A Miracle. An Opportunity. The Gospel Message.

On this day, it would take a miracle to open the door for the Gospel. A man, lame from birth was before them, wanting money but needing a miracle. Peter and John gave him the miracle he didn't realize he needed. He stood, he walked, he jumped. This was no furtive scene. The crowd had gathered, and Peter had their full attention.

So, how does one seize such an opportunity? What words does one use to explain the ineffable to the astonished? An explanation was needed for sure; signs and wonders often require it. There was no manual on evangelistic tactics this day. Peter and John were on their own. Well, not really - the Holy Spirit was about to guide their words, words that would cut deep and fly in the face of today's seeker friendly philosophy and church marketing methods.

"You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you." ¹

Peter didn't mince words; his judgement of them was delivered with surgical precision. "You've traded the glory of God for a created thing." ² Insanity. But this is the condition we all find ourselves in before receiving Christ, the second Adam, our only hope of reconciliation and redemption from this fallen state. God offers restoration In Christ -

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ³

In today's crowd were those who had cried out for the crucifixion of Jesus, those who were offered life but chose instead a marred substitute, the criminal Barabbas. They had rejected the author of life and gained a man who, like themselves, was destined to die. They had condemned an innocent man -

The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” ⁴

Pilot, the criminal on the cross next to Jesus, even Herod, along with the presiding centurion, had all seen that Jesus was a righteous man, innocent. And now, before the temple, the guiltless Jesus was offering himself through the Gospel message Peter was preaching. He was offering himself to the very ones who had rejected him and chosen poorly, even to those who had cried out at his crucifixion,

“Let his blood be on us and on our children!” ⁵

Oh! How vast is the mercy of God! How great is his steadfast love and gracious plan. "Who is like you, O Lord my God? Great is your faithfulness to your people." And today, Jesus still offers himself to those who have rejected, spurned, insulted, and cast all sorts of evil rhetoric on him, the one who has loved them unconditionally.

Scripture References

¹ Acts 3:14

² Romans 1:22-23

³ 1 Corinthians 15:22

⁴ Luke 23:47

⁵ Matthew 27:25