Blaming the Lawless

Scripture: Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. Acts 2:23

Observation: Peter makes an interesting accusation here concerning who put Jesus to death, and who they are blaming. It is now six weeks after the crucifixion of Jesus, and certainly that time did not pass in silence. There has been talk. The disciples have been active. Jesus himself has been seen by hundreds and hundreds of people. And thus one thing Peter calls out in his speech on Pentecost is a response to the claim that it was the Romans who crucified Jesus. Peter specifically addresses this is three parts:

1) It was all God's plan.
2) You - the Jews - did it.
3) You did it by hiding behind and using lawless people.

By "lawless", Peter does not mean criminals, but rather he is being literal in the Jewish sense ... those without The Law ... gentiles. The Jews connived to have the lawless Romans execute Jesus under Roman authority, despite the fact their accusations were of Jewish origin (and were found under examination to be without merit). Nevertheless, the Jews were able to theoretically point a finger and say "they did it" ... the Romans were the ones who chose to kill Jesus, they sentenced him, they performed the act, so the Priests and Sadducees and Pharisees were only spectators.

Application: How often today do I put in motion events that will result in a specific outcome, but ensure I am not the one who actually carries out the act? And how often with that event and outcome be something that might not be loving, kind, or merciful? This is how we Christians deal with our shortcomings ... just like the Jews did. It is someone else who ... causes the opioid crisis. It is my customer who ... rejected the project placing your job in jeopardy. It is the president who ... doesn't care about Puerto Rico.

Blaming others for outcomes - especially when I worked the situation to create or at least allow those outcomes - means I did it. Peter made that clear. The good and faithful cannot manipulate the 'lawless' for their purposes and walk away without blame.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I think you for your faithfulness this week, and in how you continue to work with us in all these situations. My family needs peace and balance. You give so much to us. I will examine how I act every day, seeking to not only do your will but to ensure I am not bringing about bad outcomes through deception or omission. Amen.