stephen and every believer. But far above and beyond anything we might experience in that beautiful place is the reality that we will see JESUS!!!! As I pray through this chapter with you, I'm going to pray some words of a precious old hymn, "It Will Be Worth It All". Father, help us to keep our eyes on Jesus, because I know it will be worth it all when we see Jesus! Father, I thank you that Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ. One glimpse of his dear face, all sorrow will erase. So, help us to bravely run the race till we see Christ. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.