At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. (Acts 9:20)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born in 1906, became a Lutheran preacher, and lectured at the University of Berlin. He was a founding member of the Confessing Church that opposed Hitler and Nazi ideology. In 1933, he denounced Hitler as a false idol and encouraged people to return to the Word of God, the Bible. Bonhoeffer called for radical obedience to Jesus Christ the Son of God. He was murdered in a prison camp in 1945 for his opposition to Hitler.
Saul knew Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The text says that he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was healed of his blindness and could see again. Then, he was baptized and spent many days learning from the disciples, and finally, this new follower of the Way began to preach that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. In Acts 17:2–3 when Saul/Paul was in Thessalonica he preached from the Old Testament and explained in the synagogue that Jesus is the Messiah.
Compare and contrast the lives of Saul and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. They both preached that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. They both lived in times of persecution; both spent time in jail. They both denounced false gods. Their courage and countercultural message can help equip us to proclaim the name of Jesus, right where we are.
Tell others that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Linda Valente, a nurse practitioner, is the wife Wesleyan pastor Frank Valente. They have served together with Wesleyan Native American Ministries, as missionaries to Africa, and now as grandparents of three.
© 2022 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
