“And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”
Acts 10:39-43

Dear God, there is a part of Peter’s speech that I’m realizing this morning has always bothered me. It’s not what he said, but the fact that what he said is, indeed, accurate. Jesus did not appear to the general public after his resurrection. He didn’t appear to Caiaphas. Pilate. Herod. That’s interesting. That’s an interesting decision on your part. Why did he not appear to people like that? Even to Caesar himself. Why this seemingly covert plan?

Wow, as I’m thinking about this I think I am getting the answer. And maybe the answer is influenced by my own bias when it comes to Christian Nationalism and such, but if Jesus had revealed his resurrected self to powerful people, would they have used their power to coerce people into believing in Jesus, worshipping Jesus, etc. Instead, he revealed himself to the powerless. Those who were incapable of abusing others with their power.

I reminds me of your decision to send your angels to reveal Jesus’s birth to the shepherds instead of the local high priest or Bethlehem/Jerusalem church leadership. Why did you choose to reveal yourself to the powerless instead of the powerful? Is it possible the powerful cannot be trusted with the knowledge of your revelation?

Father, I can gripe and complain all I want when it comes to others abusing their power, but I need to not take my eyes off of the times when I abdicate mine. I miss opportunities to offer you to those who are hurting around me. I miss opportunities to share my faith with others. I miss the opportunity to pray for others like I should. So while I am concerned about those who are abusing power, or even seeking power so they can abuse it, I am offering myself to you in repentance and asking that you help me to love others with your love. See others with your eyes. Hear others with your ears. And know others with your knowledge. Help me to know what to say, what not to say, and when to say or not say it. Oh, how I love you. Help me to share that love with others.

I offer this prayer to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen