“’This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.’” Acts 2:23.
Peter, standing before thousands of Jewish festival-goers, gives a clear explanation for the happenings of the last several weeks in Jerusalem, concerning Jesus, the Nazarene. His words cut right to the heart of the matter: that those in his audience were responsible for the death of Jesus. Yes, there were “wicked men” that were directly responsible, and yet, Peter pointed out that all Jews were not without guilt in putting Jesus to death on the cross.
At first, when I read this, I was offended that Peter would make such a broad, sweeping indictment of a whole group of people – the Jews. As I thought more about this, I remembered that Peter, as well as all of the early followers of Jesus, was Jewish, and proud of it. I continuing thinking about this and realized that Peter did not limit his charge to the Jews; he was stating that all humans were guilty of putting Jesus to death. He was writing to you and me, down through the centuries! And now, in my thinking, I am really offended! Or, at least, Peter has really gotten my attention. And this is most certainly what he intended when speaking to the crowd that day almost 2000 years ago.
The point that I would like us to reflect on is being confronted, and more specifically, being confronted with our complicities in Jesus’ death. Do we pick and choose what we like about Jesus’ story, leaving the troublesome aspects or things that we disagree with or do not fit our “theology” out? I am certain that Peter’s audience felt confronted and was probably not pleased, but it did capture their attention, and, as he spoke on, they were confronted on a deeper level by the Holy Spirit, working and tugging on their hearts. The question for us to consider is this: What is the Holy Spirit confronting in you today? Perhaps you are reacting to something that is going on around you that you do not like or that disagree with, and maybe – just maybe – the Holy Spirit is trying to get your attention.
Take some today to reflect on Peter’s confronting words. Is the Lord trying to speak to me about something today? What is it, and what do I need to do about it?
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
July 19,2007
“Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd.” Acts 2:14.
Peter, freshly empowered by the Holy Spirit, stands up to speak out in defense of Jesus of Nazareth. This is the first recorded public defense on behalf of Jesus, and it is Peter, who stands to speak on behalf of the small band of followers. Interestingly, Peter did not stand alone. The Eleven stood up with Peter. These “Eleven”, plus Peter, made up the twelve disciples, whom Jesus called to follow Him more closely during His earthly ministry. While this was the first opportunity for Peter to preach, it most certainly will not be his last. In that moment, he has no idea how the crowd is going to respond. They could embrace his message or they could react and get violent, coming against him and this small band of Jesus followers. Peter really does not know, and yet, he takes the risk and boldly speaks out for Jesus.
The crowd, that morning, had grown to thousands, because they were there for the Festival of Pentecost, and they had been attracted by the strange and exciting happenings surrounding the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is a pivotal moment and the stage had been set. Peter “stood up….raised his voice and addressed the crowd.” Being filled with the Holy Spirit, he risks all by boldly proclaiming Jesus as Master and Savior.
Have you ever been in a situation like that, where you had to step up to speak? I have, and I must say that each time I have been very nervous – dry mouth, sweaty palms, butterflies in the stomach. Actually, they were not butterflies; they were dinosaurs! I used to stutter, and, on two different occasions, I was supposed to speak, as a high school student, in front of my whole student body of around two thousand of my peers. I was so nervous, but I got through it! Yet, it was nothing like what Peter faced, as he quite literally put his life on the line for Jesus, his Master. Take some time today to think about Peter standing for the first time before a crowd to proclaim the good news concerning Jesus. What is it that you need to stand up, raise your voice, and address “the crowd” about today? May God strengthen us for the task that He has for each of us.
Peter, freshly empowered by the Holy Spirit, stands up to speak out in defense of Jesus of Nazareth. This is the first recorded public defense on behalf of Jesus, and it is Peter, who stands to speak on behalf of the small band of followers. Interestingly, Peter did not stand alone. The Eleven stood up with Peter. These “Eleven”, plus Peter, made up the twelve disciples, whom Jesus called to follow Him more closely during His earthly ministry. While this was the first opportunity for Peter to preach, it most certainly will not be his last. In that moment, he has no idea how the crowd is going to respond. They could embrace his message or they could react and get violent, coming against him and this small band of Jesus followers. Peter really does not know, and yet, he takes the risk and boldly speaks out for Jesus.
The crowd, that morning, had grown to thousands, because they were there for the Festival of Pentecost, and they had been attracted by the strange and exciting happenings surrounding the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is a pivotal moment and the stage had been set. Peter “stood up….raised his voice and addressed the crowd.” Being filled with the Holy Spirit, he risks all by boldly proclaiming Jesus as Master and Savior.
Have you ever been in a situation like that, where you had to step up to speak? I have, and I must say that each time I have been very nervous – dry mouth, sweaty palms, butterflies in the stomach. Actually, they were not butterflies; they were dinosaurs! I used to stutter, and, on two different occasions, I was supposed to speak, as a high school student, in front of my whole student body of around two thousand of my peers. I was so nervous, but I got through it! Yet, it was nothing like what Peter faced, as he quite literally put his life on the line for Jesus, his Master. Take some time today to think about Peter standing for the first time before a crowd to proclaim the good news concerning Jesus. What is it that you need to stand up, raise your voice, and address “the crowd” about today? May God strengthen us for the task that He has for each of us.
Monday, July 16, 2007
July 12, 2007
“Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’” Acts 2:13.
When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the followers of Jesus at the Festival of Pentecost, He appeared in a manner that was strange to the thousands who had witnessed His coming. On top of this, these followers of Jesus were now acting way too happy. So much so that some in the crowd thought that they were drunk. This verse indicates how these early followers we made fun of and were mocked. Peter, who was the spokesperson for the disciples on this day, stood up and stated that they could not possibly be drunk, as it was only 9:00 in the morning.
It is amazing that, when God something exciting and new happens in someone’s life, criticism seems to follow. Criticism seems to come no matter what God does. This awe-inspiring event happens at the Jewish Festival of Pentecost, and people find a way to criticize God’s activity. I must admit that there are times when I have been critical of something or some experience that I did not understand or that I thought was unusual. Usually, these critical comments have come out of my own ignorance. And then there are the times when I have retreated from that which God has done in my life because of criticism from others or those around me. Perhaps it was just a comment meant in jest, yet it cut deep and was significant enough to cause me to react and/or to retreat. Critical comments, no matter whether in jest or not, have their power and their effect.
How do you react or respond to new and unusual experiences? Is there that critical streak that rises up within you, or are you willing to embrace new things? How do you react to critical comments made, even if they are made with some humor? It is my desire to maintain my focus on that which the Lord has done or is doing in my life, not giving in to criticism, either in giving it or in receiving it. Take some time today to process this area of criticism. How are you at handling criticism? Have there been comments made to you that caused you to retreat from that which God has spoken to you and to your heart? Take some time to consider what step/s that need to be taken to restore that which God has given you.
When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the followers of Jesus at the Festival of Pentecost, He appeared in a manner that was strange to the thousands who had witnessed His coming. On top of this, these followers of Jesus were now acting way too happy. So much so that some in the crowd thought that they were drunk. This verse indicates how these early followers we made fun of and were mocked. Peter, who was the spokesperson for the disciples on this day, stood up and stated that they could not possibly be drunk, as it was only 9:00 in the morning.
It is amazing that, when God something exciting and new happens in someone’s life, criticism seems to follow. Criticism seems to come no matter what God does. This awe-inspiring event happens at the Jewish Festival of Pentecost, and people find a way to criticize God’s activity. I must admit that there are times when I have been critical of something or some experience that I did not understand or that I thought was unusual. Usually, these critical comments have come out of my own ignorance. And then there are the times when I have retreated from that which God has done in my life because of criticism from others or those around me. Perhaps it was just a comment meant in jest, yet it cut deep and was significant enough to cause me to react and/or to retreat. Critical comments, no matter whether in jest or not, have their power and their effect.
How do you react or respond to new and unusual experiences? Is there that critical streak that rises up within you, or are you willing to embrace new things? How do you react to critical comments made, even if they are made with some humor? It is my desire to maintain my focus on that which the Lord has done or is doing in my life, not giving in to criticism, either in giving it or in receiving it. Take some time today to process this area of criticism. How are you at handling criticism? Have there been comments made to you that caused you to retreat from that which God has spoken to you and to your heart? Take some time to consider what step/s that need to be taken to restore that which God has given you.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
July 5, 2007
“When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.” Acts 2:6.
Large crowds of Jewish pilgrims from all over the ancient world had gathered in the Holy City, Jerusalem, to celebrate the Festival of Pentecost. God waited for just the right moment to release His Holy Spirit among the new group of followers of Jesus, just as He had earlier promised. When the assembled crowds heard the praises to their God in their own native tongues, they gathered around this small group to see what strange thing that had happened. In their bewilderment, that wondered what possibly this could be about.
Imagine what it must have been like for these pilgrims, who had traveled so far from their native lands. They must have been excited, anticipating wonderful things to happen during this festival in their most holy city, Jerusalem. Picture yourself as one of the crowd from far away. This might have been your first, and possibly only, time that you would make this journey. You paid very close attention to every activity that happened around you. You were mesmerized by the sights, smells, and sounds around you. Then this strange and amazing occurrence happens! You did not know what to think of it. It seemed so out of the ordinary, and you had never heard of such a thing happening ever before. It might have even worried you, as this appeared to be so out of the ordinary and very strange, yet something about it thrilled your heart. You heard many strange languages spoken and you heard your own native tongue giving praise and adoration to your God. It really must have been quite extraordinary and beautiful. And you stuck around to see what else would happen.
I have gone to very large gatherings of people – music festivals and the like – and have witnessed some pretty strange things, as I am sure that you most likely have too. Usually I am mildly interested and just move on to the next weird, wild, and/or “wonderful” happening. I wonder if I had been part of the crowd that day in Jerusalem almost two thousand years ago, would I have stuck around to listen and see what was in store for the assembled crowd. In moving on, I would have missed hearing and experiencing what God had for that crowd. Are there times when I “move on” from what God may have in store for me because I perceive that it is out of my “normal” experience? Take some time today to reflect on the assembled crowd that day. What type of person would you have been in the crowd? How would you have responded – would your “bewilderment” lead you to leave or would you have stuck around to hear more? Sometimes, the act of taking a little more time can make the difference.
Large crowds of Jewish pilgrims from all over the ancient world had gathered in the Holy City, Jerusalem, to celebrate the Festival of Pentecost. God waited for just the right moment to release His Holy Spirit among the new group of followers of Jesus, just as He had earlier promised. When the assembled crowds heard the praises to their God in their own native tongues, they gathered around this small group to see what strange thing that had happened. In their bewilderment, that wondered what possibly this could be about.
Imagine what it must have been like for these pilgrims, who had traveled so far from their native lands. They must have been excited, anticipating wonderful things to happen during this festival in their most holy city, Jerusalem. Picture yourself as one of the crowd from far away. This might have been your first, and possibly only, time that you would make this journey. You paid very close attention to every activity that happened around you. You were mesmerized by the sights, smells, and sounds around you. Then this strange and amazing occurrence happens! You did not know what to think of it. It seemed so out of the ordinary, and you had never heard of such a thing happening ever before. It might have even worried you, as this appeared to be so out of the ordinary and very strange, yet something about it thrilled your heart. You heard many strange languages spoken and you heard your own native tongue giving praise and adoration to your God. It really must have been quite extraordinary and beautiful. And you stuck around to see what else would happen.
I have gone to very large gatherings of people – music festivals and the like – and have witnessed some pretty strange things, as I am sure that you most likely have too. Usually I am mildly interested and just move on to the next weird, wild, and/or “wonderful” happening. I wonder if I had been part of the crowd that day in Jerusalem almost two thousand years ago, would I have stuck around to listen and see what was in store for the assembled crowd. In moving on, I would have missed hearing and experiencing what God had for that crowd. Are there times when I “move on” from what God may have in store for me because I perceive that it is out of my “normal” experience? Take some time today to reflect on the assembled crowd that day. What type of person would you have been in the crowd? How would you have responded – would your “bewilderment” lead you to leave or would you have stuck around to hear more? Sometimes, the act of taking a little more time can make the difference.
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