![\"JamesZebed.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/jesuscreed\/imgs\/JamesZebed.jpg\")
<\/span>The mission of God in this world \u2014 that is the message of the Book of Acts. It tells us the story of how God as at work \u2014 in Christ\u2019s death, resurrection and ascension, along with the Pentecost Spirit \u2014 to create the new people of God. And the apostles were commissioned and empowered to declare this gospel. But, it comes at a cost:<\/p>\nIt was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/p>\n
At times the opponents of what God is doing, and Paul (aka Saul) was one of those opponents, and sometimes the opposition leads to martyrdom. The church\u2019s history, from one angle, is littered with stories of martyrdom. From another angle, martyrdom is a gift and a blessing and the seed of the church\u2019s growth.<\/div>\n
\nThis text evokes this text:<\/p>\n<\/div>\nThen the mother of Zebedee\u2019s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. \u201cWhat is it you want?\u201d he asked.\u00a0 She said, \u201cGrant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t know what you are asking,\u201d Jesus said to them. \u201cCan you drink the cup I am going to drink?\u201d\u00a0
\u201cWe can,\u201d they answered.<\/p>\nJesus said to them, \u201cYou will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.\u201d<\/p>\n
24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.\u00a025Jesus called them together and said, \u201cYou know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.\u00a0 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,\u00a0 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave\u2013\u00a0 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The mission of God in this world \u2014 that is the message of the Book of Acts. It tells us the story of how God as at work \u2014 in Christ\u2019s death, resurrection and ascension, along with the Pentecost Spirit \u2014 to create the new people of God. And the apostles were commissioned and empowered […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1780],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-acts-of-the-apostles"],"yoast_head":"\n
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