Sermons Worth Stealing - Pt 2

And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. (Acts 3:17-21 ESV).

The next episode in the history of the early church happens on the heels of Pentecost. Peter and John are going toward the “Beautiful Gate” to enter the Temple area. A man born blind is being carried to sit and beg for the day at the gate. It was not an unusual sight. They don’t have any money to give, though they do have the power of the Gospel. The man is healed and restored which naturally leads him to follow them. It must have created quite a stir. This was the stuff of legend and old, nearly forgotten stories of the prophets of old. In fact, the only other time such things happened, the religious leaders denied it and had that man put to death. It should also be remembered that Solomon’s Portico, according to Josephus was a part of the original temple surroundings that still remained from Solomon’s time. It was a large colonnade with double columns that ran along the eastern wall in the Court of the Gentiles. Jesus taught there at the Feast of Dedication in the winter (cf. John 10:22-23). As the crowd continued to grow, Peter used the opportunity to preach to them. He began by letting them know that it was not by their power that the man had been healed, but by that of Jesus. He tells them of their denial of the true Messiah in favor of a murderer, Barabas. And then he tells them that they “killed the author of life.” This is a significant statement by Peter, in that it demonstrates that Jesus came to earth fully Lord and God, having been from the beginning, just as John’s gospel states. He tells them that he and the others are witnesses that God raised Him from the dead, and that it was by faith in Him that this man was healed. Peter would not be oblivious to the fact that among the listeners would be Pharisees and their sympathizers. It was a message that was intended for them to hear, not for the purpose of confrontation, but for the opportunity for salvation. Peter seeks to turn their gaze from himself to his Risen Lord. It is a clear call to “repent.” Perhaps that is the central message for us as well. We have no need to condemn the way a crowd is gathered as much as we must examine the message we give them when they are gathered. Whether your crowd is two or three or thousands, do not neglect the need to draw them to the only One who has the power of life! His name is Jesus!