This post is in no way developed. I apologize for any bunny trails, or areas that don't make sense. This is my outlet for my thoughts in the Prayer Room:-)Reading through Peter's sermon in Acts 2 makes me marvel at the dramatic difference between here and the last time we read of him.
In Luke 22:54-62, we see the fulfillment of Jesus' prediction of Peter's denial of even knowing Him, let alone being one of His disciples. In verse 61, after his denial of Christ for the third time, Jesus and Peter lock gazes. I can't even imagine the rush of emotions that went through Peter's body at that moment. The One who's eyes burn like a flame of fire. This One whom on the very same day, Peter proclaimed that he was ready to go to both prison and death with. What was it like to see the physical eyes of the God-Man looking at you after you flat out denied knowing Him? We see in verse 62 that after looking into His eyes and remembering what He told him earlier, Peter ran and wept bitterly.
After Jesus' resurrection, while the disciples and those who were with them were questioning the proofs of His resurrection, He appears to them, Peter included. Remembering that these guys were just like us, weak and broken people, imagine their half-belief, half-disbelief astonishment. What was going through Peter's mind at that point?
While the disciples were no doubt catching flies with mouths ajar as Jesus finished His fish and honeycomb meal, He begins to unlock the scriptures to them and open up their understanding. As they sit there, they are commissioned to preach repentance and remission of sins in His name to all nations, but to first tarry in Jerusalem until they are endued with power from on high.
(Remember that this is the same Jerusalem who just a couple days earlier crucified Christ, the same Jerusalem that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her).Jump over to Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost. The tongues of fire are on all in the upper room, and the multitudes are coming, hearing their own language being spoken by unclean Galileans and disciples of a "wine-bibber" (Luke 7:33). The men of Judea are mocking them, saying they are full of new wine.
In comes Peter, the same Peter who just days earlier denied Christ. But being endued with power, and with the Holy Spirit resting on him, boldness arises. He speaks to all in ear-shot about the out-pouring of the Spirit as prophesied by Joel, Christ crucified and exalted to the right hand of God and their need of repentance and remission of sins in the name of Jesus Christ. That day, 3000 were added to the number of believers in Christ. Three thousand. It's a wild shot, but I wonder if any of those who were at the crucifixion of Christ that recognized Peter were in the crowd that day.
I love reading about Peter because it gives me hope. It proves that God can use anyone at anytime. It shows that the apostles were not some super-spiritual guys who walked in the fullness of God at all times, nor did they walk in perfection at all times. They were weak and broken, just like us, but God used them mightily in the Early Christian church.
He's about to pour His Spirit out on all flesh. Signs on the earth and wonders in the heavens are coming. All His servants will prophesy, dreams and visions will increase and anyone who calls on His name shall be saved. I'm excited to be in this generation and I'm excited to see all that's about to take place. Like Peter, though I've messed up numerous times, I want to proclaim the Word of God with all boldness, clarity and accuracy. I want to see a great in-gathering of souls at the end of this age. I want to be a part of all that God is planning to do in the days ahead.
The acts of the apostles are going to happen in a greater measure again. Greater works than those mentioned in the Bible are going to happen. Are you ready for this?
