Learning from Bar-Jesus

Isn't it just so funny when kids are so sure about something that makes no sense? I mean - bless their little hearts - they just dig their feet in and it's so hard to convince them otherwise. Especially if it's something abstract that we can't actually SHOW them. Why can't they just believe us?! ;)

Well, we've been going around and around with Zac about Bar Jesus. He came home from a church class talking about how there are really "two Jesuses." Jesus, and Bar Jesus.

We've tried to ask him details about this character trying to figure it out. What are they teaching him at church?! lol!

So last night, after dinner, Brian and I both got our bibles (of course, Zac had to get his, too), and we all researched. We had a copy of ZZ's curriculum, so we knew which passages they've studied this semester. Zac just seemed so sure about what he was talking about.

He was so INSISTENT on what he knew to be true.

"Do you mean BAR-nabas?"

"How about AnitPAS?" "Paphos?" "Ephesus?"

All of a sudden, we came upon Acts 13:1-13, about Saul/Paul and Barnabas traveling.

Acts 13
They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus.

The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.

Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun."

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

Yeah. So basically, Zac was totally right. This Bar-Jesus (also named Elymas) was a magician who didn't believe in Jesus and ended up temporarily blind - therefore leading the proconsul to believe. Bar-Jesus didn't want the proconsul to become a Christian, because then he wouldn't need magic anymore, and Bar-Jesus would be out of a job.

The Holy Spirit worked through Paul to humble Bar-Jesus. And he has a chance to repent, although he's not mentioned again in the bible, so we don't know what ever becomes of him.

We all encounter our share of "Bar-Jesus" characters.

In some ways, Zachariah already has one in his life.

Our prayer for ZZ is that he is able to overcome the influence of a Bar-Jesus. We pray that Zachariah, like the proconsul, will be amazed at the works of the Lord and follow His ways - rather than the entertainment of a magician.

And we pray for ourselves - that Zachariah's example this week will remind us to stay firm in our convictions. That we carry in our hearts the things we learn during our Quiet Times and Sunday sermons and Community Group counsel and Sunday School teachings - ready to stand up for what we believe and KNOW is truth.

Oh, and Isn't it just so funny when kids adults are so sure about something that makes no sense? I mean - bless their little hearts - they just dig their feet in and it's so hard to convince them otherwise. Especially if it's something abstract that we God can't actually SHOW them. Why can't they just believe us Him?! ;)

So many lessons for us to learn. Thank you Lord for the blessings of this precious four-year-old boy. He is truly a gift from You.