Sermon at Pentecost

Occasion: The Baptism of the Church in the Holy Spirit (promised by the Lord Jesus). The is the only unambiguous example of a baptism in the New Testament. But its significance is not in the method used to baptize but in the result of that baptism. By sending the Holy Spirit Jesus gave notice to the world that he had been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Though we are removed from the events in Acts 2:1-36 by over 20 centuries yet, in principle - by our sins - we are as guilty of crucifying Jesus as the Jews of the time. Peter's sermon on that day is, therefore, something we all need to hear.

The festival of Shavuot celebrates both the end of the wheat harvest (in Israel) and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. This was the occasion for the gathering of the Jews in Jerusalem. It was a cheerful crowd who gathered. No doubt most had forgotten the events of that last Passover (if they even knew) for the disciples had been out of the public eye.

They had been meeting with Jesus and had been given indisputable proof of his resurrection during this time. Though greatly encouraged by the events of the weeks since Passover and though they did gather together it appears they still followed a policy of not making themselves obvious. The coming of the Holy Spirit changed all that.

Peter's sermon was the first of many that were to trouble some of the Jewish nation for the next 100 years. The theme was particularly troubling. Peter, as others would also do, proclaimed Jesus was the promised Messiah. Scripture, events they had witnessed and God raising him from the dead acknowledged him as such. He finished by reminding them of the contrast between God's treatment of him and theirs.

Content: Peter answered the charge that the disciples were drunk as a "reason" why they were behaving strangely by pointing to the Scripture (Joel 2:28-32) as the real explanation.
1. Jesus is the Christ: He then reminds his hearers of the events they had heard of Jesus of Nazareth and which, no doubt many had actually witnessed. These, events; the miracles, wonders and signs were (as everyone knew) indications of God's favor. Yet, in accordance with God's predetermined plan and foreknowledge they (the Jewish people) had him nailed to a cross, putting him to death.
2. Jesus was resurrected: This was the explanation of a passage in Psalm 16:8-11 which apparently speaks of God not abandoning David's soul to Hell nor allowing God's "Holy One" to see corruption. "We know," says Peter, "that David both died and was buried and his tomb is with us to this day..." Obviously it couldn't be David but, being a prophet he looked forward to speak of his descendant Jesus of whom this was true. Peter points to himself and his fellow disciples as witnesses of the fact that God raised him from the dead.
3. Jesus is Lord: Now, having ascended into heaven, Jesus sent forth the Holy Spirit resulting in the manifestations they had heard and seen. For (remember the disciples are witnesses) David did not ascend into heaven but Jesus did, so Psalm 110:1 applies to him, not David. So, because this is so, they need to remember that it was God who made him both Lord and Christ and they had put him to death.