April 24, 2017

Lord and Messiah

Matthew Croasmun | Read Acts of the Apostles 2:14, 36-41

(Image: Pixabay)

It’s not the sort of message that will win friends and influence
people. But it’s a refrain of the first several chapters of the
book of Acts. (See Acts 3:15; 4:10; 7:52.) You might call it “The
Gospel of ‘You Killed Jesus.’” “God has made him both Lord
and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” We have to wonder
whether those who first heard this message might not have
heard in this proclamation the very real possibility of a threat.
This Jesus you killed, God has vindicated by raising him from the
dead. You killed him. He’s back. This can’t end well. . . . We can hear
a certain existential anxiety in the response of those gathered in
Jerusalem: “What should we do?”

While we often call this story “the good news,” we may
wonder, What on earth is good about this news?

The good news is that though we have made ourselves
God’s enemies, God nevertheless pursues us in love. We may
not literally have crucified Jesus, but we make ourselves God’s
enemies whenever we oppose God’s good work in the world.
Yet God still pursues us in love. This One whom we rejected,
God has rescued. And now Christ comes to invite us to repent,
to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and to live into the amazing
adventure that awaits.

By the thousands, Peter’s hearers do just that. And, as Acts
records, the world is changed forever. A people who know
that their outright rejection of God cannot dissuade God from
pursuing them passionately, a people who know that God manifests
that same passion and takes that same posture toward the
world around them feel empowered. That’s good news that will
change your life.

Lord, impress upon me the tenacity of your love. Amen.

Pray the Scriptures Using Audio Lectio
Read Luke 24:13-35

Luke 24:13-35

¹³ On that same day, two disciples were traveling to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking to each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were discussing these things, Jesus himself arrived and joined them on their journey. ¹⁶ They were prevented from recognizing him. ¹⁷ He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?” They stopped, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ The one named Cleopas replied, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who is unaware of the things that have taken place there over the last few days?” ¹⁹ He said to them, “What things?” They said to him, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Because of his powerful deeds and words, he was recognized by God and all the people as a prophet. ²⁰ But our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. ²¹ We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel. All these things happened three days ago. ²² But there’s more: Some women from our group have left us stunned. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ and didn’t find his body. They came to us saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who told them he is alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women said. They didn’t see him.” ²⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about. ²⁶ Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” ²⁷ Then he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets. ²⁸ When they came to Emmaus, he acted as if he was going on ahead. ²⁹ But they urged him, saying, “Stay with us. It’s nearly evening, and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ After he took his seat at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹ Their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. ³² They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?” ³³ They got up right then and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and their companions gathered together. ³⁴ They were saying to each other, “The Lord really has risen! He appeared to Simon!” ³⁵ Then the two disciples described what had happened along the road and how Jesus was made known to them as he broke the bread.

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Lectionary Week

April 24–30, 2017

Scripture Overview

What is the Easter message, and what are we to do with it? Two dimensions of the responses to God’s act of raising Jesus stand out. First, repeatedly the texts speak of public worship. Second, the texts speak of changed lives. In 1 Peter 1 the Resurrection effects a new birth marked by obedience to the truth and mutual love. The two responses—public worship and transformed lives—are not separate from each other in the texts. One leads to the other and back again.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read Acts 2:14a, 36-41. What of Peter’s words that follow speak to the heart of the good news: “God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified”?
• Read Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19. The psalmist declares that he will pay his vows to the Lord “in the presence of all [God’s] people.” As the author notes, what story will you tell about God’s work in your life?
• Read 1 Peter 1:17-23. When have you witnessed God’s guid- ing hand at work in your life, not only in pleasant times but also in disappointment and darkness?
• Read Luke 24:13-35. When have you participated in a Bible study that offered such illuminating results? When have you experienced the inbreaking of God’s life at the table of Jesus Christ?

Respond by posting a prayer.

Lord and Messiah

The Wisdom of the Body

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Lord and Messiah

Acts of the Apostles 2:14, 36-41

Luke 24:13-35

The Wisdom of the Body

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