How Many Signs Do You Need?

Peter continues his first sermon after Pentecost

Peter speaks directly to convince his fellow Israelites about Jesus.

Peter claims that God planned with foreknowledge for Jesus to be handed over for death on the cross.

They might have asked why God would allow someone like Jesus, who loved openly and freely, who placed himself in harm’s way, to be mocked, beaten, and hung until death.

Instead of acknowledging Jesus, they put him to death

by employing “wicked men” outside of the Israelites, and with a punishment that God did not condone.

God knew all that they had planned to do, and still allowed it to happen.

Some had been mocking them about being drunk.

Some of them recognized their own languages as being spoken with coherence.

Sometimes, we need something obvious to get our attention.

Signs: Warning, Caution, Detour, Off Ramp; even Signs of the Cicada

Even the average Israelite understood the miracles Jesus performed came from God.

Jesus’ power and authority comes from God

This was demonstrated by God manifesting miracles, wonders and signs as Jesus called for them.

They had seen miracles, wonders and signs, and had not been convinced of who Jesus was.

God knew how they would respond, yet, God foresaw a way to redeem them, by raising Jesus from the dead.

God would not let their plans override the divine plan.

Jesus died sooner than expected; God freed Jesus from prolonged suffering on the cross.

God would not allow death and hell to contain Jesus.

The solution was to bring Jesus back to life, with an incorruptible body.

The Father honored what Jesus said about himself.

Peter’s sermon connected two Psalms

Psalm 16, which was written personifying a descendent, whose body would “rest in hope” and not be “abandon[ed]… to the realm of the dead” with Psalm 110, which was written about “The Lord” (Jehovah, Yahweh, the Father) “my Lord” (the Christ, Messiah, the Son, Jesus)

It could not have been David because he died and was buried in a tomb close by.

David wrote of exaltation of the Messiah, who Peter identifies as Jesus.

Jesus had been exalted to sit at the Father’s right hand and sent the Holy Spirit to be poured out on all who believed.

Jesus would stay in Heaven at the Father’s right hand until he made his “enemies a footstool for your feet.”

Jesus MUST BE Lord and Messiah!

The Holy Spirit must have been working while Peter spoke;

Those who mocked him were cut to the heart

(Convicted, Convinced, Ashamed of their Sin), an act of the Holy Spirit.

Who would have made such a turn so quickly from accusation to conviction if not for the Spirit?!

They did not just hear the words of Peter but felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit and then were convicted.

Being made ashamed of sin can be an act of grace.

Peter warned and pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

Their hearts became open to their next steps: repentance, and baptism in the name of Jesus, for the forgiveness of sins.

They would receive the empowerment of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

While they might not receive the same kind of manifestation of the Spirit that enabled speaking in many foreign tongues of those in the Upper Room

God gets our attention through manifestation of his Spirit;

Through healing, visions and dreams that compel us to believe.

Through convincing and convicting of the Holy Spirit of present sin.

Through receiving the loving grace of God who pardons us when we ask, because of the cross.

The same promise of the Holy Spirit is also given to us who have turned toward God.

God manifests his presence among us to call us to him.

They may come to us as miracles, signs, and wonders.

We may also experience the still, small voice of God calling to us.

Drawing us to spend time with him, in prayer, singing to him songs of praise, or to read God’s written words or have them spoken to us by way of the family of God.

These connections made through the Spirit, among the family of God, draw all more and more to the gracious love of God that truly brings new life.