Peter’s sermon in Acts 3 isn’t just an evangelistic speech. As soon as Peter mentions Jesus, he reminds the Jews of what they did to Jesus. He shifts into accusation gear. He becomes a witness for the prosecution.

The Jews delivered Jesus up to the Romans and disowned Him before Pilate. In renouncing Jesus, they renounced the Holy and Righteous One, the Prince of Life.

But the Jews went a step further. They chose a murderer instead. Pilate gave them the same choice they had on the plains of Moab. Moses said, “I set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity. Therefore, Choose life.” Pilate echoes this with: “I set before you the Prince of Life and Barabbas, a murderer. Choose.”

And they choose death. And so they’re enslaved to death. Their house is a house of death. They turned the temple into a den of killers. The temple has become a tomb, full of dead men’s bones, polluted by the innocent blood of Jesus.

It’s going to get even worse. Moses promised Yahweh would raise up a future Prophet. Jesus is that Prophet, “raised” from the grave, raised to heaven. But the Jews refuse to listen, and so they stand under the threat of utter destruction. The Lord is ready to unleash herem war against His people.

All is not lost. There’s still hope. Peter knows they acted in ignorance, and sins of ignorance can be forgiven. They have the blood of Jesus on their hands, but that same blood, the blood they shed, will wipe away their sins if they repent. They get a second chance to choose life.

We’re still surrounded by death. We live in a culture of death – abortion, crime, war, economic oppression. Death seems to reign supreme. It has all the endowments and foundation funding. Death holds all the cards.

Things are not as they seem. Death can only destroy. It cannot heal or give life. In the end, death is impotent against a Lord who, once killed, returns, now beyond the reach of death. Death cannot stop the Prince of Life.

In a world of death, we’re still in the resurrection business. The Name and Spirit of Jesus is with us, and through that Spirit and Name we spread life. We are the source of refreshing waters. Times of refreshment come from Jesus, through His people.

Blessings,
Pastor Leithart