Acts 2:22-36
“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— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 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;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’29 “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. 30 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, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 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. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
I had the privilege to preach at Angaza Igoma Lutheran Church in Mwanza, Tanzania on Sunday. It was quite an experience! We began the first service at 6 AM! No sooner than we finished with that one, the 8 AM service began. It went longer. Maybe 3 hours. The District Pastor Obadiah as well as the congregation’s pastor each gave what seemed to me to be a sermon; although you couldn’t prove it by me. I did a lot of sitting and listening, meditating and praying, waiting and wondering. It was a good day, with perhaps 400 or more people gathered for worship there in the two services. The music was outstanding! And when it came time for the offering, choirs sang and danced as the people brought their offerings forward. Such joy!
Peter’s sermon resulted in people’s hearts being pierced and multitudes being saved and baptized that very day. Quite a powerful moment.
As I look at Peter’s sermon, I notice some important characteristics. He quotes the Old Testament scripture. He makes no bones about what had happened to Jesus. He ends with a strong hortative call: “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” This isn’t a go in peace, serve the Lord sermon. This is a sermon aimed at people who needed to make a dramatic and lift-changing move. They were on the wrong path and Peter was calling them to the path of life.
Clearly this is Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has been poured out in abundance. People are speaking and hearing the mighty deed of God in their own language. The challenge had gone out when some said that they were drunk on new wine. Peter is now setting them straight. He wants them to realize just who they are dealing with. And it’s not Peter. It’s the Son of God who was slain, but now reigns at the right hand of God.
I’ve experienced this once or twice in my preaching ministry. But I can tell you two things:
It cannot be manufactured. It’s not something you can jin up and program out. It is the move of the Holy Spirit that makes it happen.
Even we who are dedicated Jesus-Followers may need to be reminded of the sovereign reign of Jesus at the right hand of God.
Our need to repent may not be as obvious as it was of the people in those days. But our need is no less real. Perhaps you and I can consider just where God might speak to us about our misguided ways. We can rejoice that Jesus is ready to receive all who turn in repentant faith to him.
If you want to track our experiences, you can check my Smugmug photo website. I’ll include photos there throughout the week.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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