Stand Up; I Myself Also Am a Man

 

There was a man in Caesarea named “Cornelius.” He is said to have been a centurion of the band called the Italian band (Acts 10:1). He was a devout man, one who feared God with all his house, gave many alms to the people, and prayed to God always (Acts 10:2). One day, after receiving instruction from a messenger of God, that is, an angel, he invited Peter to his house (Acts 10:3-6). At that time, it was unlawful for a Jew to join himself or come near to one of another nation (Acts 10:28), so Peter’s visit to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile, must have been a great matter both for Peter and for Cornelius. When Peter finally entered Cornelius’ house, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. We may not know exactly what Cornelius meant by doing this, though he was a man who feared God, but there is something we can sufficiently understand and imagine. What is important is Peter’s response. At that moment, Peter said to Cornelius, “Stand up; I myself also am a man.” It is important for us today also to know this, because truly, we are all the same: we are all human beings.

 

Among people, it can be easy to have great interest in and respect for certain famous people. Because of this, people often show such expressions toward them as Cornelius showed toward Peter, or even greater expressions than that. Even among those who believe in Jesus, there seem to be cases where people exalt a certain pastor, or someone considered to be “spiritual,” beyond what is proper. In severe cases, they even show absolute obedience to that person’s words or actions. As a result, the following kinds of problems arise.

 

Jeremiah 5:30-31 “30A wonderful and horrible thing is come to pass in the land: 31the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?”

 

Matthew 23:1-8 “1Then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples, 2saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat: 3all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not. 4Yea, they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. 5But all their works they do to be seen of men: for they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6and love the chief place at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7and the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called of men, Rabbi. 8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren.”

 

In this word, the phrase “they make broad their phylacteries” refers to the practice based on words such as Exodus 13:9 below:

 

Exodus 13:9 “And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the law of Jehovah may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath Jehovah brought thee out of Egypt.”

 

It is said that the scribes and Pharisees of that time wore small boxes containing passages of the law, or pieces of parchment with passages of the law written on them, on their foreheads and hands, that is, their wrists. Jesus was pointing out that they made these phylacteries broad—in other words, they made them large and wore them in order to be seen by people.

 

Thus, when people are regarded more highly than the Bible, that is, the word of God, these kinds of problems will inevitably arise even today. Therefore, the apostle Paul showed the following attitude of impartiality toward those who were reputed to be something:

 

Galatians 2:6 “But from those who were reputed to be somewhat—whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth not man’s person—they, I say, who were of repute imparted nothing to me.”

 

And when the apostle Paul healed a man who had never walked—though in truth, the man was healed through his faith—and the people instead treated Paul as a “god,”

 

Acts 14:8-15 “8And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. 9The same heard Paul speaking: who, fastening eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, 10said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped up and walked. 11And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker. 13And the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes. 14But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent their garments, and sprang forth among the multitude, crying out 15and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is.”

 

Thus, they told the multitude, “We also are men of like passions with you,” and preached the gospel to them, telling them to turn away from these vain things and return to the living God.

 

Earlier also, when Peter healed the man who had been lame from birth, the people gathered in the porch called Solomon’s and looked at him. Peter also preached the gospel to them as follows:

 

Acts 3:11-16 “11And as he held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. 12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk?... 16And by faith in his name hath his name made this man strong, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is through him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”

 

Yes. It was not Peter who healed the man who had been lame from birth. Peter simply gave him the name of Jesus (Acts 3:6), and the man was made perfectly whole by believing in the name of Jesus. Therefore, man is not the one who should receive attention. Only Jesus is the One who must receive attention and worship.

 

Revelation 19:9-10 “9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are true words of God. 10And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

 

Thus, when the apostle John fell down before the feet of the angel who had delivered to him the true words of God in order to worship him, that angel said to John, “I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: see thou do it not, but worship God.”

 

When Jesus Himself was tempted by the devil, He also said the following:

 

Matthew 4:8-11 “8Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”

 

With the word recorded in Deuteronomy 6:13, Jesus clearly revealed that the only One who is to receive worship and service is God.

 

Therefore, just as Jesus, who is God, personally showed us the example, we must now surely remember this: no matter how famous someone may be among people, we are all ordinary; that is, we are all the same people, we are nothing, and only God is everything.

 

1 Corinthians 3:4-7 “4For when one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not men? 5What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him. 6I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”

 

Since we have only Jesus, we must not exalt any group or person excessively, nor try to follow them with absolute obedience. Truly, we must fear only Jesus, that is, the word of God, and highly esteem¹ the name of Jesus. [¹To highly esteem: to regard as exalted and precious.]

 

Matthew 23:11-12 “11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

 

Malachi 3:16 “Then they that feared Jehovah spake one with another; and Jehovah hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared Jehovah, and that thought upon his name.”

 

Amen.