Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
(If you would like to listen to today’s Advent Bible verse, it’s available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/ntBo3qWn_GM )
We read yesterday about Simeon. He celebrated the fact that after a lifetime of patient waiting his eyes had seen God’s promised salvation. Today we jump forward thirty odd years and eavesdrop on Peter’s first sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41). Peter had had his eyes opened, along with many others. For example, Luke tells us about two disciples on the road to Emmaus and how their eyes had been opened to recognise that it had been the risen Jesus walking with them (Luke 24:13-35). Jesus had explained to them how it was all there in the OT Scriptures for those who had eyes to see. And later that day Jesus appeared to all of them (including Peter) and opened their minds so that they could understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:36-49).
In our Advent verse for today (Acts 2:38) Peter highlights two of the great promises of God that were being kept on the day of Pentecost. There was the promise of universal forgiveness. The prophet Isaiah had promised a Saviour (known as the Suffering Servant of the Lord) who would save his people from their sins. Joseph, in his dream, had been told that he was to name Mary’s child ‘Jesus’, because, said the angel, ‘he will save his people from their sins’. (Matthew 1:21)
And there was the promise of the Spirit for every believer. The prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel foretold a new covenant, a covenant which included the outpouring of God’s Spirit, not just on special individuals for a specific purpose and for a set time, but on all believers everywhere for all time. Peter in fact has already quoted from the prophet Joel whose prophecy was being fulfilled before his listeners’ very eyes (Acts 2:16-21).
We prayed yesterday that eyes would be opened so that we might see the promised glory that awaits us in the future. Peter’s eyes were opened so that he could see what God had been doing (right under his nose) in the immediate past. It gave him a story to tell, and tell it he did!
So today, let’s celebrate God’s promises kept, and rejoice in the forgiveness of all our sins together with the gift of God’s Spirit. And let’s not keep it all to ourselves!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that through and because of Jesus, my sins, have been forgiven, are being forgiven, and will be forever forgiven. And thank you too for the gift of your Spirit making it all so wonderfully real. May your Spirit empower me to tell others of Jesus in the days ahead. Amen.
Alan Bailyes 