Day 14 – Acts 3: 12-19
In verse 12 of Acts 3, we find Peter addressing some onlookers. These people have just seen Peter and John healing a lame man at the temple gate and people are in awe and shocked at what had just happened. And then Peter proceeds to tell them why they are wrong for being surprised. He gives us a very brief description of those final days of Jesus but yet Peter is explaining it by telling us how the Israelite people failed. When faced with the word becoming flesh they fail to see and recognise who he is.
I find this an extremely important passage when I think about and do mission work. As a youth and student worker, I am constantly faced with people who reject Jesus or want nothing to do with Him. Where is my enthusiasm for mission when yet another student at a fresher fair tells me to get lost when I ask if they want to try church? Yet here in this passage, Peter is showing us that we are all faced with failure and rejected. Jesus was by His own people and yet the opportunity for repentance is offered. It is these people, the Israelites, God’s chosen people, who have done so much wrong. It is these people, the Israelites, God’s chosen people, who don’t recognise who Jesus is. It is these people, the Israelites who push Him to death. Yet in this failure there is hope. An offer is open to us all that, despite our failings, forgiveness is possible through Jesus Christ.
This is a hope that we must hold when attempting a life of mission. A life that will be full of ups and downs yet through it all our lives are covered in that forgiveness. We will fail when we attempt our lives of mission, we are only human, but we are covered by HIS Grace. If Jesus can forgive the ones who did not prevent Him from dying then He can forgive us.
Lord, we thank you for forgiveness. We ask that as we move forward in our lives of mission that we always remember that it’s ok if we fail and that Your grace always covers us.
By Adam Wilkinson
Newcastle Central & East Circuit
Charged Youth One Program Worker & Jesmond Methodist Church Student Worker Intern