If you have 5 minutes!
Read Acts 2:22-40
22 “People of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him: “I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” 29 “Brothers and sisters, we all know that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Peter moves on from his confident assertions that today is a day of hope fulfilled to explain how this has all come about: through Jesus; the seemingly failed Messiah who, Peter argues, God has vindicated and raised up to be “the rightful king of Israel.”[1] In doing so, he brings two strands of OT prophecy together: the hope of God’s kingdom coming more fully and the slightly mysterious prophecies about a suffering servant; the one pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed (see Isaiah 53). It is, Peter argues, through Jesus’ suffering and death – not despite it – that God’s presence can now be experienced so profoundly.
If you have a bit longer :-)
➡ How often do you reflect on Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection? Maybe we could all try to start each day thanking God for what he has done for us in Christ.
➡ Does Jesus’ suffering (and then restoration and vindication) encourage you in any way when you’re facing times of difficulties?
➡ “With many other words Peter warned them and pleaded with them…” Do we have this same passion and urgency when we’re engaging with those who don’t yet know Christ? How can we spur one another on in this?
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