Acts 2:36-41. Mission and the Trinity.
During Lent and over Easter we looked what the gospel of John had to say about the person of Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, and his account of his death and resurrection. Through and by the cross we can into the fullest possible relationship with our Heavenly Father because all that kept us from him has been graciously taken into the body of our Saviour, and it killed him.
On the same day that Jesus was mightily raised from the dead, he breathed the Holy Spirit, the Holy Wind, into his disciples and telling them they will be sent by Jesus in the same way he was sent by the Father.
Not on a new mission, the same mission as Jesus, the same mission that God had planned from the beginning, reaching fulfillment in the death, truly mighty resurrection, and ascension of Jesus: the beginning of a new Church, whose function Matthew writes is to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This week, and for the rest of Easter, we will be digging onto what this discipleship means Despite the really important roles played by Peter and all the disciples, Paul, and many others, by far the most important character in this new church is God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
It is God the Father who glorified Jesus and raised him from the dead. Throughout the NT it is understood that God the Son, Jesus Christ is active and present in the Church’s witness. In fact when Jesus appears to Paul on the road to Damascus, he accuses Paul not of persecuting the Church, but persecuting himself. Jesus is alive and active. And it is God the Holy Spirit that arrives to fulfil Scripture and inaugurate this new Church – empowering it in all it does.
In the OT, the Holy Spirit descended upon specific people at specific times to heroically achieve God’s stated purpose. In this new Church, there are no heroic figures as such. The new church is full of disciples and witnesses, not great or heroic leaders.
The Church is the broken body of Christ and the Spirit works though our brokenness and cracks. In fact the living water flows out from us through these cracks, not despite them. As Paul write in 2 Corinthians, this is so we need to rely purely on the work of the Holy Spirit, and not our own heroic-ness.
So this is the backdrop and context for today’s readings from Acts – the end of Peter’s speech, to those Israelites who would listen, at the very beginning of Christianity.
This scripture passage describes a recognition in the audience that springs from an accusation. As Peter says in v. 36, "This Jesus whom you crucified, God has made him both Lord and Messiah."
Peter is not accusing this specific audience of being directly complicit in handing Jesus over to be crucified. As we read in the lead up to the crucifixion and resurrection, humanity as a whole failed to recognize what God was doing through Jesus. His resurrection and ascension though, now leave humanity without excuse.
Understanding the charge that they are in conflict with God's purposes and recognizing the possibility of God’s justice, they interrupt Peter to ask how to set things right. This was anticipated by John the Baptist who preached a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3). Jesus began his ministry on earth by saying a similar thing. “Repent and believe the good news” (Mk 1:15).
First, Peter calls for repentance. Now we have spoken a lot about repentance, it refers to a changed mind or a new understanding of the way you are living.
The resurrection and ascension of Jesus requires from humanity a new understanding of who Jesus is. This understanding is a gift from the Holy Spirt, who proceeds directly from he Father and the Son.
Second, Peter tells his hearers to be baptised "in the name of Jesus Christ" so that “your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (v.38). To be released by God from a wrong way of viewing things.
Third, Peter declares that the Holy Spirit is promised to all whom God calls. This is the same Spirit of power that Jesus said God promised (Luke 24:49) and would empower Jesus' followers (Acts 1:8). The presence of the Spirit testifies that salvation is at hand, for it is the same Spirit that was so active in Jesus' own ministry (e.g., Luke 4:14-19).
So what was happening here in terms of discipleship? This wonderful speech by Peter clearly interprets what has happened, but it also causes something to happen. This is how faithful proclamation works in the hands of the Spirit from any disciple at all, including us.
We as the church proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ, and can then leave it up to the Holy Spirit to cause something to happen.
Peter's interpretation of the Christ’s incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension, and arrival of the Holy Spirit brings the assembled crowd to a point of recognition about themselves and about God. This is the ‘aha’ moment. The recognition causes something to happen, allowing for new possibilities.
Peter connects baptism with the Spirit and with the idea that God's promise extends to those present, their children, and everyone whom God calls. Baptism declares a new identity and makes a powerful statement about Christians' identity as forgiven and free people, people given the capacity to live in authentic relationship with God and with one another through the power of the Holy Spirit.
So the disciples mission is simply this. Proclaiming God the Son, Jesus Christ, in our actions with other people. Loving each other and loving our neighbour. It is in this way that we love God the Father with all we have. We can leave the rest to God the Holy Spirit. Amen.