PROVING THE IMPOSSIBLE
Opening Prayer
God, where I encounter tensions as I explore and explain my faith, please give me the grace to know when to wrestle with and when to rest in your mysteries.
Read ACTS 2:22–36
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[a] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:
“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’[b]
29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
35 until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”’[c]
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
Footnotes
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How do you feel about introducing Jesus to others—inadequate, intimidated, or ready at any moment?Peter’s sermon, the first recorded example of apostolic preaching in Acts, had one main purpose: to proclaim Jesus as ‘Lord and Messiah’ (v. 36). As well as pointing to Jesus’ miraculous ministry, Peter continued to appeal to the Old Testament, a scriptural authority accepted by his Jewish audience. Referencing the writings of King David, he highlighted two passages that could only be understood from a prophetic point of view. The one who would not see decay, and who would sit at God’s right hand (v. 33) was not David personally, but his promised descendant, Jesus.
Far from purely academic, Peter’s preaching packed plenty of punch. He confidently asserted God’s sovereignty in Jesus’ death and resurrection, while not absolving human participants— including his hearers—of their culpability (v. 23). He confronted the human implausibility of defying the grave with the impossibility of deity being held by death (v. 24). There is much to grapple with here: the interplay of God’s plans, prophetic insight, and human responsibility stretches our understanding significantly. Yet, weaving the strands together with eyewitness accounts, Peter explained the outpouring of the Spirit and proved the person of Christ (v. 33). Calling people to an encounter with him—as challenging and exhilarating as it may be—is ours to continue in today.
Apply
In what ways do you see yourself as part of God’s plan to build his kingdom?
Closing prayer
Jesus, Miracle Worker, please work through me; I want my deeds and words to point others to you.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
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