Wait. I thought Jesus was sitting at the right hand of God. Why does Stephen see him standing? In seminary, my Greek professor Dr. James Brooks ( or Dr. Dr. Brooks as we affectionately called him because he had earned two doctorates), pointed us to Howard Marshall’s explanation. But first, how did Stephen get there?
Stephen was chosen because he was full of God. The early church set him apart with six others to resolve a conflict in the church. When people were feeling empty because of hunger, they chose someone full of God to help out. Mission accomplished. But Stephen had other gifts. His irresistible teaching landed him a hearing with a certain synagogue in Jerusalem. There he preached and held them accountable for crucifying Jesus.
The Sanhedrin, a council of seventy, might have taken Stephen’s words as convicting. They could have repented. But instead, they were full of anger. Stephen on the other hand, was still full of the Holy Spirit. People who are full of God’s Spirit, live life under the influence of God. “Under the mercy,” Stephen could see what the others could not. Heaven was right there. God was watching. Jesus was standing. Why?
Heaven is right here. Our God who watches our lives says, “I will honor those who honor me” (1 Samuel 2:30). Stephen honored God when he spoke the truth to the Sanhedrin. Jesus stood in his honor, ready to receive his faithful servant home. Heaven is not unaware and unaffected by our lives today. When we honor God, he will still honor us. Let us stand for something, for Someone, for Jesus today. If we don’t stand for him, we may fall for anything. That fall would be far more painful than martyrdom.
