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Purified by the Truth

Acts 2:14, 36-41; I Peter 1:17-23 Our Acts passage is a continuation of last weeks where Peter preached the good news of Jesus being the Messiah, crucified for our sins, and raised to life again. The third part of his sermon here focuses on the resurrection and its implications. Peter tells about God’s purpose in the crucifixion of the perfect Jesus for our sins- the only sacrifice needed now. He contrasts God’s loving action with those who crucified Jesus. The Jewish listeners response was they were cut to the heart. This phrase in the Greek means to be severely pierced, stung, or severely troubled in spirit. These listeners recognized their guilt in crucifying Jesus and asked, “What can we do?” To this Peter tells them to repent and be baptized so that their sins can be forgiven. He verifies that this promise is for all their children and even those who are far away. The result of this piercing sermon is that 3,000 people are baptized and saved. Peter speaks to us again in I Pe...
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Made Known the Way of Life

Psalm 16, Acts 2:14, 22-32 Our scripture readings for this week are quite interesting since they shows Peter in the New Testament Acts quoting David in the Old Testament Psalms. David wrote what has become known as a refugee song. It is a plea for protection and pledge of loyalty. David contrasts two communities associating himself with the cohort of the holy ones. He tells how the Lord is his chosen portion. The word portion refers to a spiritual inheritance, allotment, or share. It is as if he is saying, “God is my source of happiness and blessing.” Then comes the part that Peter somewhat quotes in our Acts passage. “The Lord is always before me.” Due to this David will not be moved since his body rests secure. Then he says, “You show me the path of life.” He tells how in God’s presence there is fulness of joy and in God’s right hand there are pleasures forever. The Act’s account takes place at Pentecost after the tongues of fire of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. When the...
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Message Bearers

Matthew 28:1-10, Acts 10:34-43 How is it that after hundreds of years the Easter story of the resurrection is remembered and celebrated? Who were the first witnesses of this? In our Matthew account it is Mary Madgalene and the other Mary who encounter the earthquake that removes the stone showing the empty tomb with the angel sitting on the stone. The angel tells them to not be afraid like the guards who shook and became as dead men, but tells them news that Jesus is not there since he has risen from the dead. They are told to go quickly and tell the disciples, “He has risen from the dead and will meet you in Galilee.” These women have been tasked to deliver this message. It’s amazing that God chose women to be the first witnesses and messengers of the good news. Peter and John are told of in John 20 of going to the tomb and seeing only the linen wrappings wrapped up. Even though they see and believe they return to their homes not sharing the news. Peter makes up for this in ou...
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Christ Opening the Gate

Psalm 118:1,2,19-29; Matthew 21:1-11 This last Sunday was Palm Sunday celebrating when Christ rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Our Psalm passage tells about the joy of entering the gates of righteousness, which were literally the gates to the temple. Could this also be seen as a metaphor of the way into God’s spiritual kingdom? This Psalm is one of rejoicing and praising God for answering the psalmist in distress and becoming his salvation.   One way this matches up with our Matthew scripture is when they are told to bind up the festal provision with branches. Skip ahead to our Matthew account where people praise Jesus with palm branches crying “Hosanna” which means “God save us now!” This crowd is expecting Christ to save them from the Roman government. It is full of praise stating, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Did they steal this from Psalm 118 verse 26 which states the exact same praise? Are they repeating the Psalm they knew well, hoping upon hope th...
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From Dry Bones to Hope

Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130 I love this Ezekiel scripture about the dry bones that come to life with a message of hope. When all else fails, when hope has dried up like these bones, God promises to bring them up from their graves and put the Spirit of the Lord in them and bring them home. Ezekiel is confronted by a valley of very dry bones of a horrible battlefield. God asks whether these bones can come to life. To this he replies, “Only you know.” He is noting that it would have to be through the power of God and the prophetic word. Ezekiel follows God’s directions and against all odds the bone comes to life. God intended this vision to answer the exiles despair. They felt like they were dead and buried. With wind, breath, and Spirit God promises to bring them to real life, like he’s done to the dry bones through God’s spirit in them. In our Psalm passage the psalmist is waiting on God for divine redemption. One who is close to death hopes in God’s word pleading for God to hear. Ye...
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Light in Christ

John 9:1-7, Ephesians 5:8-14 Our John account tells how Jesus heals a blind man. Jesus puts to rest the idea that disability in a child was the fault of the parents. They must have sinned to create a blind child. Even widows were at fault for their husbands dying. Jesus changes this thinking by saying neither did but he was born blind for a greater purpose, to see that God’s work might be revealed in him. This is where Jesus states, “I am the light of the world.” Blindness in the Bible, especially with the prophets, talks about more than physical blindness but as a spiritual blindness which is an issue our Ephesians’ passage expounds. Once you were in darkness, meaning you were spiritually blind but in the Lord, we are now light. Furthermore, we are children of light, and this is the way we should walk – conduct ourselves. The fruit of the light is found in all that is good, right, and true. This is the fruit which we should produce but how? We are to arise from the dead of dar...
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Hardened Hearts and Ears

 Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95 In Exodus the people grumble and complain about the lack of water to Moses. This episode is not only understood as a complaint to Moses but as a direct test of the Lord. The lack of water interpreted as evidence of the absence of God. So, God provides a miracle when Moses strikes the rock. This spot gets names that remember how they quarreled and complained – Meribah and Massah. These names conjure up the image of their hardened hearts, and these cities are named in Psalm 95 as warnings. Instead of complaining and questioning God’s presence, the psalmist says to worship God with voice and heart. This is to declare God’s greatness that created and sustains the world. Not only is God our maker but God cares for us like a shepherd.   The psalmist is saying do not harden your hearts like they did at Meribah and Massah. Instead, they are to join in the praises of God’s power and care for us. “Oh, that you would listen to his voice.” Not only did they ...
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