2 Samuel 7:1-8:18
Wow. I don’t know how you could read Nathan’s prophecy and not have your jaw drop at the blatant references to Jesus. He will be of the offspring of David - check. God will establish his kingdom - check. He will build a house for God’s name - check. His throne will be established for ever - check. God will be his father - check. And he will be God’s son - check. God will punish him with floggings inflicted by men - check. But God’s love will never be taken away from him - check. His kingdom shall endure for ever - check. It’s all there - the whole life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus spelt out in nearly as many words. God is just so, so amazing the he could inspire the whole of the old testament to be all about Jesus before Jesus was even born and that he could then weave the life of Jesus into history in such a way that it would fulfill everything that the Old Testament had said. Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family that you have brought me this far? Who am I O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family that you would have called me into this thing. How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no-one like you. There is no-one like you.
Acts 2:22-47
As sermons go, this is a pretty hot one. It’s a shame it’s not downloadable on itunes. Throughout Acts it’s always worth noting who the audience is as the apostles seem to wheel out different arguments for different people - in this case the audience are the Jews. Peter therefore takes care to ground his message in the accepted truth of the Old Testament, showing how Jesus fulfilled the promises that the people have already built their hope upon. But, while Peter speaks in a language his audience would understand, he never strays far from the message of the exalted nature of Jesus. He did signs and wonders that showed how great he was. He was so great that death could not keep its hold on him, he was so great that his body could not see decay. He was therefore exalted to the right hand of God and he is Lord and King. (Lord of everything and King of everything is the assumed implication of those words.) But Peter tells his audience that they failed to, or refused to, recognise his greatness and instead put him to death with the help of wicked men. Exalted nature of Jesus on one side and ignorant, rebellious acts of people on the other. The message has remained the same throughout the centuries even if the language has swayed back and forth in the wind. Jesus is the boss and if we don’t recognise that then we are in the wrong. But, of course, it is not gospel, it is not good news without the offer of repentance, without the promise of forgiveness of sins and receipt of the Spirit to fight for you and redeem you and make you all that God wants you to be. But, when we live in that redemption, when we feel and see the Spirit moving among us then we know that this thing that we are in is the very best news that there ever is going to be.
Proverbs 14:5-14
It’s funny how often I find a part of me mocking thoughts I have about repenting to someone or trying to make amends for my wrongs. It’s helpful to be able to call that out as foolishness. I hope that means I can dampen its voice in the future.
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