“‘God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.’”
Acts 2:32
This Easter season we look in on a well-known story, and at the center of it stands Jesus. We learn more about Christ by learning about the cast of characters swept up into the story. They are the unlikely disciples; the unprepared civil authorities; the corrupt religious leaders; the faithful women; the villains, heroes, cowards, and crooks … all of whom scarcely understood the significance of what was happening.
Let’s zoom in first on Peter, one of the most familiar Easter characters. Don’t we all identify with him in one way or another? We know and believe, as Peter declared on the day of Pentecost, that Easter was not just a series of unfortunate events, but that every single frame in the drama is part of God’s eternal plan from creation. Peter articulates the wonder of it all:
“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. God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death” (Acts 2:23-24).
Let’s zoom in first on Peter, one of the most familiar Easter characters. Don’t we all identify with him in one way or another? We know and believe, as Peter declared on the day of Pentecost, that Easter was not just a series of unfortunate events, but that every single frame in the drama is part of God’s eternal plan from creation. Peter articulates the wonder of it all:
“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. God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death” (Acts 2:23-24).
Scripture Focus
Acts 2:22-32
Insight
Easter was a surprise to those who first experienced it. For us, it is the center of gravity of all world history! It’s our hope come alive!
Bible In A Year
- Numbers 1-2
- Psalm 61
- John 1
