Thursday 13 August 2015

Daily reading: Acts 2v14-41

We don’t teach people a religion we introduce them to our Saviour, Jesus. That’s what Peter does here, he doesn’t talk about dos and don’ts, he doesn’t talk about systems or religious programmes, he talks about Jesus. v22 Jesus was a man, flesh and blood, but no ordinary man God was at work in him verifying his identity through his miracles. Just as our passport or driving licence verifies who we are so Jesus miracles, wonders and signs prove who he is, God made man. v23 Jesus was arrested and crucified by wicked men but all as part of God’s amazing plan to save us.  v24And Jesus was raised from the dead, death couldn’t hold him. Having introduced the crowd to Jesus he explains to them what the implications of that are. What it means for them.

The resurrection proves Jesus is God’s long promised king v25-32. Peter quotes a psalm of David, but he says it can’t be about David because David is dead v30. God promised David a king from his line would rule over his people forever, but each of David’s descendants died, until Jesus. Jesus died but God raised him from the dead never to die again, he is the king who will reign over God’s people forever just as God promised and David in the Psalm prophesies that. v32 We’ve seen him risen, Peter says, he’s the promised Messiah, God’s forever king reigning over his people.

But Peter’s not done yet v33-34 Jesus is more than just a king, more than just a king who would save his people. Jesus is Lord, he does what only God could do because he is God. In the quotation from Joel who promises to pour out the Spirit?  God does, who does Peter say does it in v32?  Jesus does from the Father’s right hand.  Jesus is God the Son at God the Father’s right hand pouring out God the Spirit on his people. Jesus is Lord, he is God made man, just as David refers to him v34.

v36 So Peter’s concludes, know Jesus; “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” You have rejected God the Son made man, God’s long promised ruling rescuing king. You have crucified him.

This is what we share with others, what we witness to, what it means to tell someone the good news. Whether that’s one-to-one with a friend when they ask us, in a bible study or uncover study group, with the children when they ask, or when we teach the Bible on a Sunday.  We must always introduce people to Jesus. Unless we share the good news of Jesus with people, that he is God made man, lived, died, rose again and is ascended and is both Saviour and Lord we haven’t shared the gospel with them. Unless we help them see the implications of our sin and rejection of God and Jesus we haven’t explained the gospel. It may not all be in one go, it may be bit by bit, but we need to help people see Jesus.

That’s not to say that we don’t answer people’s questions. We do. We need to knock down barriers to faith and show people their need of a Saviour. But we haven’t shared the good news with them until we help them know Jesus. We also haven’t shared the gospel if we leave bits out, if we hide bits about who Jesus is because we think someone will find them unpalatable, or about sin or God’s justice because they won’t like it. God has kept the Apostles witness for us as a model so we know Jesus and can pass that good news about Jesus and our need of his rescue on.

Peter also stresses that Jesus isn’t just a Messiah, he’s not just God’s forever reigning king, he is Lord. To follow him means that he rules and reigns over our lives. He becomes our sovereign and our Lord, what he says goes. If we find ourselves wanting to keep authority over bits of our lives then we don’t really know Jesus, we don’t really want him. He has to be both Lord and Messiah. That’s what it means to be a disciple, to live under Jesus Lordship.

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