Vintage Church Podcast

There is a moment in the story of the early church that seems drastic. Two people suffer serious consequences. This story has often been misrepresented and misused. Ananias and Sapphira were not lacking generosity, they lacked honesty. Their misrepresentation of an offering cost them their lives. They were insincere. Sincerity matters to God. Faith can’t be faked because God can’t be fooled. 

On the other side of the resurrection, Jesus spent intentional time with his followers. Before ascending back to heaven, he gathered them on a mountain and gave them their mission. A mission that would be impossible without the help of the “advocate” he promised. Ten days later, the Spirit came down, and they went out. Peter preached the gospel and the church was born. How and when this all unfolded matters!

Between the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus, he spent weeks gathering back his disciples. They would have a significant assignment and Jesus very intentionally sought to prepare them for it. Peter was still sitting in the shame and guilt of his denial. On the other side of that failure, Jesus so beautifully calls him back and reminds him of his purpose. 

So much of what Jesus said and did made little sense in real-time. His followers were often confused and unable to comprehend Jesus’s message. It wasn’t until the other side of the cross, after he rose, that things began to make sense. After he rose, Jesus spent time making sure they fully understood what they had just seen. They were to be his witnesses. To carry the gospel, his followers need to do more than just believe that it happened. They needed to understand why it had to happen.