Hello Siblings
It’s Valentines eve. Will we share and show uncommon love this year? Perhaps to someone who’s so badly scarred by relationships, that they don’t know how to receive an act of kindness. It may be that we afford them an opportunity to experience True Love, and come to know that Lover for themselves. As the Bride of Christ, it is perhaps the least we can do. And, if they accept Him, they will also bear the name, Christian, follower of Christ. There’s a story to that name, you know. And it is an uncommon love story, of sorts. More on that as we consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Acts 11:26 NIV
[26] and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Uncommon Love A
It started in Antioch, as Saul (later referred to as Paul) and Barnabas spent a year offering training on the character of Christos, the Anointed One. The people were open to their message, and were soon known as kinsman of Christos i.e., Christians.
It is important to note that this was the very first full batch of Gentile converts to the Way. Acts 11:1-18 reveals that despite Peter’s vision to offer the message of salvation to Gentiles (see Acts 10, repeated in Acts 11), there was initial resistance by the Jewish believers. It was only after he explained about God’s vision and that Cornelius’ household received the visible manifestation of God’s Spirit, that they conceded. Sometimes it is us believers who create the greatest stumbling blocks to others’ salvation.
Self-Check
Have we become gatekeepers of the faith, sifting through individuals to determine who believe ought to be called by Christ’s name?
Digging Deeper
Initially, they resisted sharing the Gospel of Christ to ‘outsiders’ (of Jerusalem). The apostles (i.e. sent ones) only dispersed in the face of persecution (see Acts 1:19). For many, the forced dispersal resulted in relocation to strictly Jewish towns. But a few Cypriots and Cyrenians opted to share the Gospel with the Gentiles of Antioch. It was an uncommon act of love. They saw people who were not quite like them – in those days Jews and Gentiles did not have healthy relations – yet opted to share God’s love with them.
The uncommon love story continued. Those same Jews who’d been averse to Peter sharing the Gospel with Cornelius, willingly dispatched a disciple evangelist to disciple the people of Antioch. It was the Son of Encouragement himself, Barnabas. Although he didn’t have to, Barnabas (presumably led by God’s Spirit) asked Saul of Tarsus to accompany him. His act of solidarity resulted in the disciples of Jesus at Antioch first being referred to as Christians. It also jump-started Paul’s ministry.
Who would have thought then that Saul of Tarsus, a former persecutor of Jesus’ followers would become the chief teacher to the Gentiles? Who would have thought that the name Christian, used mockingly by persecutors, would tell a story of love and redemption?
Siblings, those insiders could trace their Jewish lineage. They could easier prove kinship to Y’shua. That was not the same for Gentiles. Not at all. Despite Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba being named in His genealogy (see Matthew1), the Gospel of Christ was not seen as a Gentile narrative. Today, we bear the name, because as disciples and apostles of Christ (chosen mentees and sent ones), His blood is part of our DNA.
We too are joint heirs with Christ (see Romans 8:17). His anointing has broken the stigma of sin. His blood is intermingled with ours. That’s love on a different level. Although we have been adopted into the family of God by His death, our acceptance of His sacrifice and His love cements our Kinship by blood. Y’shua’s blood.
Point to Ponder
Based on Y’shua’s mandate to His disciples in Acts 1:8, Antioch was among the uttermost parts of the world. Yet, through love, it became the first city where Gentiles were recognised as kin to Christ.
Where’s our Antioch, and who’s our Saul?
