There is much talk of ‘leadership’ nowadays. In today’s reading Jesus is called ‘leader’ although some translate ‘prince’ or ‘author’.
Literally the Greek word, archégos, is a combination of ‘the first’, arché, and ‘to lead’, ago.
So it is about the first in a long procession: a pioneer who goes first so that others may follow. It is more the ‘founder’ or the ‘originator’ than the ‘prince’. Fascinating that what Jesus as the leader (and saviour) gives is ‘repentance’ and ‘forgiveness’.
I am not sure that this is what we expect from our leaders. He goes before us in complete self-giving, in death and in exaltation. We turn around, change our mind, repent and follow him. Peter and the apostles show us how. They give of themselves through being witnesses to Jesus: just like the Holy Spirit. If Jesus is our leader also, the pioneer of our faith (Hebrews 12:2 – same word), where is he leading us? Where do we need to go as we follow him in self-giving, in witness, in repentance and forgiveness?
3 April 2016
Acts 5:27-32
This weekly blog on one of the lectionary readings is by Anne Claar Thomasson-Rosingh, Programme Leader for Lifelong Learning at Sarum College.
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