Acts 7:56
“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Have you ever attended a sporting event and watched the crowd interact with the action? If they’re bored, they’ll start the wave. If they’re excited, they’ll scream. If they’re mad, they’ll boo. And numerous times during the event, they will stand. Now, some will stand to cheer after their team scores, and some will stand to go to the concession or the restroom. But sometimes at very critical moments, they will stand in silent expectation.
The best place to experience that type of standing, in my opinion, is Knoxville, Tennessee, at Neyland Stadium. Having been to numerous Tennessee Volunteer football games there, I can assure you that whenever a big play is coming up, the crowd stands. Sure, if we all sat down we’d still see the play, but it’s the intensity of the moment that makes sitting no longer an option. We stand in anticipation of what is coming next.
I love the thought that Stephen’s actions caused the same reaction in Jesus. Here is a man who has served faithfully and is now standing boldly for his faith, and the last thing he sees before he’s martyred is His Savior standing. It was a sign of the moment’s passion and intensity, and it is a challenge to you and I. When was the last time we did something so faithful and courageous for the Kingdom of God that it would cause our Savior to stand to see?
How do we do that? I don’t think it was so much the dying that made Jesus stand as much as it was the bold witness of Stephen that caused Him to rise. I’ve got to believe that our testimony of who Jesus is to our culture will do the same, and perhaps today, as you faithfully share the faith you have in Christ with others who need Him, your Savior will stand to see you, too.
