The young man, Stephen, is preaching. And the crowd hates him for it. His words are hard to hear. They are offensive. The truth is always offensive to those who hate truth.
So, they attack.
“Look,” Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56 NIV).
Jesus was standing. Not seated next to the Father? No. Standing.
Standing.
Standing to welcome this precious young preacher who had the courage to preach the truth! They killed him for preaching the gospel.
Jesus was standing.
Standing to let his enemies know, “I will avenge this. You have no idea what you’ve done.”
You see, that day, in the crowd, was a man named Saul. He watched with glee as young Steven’s life was snuffed out. He orchestrated the execution. He cheered it on.
A few days later, Saul became Paul. And the entire Gentile world heard the gospel. Stephen’s murder lit a match.
Standing.
Was Jesus standing to welcome this latest young man martyred for His name? Charlie Kirk is one of millions who have given their lives for preaching His Word. Does Jesus stand for all those killed in His name by evil people?
I don’t know. But I know He did this time. Stephen saw Him.
Maybe Charlie saw Him standing, too.
