Acts 2: What did the Disciples Teach? At the First, Part 2
In the previous post we considered several truths communicated through Peter’s response to the crowd gathered around the Galileans praising God in the languages of the Diaspora. The truths I mentioned in the first post are the obvious kernels of grain. Let’s dig a little deeper.
Turn with me to Chapter 2 starting at verse 23. Peter says, “You, with the help of wicked men, put Jesus to death by nailing him to the cross.” Look at verse 36 also: “You crucified him.”
Imagine you had only just recently solicited the help of the ungodly Romans to put the Son of God to death and you approved of his crucifixion with shouts and accusations and mockery—a fate reserved for the lowest of the low dregs of society. To put a finer point on it, as Peter emphasizes in verse 36, you just worked a catastrophic blunder by crucifying both Lord and Messiah.
What would you expect an Almighty and Righteous God to do ? Certainly not what He did. They had consigned Him to death and to the grave. Now alive, He forgave and He gave gifts. Wait. What? How is that?
When the hearers in the crowd were cut to the heart, Peter offered them this solace in verses 38 and 39:
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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.
So, let’s get this straight. They had a month earlier tried to put God to death, essentially, and He invites and welcomes them, offers them a new identity and a new name in Christ, and promises a gift of the Holy Spirit and blessings for their children and children’s children.
What is He saying to them here if not: Come to me. Turn back to Me. I love you and I want you to be with Me?
Jesus told us to expect this heavenly reaction from the Father:
When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants. So he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
See Luke 15:11-32
How can You love us this way after we have sinned so much—and hated You so often? You are greater than us and much more magnanimous than we could have ever imagined. No wonder 3,000 turned to God that day. Where would you rather be left? In your trespasses and sins? Or in His forgiving love? How is that a hard choice?
