Starting Off with the Facts

Scripture: Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know. 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 2:22-23

Observation: Peter's first sermon begins in this way ... telling the Jews exactly what they witnessed ~40 days ago. The context he creates is simple. Jesus did great miracles and signs, and they all saw them and know about them. However, they then allowed (at least passively but some even actively supporting) the Romans - people without 'the law' - to kill Jesus.

As they say, these are the facts, and they are not in dispute. Every single listener would completely agree with these statements. Almost all of them witnessed Jesus' work first-hand, either in Jerusalem in the near past, or during the past three years. They saw healings, great teaching, and supernatural wonders, all of which were signs of the Messiah according to the scriptures. Peter is just now walking them along the last steps of that journey ... Messiah's death and resurrection are also called out in the scriptures, and that is now what Jesus has also fulfilled.

Peter starts by telling people what they already know, that Jesus' acts indicate he is the Messiah. He will then point out that Jesus' death and resurrection is the final proof that his Messiah. However, he also gives everyone an "out". He states that they- along with the lawless people - killed Jesus, however, they can pursue forgiveness, repentance and redemption. In other words, now that the final truth is revealed, they may believe and be forgiven.

Application: In opening his sermon this way, Peter is giving a message that everyone needs ... "you all know there was something important about Jesus, but you ignored/hated/killed him anyway, yet you can now learn the final truth, change your heart, and be forgiven." This is the same as the modern-day message. Everyone knows there is 'something special' about Jesus, and if they can just understand the last piece of that puzzle, they could receive salvation.

This is why Jesus needs to be on our lips. It isn't about telling people they're wrong or stupid for not believing, it's about getting a conversation started about why everyone still knows that a middle-eastern carpenter from 2,000 years ago had the most "it factor" of anyone in world history. From that start of a conversation, discussion of truth and faith seems inevitable.

Prayer: Dear Lord, may your name, Jesus, be on my lips today. May I find an opportunity to speak of you, maybe as shrewdly as a serpent and innocently as a dove. I seek your appointments this day. Amen.