Vol. 1 Issue 35
Vol. 1 Issue 35
Jerusalem – Just fifty days ago, the religious leaders turned the teacher known as Jesus of Nazareth over to the Roman officials to be crucified. They claimed that he had committed high treason, but the Roman governor didn’t seem to believe it. He tried to release Jesus, but to avoid a riot he gave in to the mob’s demands and had his soldiers hang Jesus on a cross. The execution order charged him with being the king of the Jews.
Now it’s the Feast of Harvest and the city is once again crowded with thousands of worshipers. Many were here during the Passover and the memory of what happened then is still fresh in their minds. They remember the horror of seeing the teacher and two other men anguish on Roman crosses. Even some of the teachers disciples are here, and the one called Simon Peter spoke to a crowd of people today.
"Men of Israel, 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. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 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. David said about him:
"'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 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. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 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. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
"'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '
"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "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. (Acts 2:22-38 NIV)
Since then people have been gathered around pools of water throughout the city, baptizing and being baptized, all in the name of this Jesus who was crucified on a cross. Rumor is that as many as three thousand people today have become disciples of this Christ. The cross was to have been Jesus’ shameful end, but instead it seems to have given renewed life to these disciples who follow their risen master.
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at gerrys@christianlight.com
Copyright © 1996 by Gerry Sturgeon
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.