Confronting? Reassuring?
by Ruth Olsen
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You, with the help of wicked [people], put him to death … But … it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him (Acts 2:23,24).
Read Acts 2:22–36
As you read these verses today, what caught your attention?
Did you notice that Peter reminds his hearers that they would have seen and heard what Jesus was doing – ‘as you yourselves know’? That, although it was by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge that Jesus was handed over to the people, they, corporately, chose his death? They are responsible, and we are too, for we share the same sinful nature, and our sin nailed Jesus there.
But death could not hold him down!
I have learned that it is the Holy Spirit who will enable us to recognise how Jesus has fulfilled Old Testament law and prophecies. As mentioned previously, the Holy Spirit knows the Scriptures thoroughly and which Scriptures link to our current situation. Peter here speaks of what King David had written in Psalm 16:8–11, referring ultimately to the Messiah (Acts 2:31). David knew, with God-given prophetic foresight, this was speaking of a descendant of his. Peter links it together that David spoke of the resurrection of the Christ (Greek)/the Messiah (Hebrew), meaning ‘the Anointed One’ and speaking of Jesus. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of this fact (verse 32).
Again, this time using Psalm 110:1, ‘the Lord (Yahweh) said to my Lord (the Son of David, the Messiah): “sit at my right hand …”’, Peter declares ‘this Anointed One’ that David spoke of, whom they had crucified, is Jesus, both Lord and Messiah. It is he who has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has now poured him out! Sent from heaven to help us!
This message would have been confronting for Peter’s listeners, yet also reassuring. Likewise, for us! We are also answerable for what we do with Jesus – do we believe him, and are we growing in taking him at his word and acting on it?
Holy Spirit, Spirit of Jesus, thank you for bringing God’s word alive to us. Open our ears to hear and our hearts to believe and receive from you. Keep it coming, please. Amen.
Ruth and her husband Steen have notched up their 50th anniversary this year. By the time you read this devotion, they will be exploring the beauties of creation somewhere in Europe on a long-delayed adventure, trying to put to use some of the French Ruth has been learning in recent years.
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