Don’t Miss the Victory in Your Failure
Acts 13:44 – 14:20
I notice that Paul and Barnabas are struggling with their message or at least they might FEEL like they are failing in their message and in their work. To some of the establishment Jews, their message of hope, also available to the outsiders, the gentiles, is offensive. They (The Jewish crowds) “went wild with jealousy.” Paul and Barnabas were chased out of town by the jealous crowds, fearful for their way of life. In the next town the problem is that the Gentiles misunderstood the message and actions of Paul and Barnabas. The Gentile crowds began to treat them as gods to be worshipped. Again, their message is misunderstood, and they must talk the gentiles down, explaining, “we are just men like you.” Finally, they are beaten and left for dead by the crowd. Once again, the people have misunderstood, or simply disliked their message of hope for all. These guys can’t win. The audience either dismisses and hates their message as anti-establishment OR accepts their message with an overzealous reception that appears even more disturbing to Paul and Barnabas.
In between the whole mess of misunderstanding and failure, Paul and Barnabas are unwavering in their work, unflagging in their message. I find three examples that standout:
13:48-49 -- When the non-Jewish outsiders heard this, they could hardly believe their good fortune…the message spread like wildfire.
14: 1-3 -- The message convinced both Jew and non-Jews.
14:8-10 -- The man in Lystra, could not walk, ripe for God’s work, ready to believe, jumped up in a flash and walked. Healed
How often do we interpret the work of our lives, through the lens of the masses? How often do we feel like a failure, because the loudest voices tell us we missed the mark? How often do we miss the joy of God at work, because we are too focused on our failure?
Did Paul and Barnabas hang their heads and think, ‘They don’t get it?’ The crowds are rejecting them, missing the point, chasing them out of town, and beating them half to death. However, in between the stories of failure, we find these nuggets of Grace and Hope. In between the beatings and the rejection, ‘SOME heard the message.’ Surrounded by baffled crowds, ‘a man, ripe for the word, is healed.’ The Holy Spirit played! Jesus’ Message saved! God showed up! The faithfulness of Paul and Barnabas results in Jews and Gentiles leaning in and recognizing their good fortune. Their work opens the door for Healing, Grace, and Salvation.