October 15, 2025

Acts 4:20

“Submarine”

Peter and John said: As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. “

Dear Readers, 

Sometimes stamps can be more than just an official postage stamp. They can represent often tiny works of art. They show something of a country's culture, landscape, wildlife, or politics. Important personalities are often depicted.

Today's stamp is a piece of contemporary history. It comes from the former Yugoslavia in southeastern Europe. Wars in 2002 caused the country to break up into six states. Yugoslavia was now just history. Just like the stamp showing the submarine YU 12. Sailors in white uniforms salute on deck. The picture could have been painted by a child.

A submarine can submerge and then disappear from surface. In a figurative sense, this also applies to many Christians. They submerge in everyday life and are no longer visible. Many years ago, we had the term “submarine Christian.” This referred to Christians who only attended church services at Christmas but disappeared from the scene for the rest of the year. I think every pastor suffers when his congregation members only show up at church on Christmas but are otherwise nowhere to be seen. They don't attend church services; they don't participate and have no interest in church life.

What a difference as compared to the first Christian community!  The apostle Peter was arrested and imprisoned because of his faith in Jesus Christ. He was even forbidden to preach. Nevertheless, he continued to preach courageously, saying, “We cannot keep silent about what we have seen and heard!” Driven by the power of the Holy Spirit, he publicly testified that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of all people. What he had experienced with Jesus filled his heart. He had to talk about it. Everyone should hear the good news of God's love! 

This is quite a miracle! Because Peter himself was once, what we would call, a “submarine.” When Jesus was captured and tortured, his disciple Peter hid among the spectators (Matthew 26:69f). When he was recognized, he denied knowing Jesus. Three times! He vigorously denied having anything to do with Jesus Christ. He sank deep into the sea of lies and slandered. 

I am convinced that he would not have been able to escape from this shallow depth of human failure on his own. But the grace of God and the incomprehensible love of Jesus brought him back up again. After his darkness of faith, he was allowed to see heaven again and to speak freely of love and forgiveness. The Holy Spirit frees him to give thanks and praise to God. He has experienced forgiveness for his enormous guilt and is given a new commission to serve God. He even becomes the “flagship” in the first church of Jesus.

The artist who painted the picture book submarine named the ship YU 12. “YU” stands for the country. But why “12”? It reminds me of the 12 disciples who followed Jesus. After Pentecost, all of them except Judas, were “on deck,” “dressed in white” and ready for the service to which they were called: to be witnesses of God's love. Visible and audible. With Peter as captain or helmsman. Let us follow the example of the first Christians and not hide what we have seen and heard from God!

Thank you very much for visiting me and listening to me. May our God bless you in spirit, soul, and body. I look forward to meet you again at my next short sermon on November 1, 2025.