Thursday, March 31
Scripture: Acts 2: 22-39

Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,
I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.  For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
 

THIS PROMISE IS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN

"He knows you and He loves you." My pastor repeats these words to me every time I walk forward to receive the bread and the wine at communion. They are seven words I will never tire of hearing. This body of Christ was broken for me. For me. Equally reassuring are the words, "... you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes." Until He comes!

As I read Peter's words in Acts 2, I am struck by the number of times Peter explicitly appeals to his listeners. He calls them twice by name ("fellow Israelites"), and he sprinkles the words 'you/yourselves/your' a dozen places throughout the text. This is no generic message. He makes it plain they personally played a role in Christ's crucifixion, either through sins of omission or commission (vs. 23), and yet they are also invited to share personally in the life of the Spirit (vs. 38) by squarely facing their sin in repentance and by identifying with Christ through baptism. In other words: God knows them deeply, and this knowledge does not prevent Him from loving them deeply. This Jesus of Nazareth whom they put to death, this man accredited by God, is now resurrected. He is the prophesied Son of David, Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and He sends His Spirit as the promised gift of His indwelling presence.

Peter's words are an invitation for his listeners' hearts to become God's throne room and temple. Prior to Peter's sermon, every devout Jew from every nation under heaven heard the mighty works of God proclaimed in his own language at Pentecost. His own language! Clearly, this is the mighty, ongoing work of a personal, accessible God who delights in knowing, and being known by each of His children. As the songwriter of "The Unveiled Christ" beautifully depicts, sacred space becomes sacred relationship as the veil of the temple is rent in two. Those who are far off are called to draw near to a personal, loving Father inside the Holy of Holies.

Seeing what is to come, like David, do we speak of the coming King and Conqueror? The same Redeemer who crossed the sea that day to heal one demon-possessed man will one day cross the heavens to scatter the armies of darkness. The Son of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings, and on the robe and thigh of the One who is called Faithful and True will be written LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS.

This Jesus of Nazareth, this same Messiah, knows each of us by name, loves us, and invites us into His presence today. This same Spirit who enabled Parthians, Elamites, Medes, Cappadocians, and countless others to hear the mighty works of God in their mother tongue at Pentecost can make our tongues rejoice today. Our Almighty God will not abandon us. All His promises are faithful and true, both today and for generations to come.

PRAYER

Gracious Master,
May we have a thousand tongues to sing Your praise today,
Your glories as our God and King, and the triumphs of Your grace.
Assist us to proclaim and spread the honors of Your name.
Tune our hearts to sing of Your grace.
Your streams of mercy never cease.
Teach us some melodious sonnet sung from flaming tongues above.
May we be fixed upon the Mount of Your redeeming love. Amen.

- adapted from hymns by Charles Wesley and Robert Robinson

Nicole Arnold-Bik, Graduate Student, Old Testament and Semitics, Talbot Theological Seminary