December 26, 2024
Saint Stephan
Acts 7:59-60
12/26/2024
59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out,
``Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.''
60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud
voice, ``Lord, do not hold this sin against
them.'' And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
(ESV)
Yesterday we celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. With rapt attention, we listened to the angel
choir sing ``Glory to God in the highest,'' and contemplated that
the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Coming to faith in
Christ Jesus, holding to Him as our redeemer from sin, death, and
the power of the devil, comes with a price. The second day of
Christmas is the Feast of Saint Stephen, the first martyr of the
Christian Church. Stephen, who was one of the deacons appointed
by the apostles to assist with caring for the Church, was a holy
and upright man. He dared to proclaim the truth of salvation by
grace through faith for the sake of Christ, even before the
Sanhedrin. For speaking the truth, Stephen was taken outside the
walls of Jerusalem and stoned to death.
Saint Luke recorded the last moments of Stephen's life.
``And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out,
`Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' And falling to his
knees he cried out with a loud voice, `Lord, do not
hold this sin against them.' And when he had said this,
he fell asleep.''
There is a cost of discipleship, a cost of being in the
world but not of the world, a cost for trusting in Christ Jesus
alone. Whereas we will, more than likely, not be stoned for our
faith, yet we will constantly be asked to defend our faith.
Saint Stephen serves as an example of one for whom Christ Jesus
is the most important. He also serves as an example of one who
forgives even as he has been forgiven for the sake of Christ.
May our Lord grant us faith like that of Saint Stephen, that we
be faithful to Christ Jesus no matter the cost. Amen.