Wednesday prior to Easter 4

 

 – Acts 4:1-12 – After their release by the Sanhedrin, before whom they were taken because of their preaching of Jesus and His resurrection, Peter and John return to the band of believers. As they had before the Jewish leaders, Peter and John show how the Old Testament must be interpreted with Jesus in mind. They quote Psalm 2, a coronation psalm, in their prayer, and show how King Jesus fulfilled it.

There is salvation in “no one else.” In a pluralistic culture, who will buy this? The mood of our day is to let each have his/her own religion because one will be saved in and by it. Peter would have no part of this kind of thinking. He proclaimed under the influence of the Holy Spirit that there is on salvation apart from Christ. This position is a logical conclusion to the fact that Jesus is the only Son of God who died for the sins of the whole world. No one else died on the cross as the Son of God. No one else ever rose from the dead. To accept other religions as equally true is to deny the truth of the Gospel.

Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit; He did not only have the Spirit but was filled with the Spirit. This explains what he said. The Spirit gave him courage as an unlearned fisherman to address the rulers of Jerusalem. He was not only bold but he was certain and positive. There was no question, no suggestion, no doubt, no hesitation. Openly and frankly Peter explained that he cripple was healed by the power of Jesus’ name. He was unafraid to blame them for the crucifixion and he was certain that Jesus rose from the dead. How can one explain such boldness and certainty? The answer – he was filled with the Holy Spirit.   1

Lord God, our shepherd, You gather the lambs of Your flock into the arms of Your mercy and bring them home. Comfort us with the certain hope of the resurrection to everlasting life and a joyful reunion with those we love who have died in the faith; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.2

Sources:

1. Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima OH

2. Collect for Easter 4, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

The Good Shepherd (Dyce) copyright Google images