“Herod saw that the Jewish leaders liked this so he decided to arrest
Peter, too. This happened during the time of the Feast of Unleavened
Bread.” Acts 12:3 (Simple English Bible)
Leaders might curry favor by breaking the rules. For them, it is a
necessity to maintain an agenda, week approval or keep the peace at
any cost. Normally, this involves politicians, crime bosses, criminals
and people trying to dodge a bullet from their own gun. Excuses are
made and integrity announced in bright, positive terms.
King Herod Agrippa had just murdered James (Jacob), brother of John,
the apostle. It obviously pleased those opposed to Christians and so
he sent soldiers after the most prominent Christian: Simon Peter.
This action echoed that of Caiaphas, the High Priest, when he
announced that it was better for one man to die than to risk losing
the nation (John 11:49-50). It was expedient for Jesus, the
carpenter’s son, to be killed. After all, there were bigger fish to
fry and He had to go.
Probably it was the same for Herod. He was a client king of Rome and
the Jews resented this. So, after killing James with the sword, it was
expedient for Peter to die, too. There weren’t many things that Herod
could do to please the Jewish leadership and this was was easy!
Sad to say, this attitude doesn’t only occur in worldly matters. There
are church leaders who are prepared to push through whatever plans and
agendas that appear good to them, even riding roughshod over the
congregation’s wishes. And there is always a good excuse to accompany
it, too. But it should not be overlooked that it isn’t their church
nor are Christians “their” people. The church is the Body of Christ.
Christians are those working in the Lord’s vineyard, seeking the lost
sheep and helping the needy.
Our agenda is God’s will.
Always.
Steve
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