Easter 2 (4)
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12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. 17 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
Our text does not follow chronologically with the church year. Last week we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. The next 40 days will be accounts of Jesus appearing to his disciples during the time between his resurrection and his ascension. Our Gospel lesson is the well known account of doubting Thomas. But this reading from the book of Acts refers to an event that takes place over 50 days after Easter because it happened after Pentecost. But although the reading is not chronologically, it is thematic. For in Peter’s defense of his actions, he summarized what had happened to Jesus and appeals to the Jews to act wisely so that the next event in God’s plan of salvation could occur.
Background.
Acts 2 is the account of Pentecost. Chapter 3 begins with, “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.” They encountered a common sight — a daily beggar in the temple courts. But what happened next was not common.. Peter responded to his request for financial aid in this way, Acts 3:6 (NIV84) Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Although Acts 2 tells us that “many wonders and signs were done by the apostles”, this is one of the first narratives of one of those miracles. Peter healed this man in the name of Jesus.
This public miracle in a public place caused a public stir and gave Peter an opportunity to make a public announcement.
Application: How can we use a well known event to proclaim our faith in God?
For the most part we live ordinary, uneventful lives when we can count on a steady routine and nothing dramatic happening. Well, for millions of people, that is going to change tomorrow whether they want it to or not and others are intentionally going to travel and spend a lot of money so that they can be a part of it.
What? The total eclipse of the sun. I will be at the epicenter of that event — Indianapolis . . . but not tomorrow when it happens. We plan to drive through there on April 18th. But for those who experience it, it is a rare event that gives them an opportunity to talk about it.
How can you use a conversation of a total eclipse to talk about Jesus just as Peter used this miracle to talk about Jesus? Well, you could say. “The total eclipse reminds me of a biblical event in which the sun stopped shining during the crucifixion of Jesus.” Although perhaps not an eclipse, it reminds us of the death of Jesus. Why did he die? “ You can then share your faith in the sacrifice of Jesus for sins.
But it doesn’t have to be a rare event like an eclipse. It can be an illness in which you express trust in God to heal, an accident in which you thank God for sparing a life. An unexpected gift in which you express your thankfulness for the greatest gift. Even some professional athletes use a victory to give thanks to God for their success.
When the crowds approach Peter wondering how he was able to heal this lifelong cripple, he did not hesitate to give glory to God and to witness to the power of Jesus.
12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
But in the midst of praising God, Peter levels a harsh rebuke against he countrymen. He flat out accuses them of the most heinous of crimes.
Acts 3:13–15 (NIV84)
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.
Our recent review of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus is an annual reminder of this historic event. Jesus was unjustly rejected and murdered by the very people he had come to save.
John 1:10–11 (NIV84)
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Why did they do this? One reason is given by Peter. Acts 3:17–18 (NIV84)
17 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer.
Although many thought the Christ would be a temporal political champion, God’s plan was to send his son to be a suffering servant who would willingly offer himself up for the sins of the world. The New Testament emphasizes this truth at many times.
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
It was God’s plan that his innocent son would suffer at the hands of sinful men. But that did not excuse what those people had done even if it was in ignorance. God raised Jesus from the death to vindicate him and to provide blessings to his people. Peter declares that the next thing is for those who have done this (or even been accomplices by their sins such as us many years later), should respond by repenting.
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.
Importance of repentance. It is through repentance that we receive the offered gift of eternal life. Peter called on them to repent and the word of God calls for us to repent our sins. “If we confess our sins . . . “
Next week we will see how that crowd responded.
Conclusion: Today we saw how extraordinary events can give us an opportunity to tell others about Jesus. We can emphasize the importance of the sufferings and death of Jesus (in which because of our sins we are complicit) and we can emphasize God’s plan of salvation which was to raise his Son from the dead and how Jesus is now our Lord and Savior. Rather than ignore our ignorance, we are to confess our sins and trust that for Jesus’ sake, the God who has raised him forgives us and will also raise us when God sends the Christ again from heaven when he will come on the Last Day to restore all things.