This morning as I sat down to pray, I was thinking it would be good to look at some of the other references to Jesus rising from the dead, since today we celebrate Easter ( in the Western Church). After a quick search, I was reminded of Peter's brief sermon to the gentiles gathered in Cornelius's house, capture in Acts 10:34-48 NIV:
[34] "Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism [35] but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. [36] You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. [37] You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached--- [38] how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
[39] “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, [40] but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. [41] He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen---by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. [42] He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. [43] All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
[44] While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. [45] The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. [46] For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, [47] “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” [48] So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days."
I love everything about this story, how God divinely arranged this meeting, how the Holy Spirit didn't even wait for Peter to finish speaking, how the Holy Spirit fell on them, before they even really had a chance to say they believed! I love how God surprised pretty much everyone at that time.
However today, I am just reflecting on the words of Peter, about being an eye witness to Jesus' death and resurrection. I am reminded of the analysis that has been done of the eye witness accounts, by the likes of Lee Strobel, and investigative reporter who was actually looking to disprove Christianity, but who become convinced through his analysis, and specifically through the unwavering accounts of the Apostles, even under torture and death. If I remember correctly, He was also amazed at the long-term consistency and changed lives of the Apostles. None of them went back to their previous life, but all became active ministers, following in the footsteps of Jesus, and none of them ever wavered from that path.
Here we find Peter, in the midst of a persecution, going into a Roman centurion's house, as a wanted man, as a Jew (who was not supposed to enter the house of a gentile) and through the divinely inspired invitation, begin to preach about about Jesus, the very thing for which they were being persecuted and killed. The vision and experiences of the others must have given Peter encouragement, but regardless, he was putting his life on the line, to bear witness to what He had seen. He makes it personal in verse 41 saying Jesus was seen "by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead."
Peter had seen the wounds in Jesus' hands and on his side (John 20:20) and they saw Him multiple times, for 40 days following His resurrection (Acts 1:3). This was no one time sighting, a mirage of their imagination, but rather regular gathering, eating and drinking with a man who they watched die on a cross.
Peter barely gets to the statements about their call to testify that Jesus is the Messiah and that forgiveness of sins is available to those that believe, when the Holy Spirit came upon all who heard his message, and they started speaking in tongues and praising God! Wow! Their hearts were clearly ignited by the message they heard from the mouth of Peter, an eye-witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus, and one who was sent to proclaim the Good News.
That is the same Good News we are celebrating today, that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world! While we may not be eye-witnesses to His life, death and rising from the dead, we are eye-witnesses to our own changed lives, our own experiences of God's miracles, healing, love, forgiveness, mercy, compassion and provision! He is every bit as alive today as He was that day, two millennium ago. The Holy Spirit is every bit as engaged and desirous of confirming the words of those who witness to Jesus, with power and life! We are called to celebrate our Risen Lord, and bear witness to Him this day and every day!
May the joy of the original Easter be yours today! May the Holy Spirit rest upon you and confirm the truth of this Gospel!
Blessings in Him,
Sam
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