Pastor's Ponderings: Monday Bible Study on Acts of the Apostles 2:14-21 (August 4, 2025)

August 4, 2025:  Monday Bible Study on Acts 2:14-21

Blessings and peace, be with you this morning and every morning.

I know it is easy to wake up to a new day thinking that we are already overwhelmed by what that day has to offer. Now that my boys are back in school, the late sleep ins of the summer are gone. I too must be up early to be certain that Melody and I can get them ready and then drive them to school downtown every day. Some days this means three or four trips back and forth between their needs and getting to the office at church too. I really am thankful that I can work from home, though I certainly know how to tie up the dining room table. This week we added Melody's sewing machine too. Oh well, that's enough about home this morning. I pray that in this extreme heat this week that the cooling for your home or apartment is adequate. I know that if you are paying for electricity or that and water for evaporative cooling that this month's bills are going to really be high. Perhaps you understand why some days seem to be loaded before we even get out of bed. May your morning cup of coffee, or piece of toast be a time of quiet and prayer for each new day's possibilities. For me, the best time is coming to the day's Scripture reading and getting to be with you as together we consider the Word of the Lord for our lives.

Today we continue in the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles. What we discover here, and throughout this book, is the witness of those who have been with Christ in the years of His ministry. Now they have taken the direction of Christ, and gift of the Spirit to experience courage, speaking with confidence, and bringing the Good News of Jesus Life, death, and Resurrection to those who may not have ever heard about Him, or risking it all by sharing their witness with the very Jews who may have been responsible for the death of the Savior, those who may not have fully understood what the end result of their rejection of Jesus might mean.

1. These people who were with Jesus have seen it all and come prepared to share what they know and have lived over the past three or so years with Jesus.

2. They share that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to send the Messiah, and that the new age of His Grace and forgiveness through Christ has arrived for everyone.

3. They also share that Jesus is a direct descendent from the line of King David, the line which must reveal the True Messiah.

4. Early on the Apostles proclaimed that Jesus would soon return to establish God's Kingdom on earth.

5. Their preaching would end with telling the people that it was only through Jesus that they could be assured in the promise of God's Love. They must come to God through faith in Christ.

We will see these messages repeatedly in the Acts. After all, this is the work which Christ has left to these twelve men and the women who were with him.

In today's reading it is Peter who stands to proclaim these messages about Jesus, but he must undo, and meet head on, the thinking of the crowd about the Pentecost event, and the way in which the disciples are sharing the message of Good News.

There must have been accusations from some present people that the disciples were already drunk, as shown by the way they speak and act. Peter must proclaim that since it is so early in the day, 9AM, they are not drunk as some of the people are trying to say. Obviously, there will always be people, in the face of the Good News, who want to discredit the enthusiasm and excitement of those who have come with joy and energy to tell God's Truth about Jesus Christ. The Jews always saw themselves as the elect of God, that they would have special privilege, and honor before any others who might claim special knowledge of God's purpose and judgement in his world. The message of the Apostles projected the thinking that Christ was an open window to the eternal Love of God, which was often misunderstood, and often misused by those who saw themselves as the elect. Even today, though Israel is ruled by an earthly government, when it is convenient, the people turn to their religion as a validation for everything that they choose to do, and all too often, that action is not about the Loving Kindness of the LORD of Heaven and Earth, but instead, filled with sin using the God of Love and Grace as their excuse for really unholy, and all too often, violent actions.  Things haven't really changed since Peter stood up to begin proclaiming the Risen Lord as the Messiah. Is it any wonder that the Jerusalem Mission of the disciples struggled so much? But Peter's words changed hearts and minds about being saved by the Messiah, and the text for today tells us that many listened, and were Baptized, accepting the Good News for their own lives. This was just the beginning, but God would also call another, Saul, a pharisee, who would be converted and be a great proclaimer for the Gospel Truth. He would move the Good News to Asia Minor and beyond. For tomorrow we continue as the revelation of Christ is proclaimed actively by those who were with Him during His lifetime. See you tomorrow.

With Love and Hope in Christ, Pastor Kim