“Now brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you–even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.“

Acts 3:17-23

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SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

In the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ death, there are several different crowds cast as main characters. There is the crowd that followed Jesus around Galilee, the crowd that processed with Him into Jerusalem, the crowd that hung around as He confronted the religious leaders at the temple, the crowd that was gathered for Passover, and the crowd that shouted for His death during His trial.

To what degree were these different, separate crowds, and to what degree was there overlap? We’ll probably never know. It’s unlikely that hundreds of Jesus’ devotees suddenly turned on Him, wanting Him publicly killed. But one way or another, Jesus’ life and teaching was a lightening rod.

At this point in his talk Peter softens his tone, acknowledging that those who were calling for the condemnation and crucifixion of Jesus did so out of ignorance of who He was. But Peter continues with an attention-grabbing claim: the death of Jesus was God’s fulfillment of all the prophecies foretelling that the Messiah would suffer. Many might have scratched their heads at this juncture asking where the prophets made this kind of prediction. But Peter did not take time to support his ascertion; he immediately articulated an appeal for the people to repent.

Peter says it right: repentance is turning to God. It is changing course from a path away from God to one heading towards God. Jesus’ life and teaching said essentially, “Wake up and follow me!” Peter fits Jesus into their long-studied tradition of prophets pointing the people towards a repentance that wipes out sin and brings refreshment from the Lord.

Jesus had come and fulfilled the law and the prophets as the suffering Messiah. He promised to return and restore everything, as the prophets had foretold.

Now this crowd has another decision: Will they believe that Jesus is the one sent from God?

We, too, face this decision. If Jesus is from God, then we must repent and realign our lives with His direction in mind.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • How quick are you to repent of sin?
  • How could you make repentance a regular part of your thought processes?
  • How has repentance dealt with sin in your life and what times of refreshment have you experienced?
  • How can we be better listeners to the words of Jesus?

 

Church Reading Plan: Ezekiel 22; Psalm 69