e-vo for week of May 4

Dearest e-votees-

This Sunday is the third Sunday of Easter. The world has long since moved on from whatever acknowledgment of Easter they might muster but we linger in the good news of the empty tomb.

Our appointed gospel text from Luke has Jesus making an appearance and offering proof that he has indeed been raised from the dead. Our appointed epistle text from Acts, our focus for this week, has Peter giving testimony about this same crucified and risen Jesus just after the Holy Spirit came with great power during the festival of Pentecost.

May our lives continue to be profoundly transformed and our testimony emboldened as the Holy Spirit continues to bring the good news of Jesus to bear on this world.

Peace,
Karl

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14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say

36 Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified." 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" 38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

Acts 2:14, 36-41, NRSV (assigned reading is 14a but I can’t discern where “a” ends and where “b” begins so you get some extra scripture this week.)

When Peter was speaking this testimony it was to those who had gathered for the festival of Pentecost. He was addressing a Jewish crowd. He addresses the men who were present. The good news of Jesus transcends the particulars of this testimony on this given day. Peter, in the 10th chapter of Acts, is instrumental in opening up the gospel to the Gentiles with his three-fold vision of a sheet of animals being lowered and being commanded to eat clean and unclean animals. Peter came to understand that the gospel was not restricted to the Jews but was open to Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian cohort. Surely the good news of Peter’s testimony wasn’t meant to be restricted to only the men within earshot. The fact that this powerful message (of which we are only seeing a snippet in our lectionary) was preserved by the Holy Spirit and included in our canon of scripture expands the audience who can drink in the good news of this Jesus was crucified and would not stay dead.

Peter points an accusing finger at those present as the ones who crucified Jesus. This has spun out badly throughout history. The bad news of who is culpable for putting Jesus on the cross transcends the particulars of this testimony on this given day as well. Perhaps the most compelling part of the Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ is that it is Mel Gibson who nails Jesus to the cross. The Romans certainly were culpable in Jesus’ death on the cross. Those who sin are culpable for Jesus’ death on the cross. Those who hear the message of Peter and are cut to the heart demonstrate a connection to putting Jesus on the cross. The good news of the gospel only brings good news to those who are part of the bad news of Good Friday—those whom sin so easily entangles and hope so easily fades away.

Those present respond with asking “What should we do?” They ask that question for those of us who were folded into the good news but weren’t there to ask the question. We ask too “What are we to do in response to this crucified Lord who won’t stay dead?” We are to repent (to turn around, to turn back to God, to allow our courses to be redirected). We are to be baptized (if we have not been washed already) which is what Peter did to Cornelius and his household which attaches us to the death on the cross and the risen Lord who won’t stay dead—and brings forgiveness of sins. We are to receive the Holy Spirit which stirs up faith and powerful testimonies and changed lives.

This promise of good news was for those in earshot, for their families and for those far away (for us and for those who have yet to hear). Everyone who hears this good news is invited and welcomed to receive the promise. Jesus sends his disciples to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Equipped with the Holy Spirit the early church faithfully carried the good news to us. Now we have the joy, privilege and responsibility of continuing to carry that good news to those in earshot, to our families, to those at work, to those far away and to those even at the ends of the earth—thanks be to God.


Dear God, help us to welcome your message. Help us be steeped in your good news, our baptism and your Holy Spirit. Save us from this corrupt generation and send us as heralds of your saving grace. Amen.