Five Minute Friday ~ Encouragement

I've been reading through the book of Acts again...

Seems like I always forget just how amazing those pages are... until I read through them, again. And I'm just four chapters into the book... again!

Something has really leaped off the pages, though, this time. People, lots of people were believing based off of the actions of Jesus-followers... In these first chapters, two key players are Peter and John. Yet Peter is the one who gets all the press. It is his words that are recorded. He seems to be the real talker. He's the one that is described as "doing." Although John's name is included, it would be easy to assume that he was nothing more than a tag-along - not the one up garnering the headlines. I think that assumption would be a mistake. If I understand Mark 3 correctly, Jesus gave him and his brother a name that meant "sons of thunder." Thunder is usually pretty noticeable. There are places where it seems clear that both men spoke up, but not before the crowds and not speaking to the authorities. Only Peter's words were written. Yet the courage and boldness of both men is affirmed, on more than one occasion, in these chapters. Does that mean that John's words were overlooked? I don't think so ~

Because I've also been studying through the book of John. And I'm coming to the conclusion that he was not just a son of thunder, but also a mighty encourager. And I've been wondering if John's words were mostly for Peter's ears... If his presence and spirit helped keep Peter focused and brave... I wonder what it meant to Peter to have a friend enter into that mission with him, risking everything Peter risked, supporting while never receiving the same level of recognition. So neat to see two completely different individuals bravely serving God even when their "doing the same thing... being in the same situation" looked so very different and individual, and to know that their different contributions made a difference. God more than noticed - see how He had Luke record it:

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they TOOK NOTE that these men had been with Jesus. (NIV)

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