Jonah Albrecht

2nd Sunday After Easter

April 14th, 2024

Acts 3:11-21

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name– by faith in his name– has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. 17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

Grace, Mercy, and Peace to you from God our Father, and from our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

The term Carpe Diem has an ancient history. It was first used by a Roman poet named Horace in 23 B.C. He wanted to express the idea to enjoy life while one is still able to. His full line, “carpe diem quam minimum credula postero,” or, pluck the day trusting as little as possible about the next. Over the years, especially in the 20th and 21st century, the original meaning of Carpe Diem has been hijacked to simply mean, “seize the day!” Take advantage of the time you have and do something great.

In our text for this morning, Peter’s sermon has a flavor of Carpe Diem in it. He and John had recently healed a man who had been lame from birth. The crowds of people marveled as they were used to seeing this man in the temple every day begging. Now, they see him leaping around the temple grounds and praising God. Peter sees this as an opportunity to reach his fellow countrymen with God’s Carpe Diem. Except, God is not calling the people to find as much pleasure as they can while they are alive, nor is He expecting them to go and perform great acts. God’s Carpe Diem is this: Hear My Word concerning your sin while you still can. Hear My Word concerning your salvation while you still can.

After Jesus had risen from the dead, He had given His disciples the Great Commission. They were to go and spread the Gospel to whomever they could across the globe. That mission was to begin in Jerusalem, among their own people. That is why Peter and John were entering the temple that day. They didn’t need to follow all that was in the Mosaic Law regarding festivals and traditions. But they did so anyway in order that they might not cause offense to their kinsmen and be able to share with them how Jesus of Nazareth was the fulfillment of the Old Testament.

11While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people came running toward them in utter amazement in the area called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why are you staring at us, as if by our own power or godliness we have made this man walk?

Peter immediately recognized the opportunity God had laid before Him and John. God had used the miracle of healing to draw in a large number of Jews at one time. Did any of you catch the total eclipse on tv last week? A pretty amazing phenomenon. It was interesting as they interviewed people live along the path of totality, the wonder and amazement that had come upon them. Some even got very emotional as they experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity. That reaction may be similar to the people in Peter’s day, witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime event of a lame man being completely healed.

The unfortunate reality of the eclipse is that many people think it was simply a coincidence. A result of billions of years of chance. Whereas we know “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork.” Peter left no doubt in the people’s hearts and minds about who was behind the phenomenon they were witnessing. It was not some trick, nor was it any power that was within Peter and John, but God working through them.

Now, Peter could have pointed to God as the source of the healing simply moved on. Instead, he impresses on their hearts the testimony of God’s Carpe Diem: Recognize your sins while there still is time.

13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and disowned in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you. 15You killed the Author of Life, whom God raised from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

Peter minces no words. Flatly and plainly, he implicates the Jews there present in the death of Jesus. They were worse than Pilate because even Pilate would have released Jesus, but they disowned Him. They chose to release a murderer, a destroyer of life and sentence to death the very Author and giver of Life. Why then do they marvel at this now? Why did they not marvel at the miracles Jesus did, or in the fact that He Himself rose from the dead? Because in their hearts they still rejected Him.

It is hard to show more pointed Law than that. To be directly responsible for the death of someone who is innocent is bad enough, but the Son of God? And yet, that is the Law we preach every Sunday, and really, every day of our lives, is it not? The Jews are not the only ones responsible for the death of Jesus, but the wages of sin is death; the soul who sins shall die; all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. You and I are on the receiving end of Peter’s words by nature. I killed the Author of Life because I am a sinful man. You are a sinful person. Your sin killed the Author of Life.

In 1999 Dr Paul Brand and Philip Yancey co-wrote a book called “Pain: the Gift Nobody Wants.” Brand was born to missionary parents in India and spent much of his life caring for people who had leprosy. One of Dr Brand’s greatest discoveries was that people with leprosy do not have “bad flesh” that just rots away. The problem is that blood flow is restricted to certain parts of their body, and their nerve endings die. With this death of their nerve endings comes the inability to sense danger to their bodies. Lepers live pain free. Wouldn’t that be nice to live pain-free? Maybe, until you realize pain-free is actually the greatest enemy of a leper and they harm their bodies without knowing it. Many would go blind because they didn’t blink and felt no pain from their eyes drawing out.

God has allowed us to feel pain. He has allowed us to feel regret and guilt. This is why the Law is preached every Sunday. This is why you are constantly reminded of your sin. Lest you become noseblind to sin and end up blind, unable to see God because the light of faith has gone out.

Peter’s accusation to the Jews and, to all who have sinned against God, is not a ploy to get an emotional reaction. It is the truth and a call for something to be done before they are lost forever.

17“Now brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just like your leaders. 18But in this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through the mouth of all the prophets: that his Christ would suffer. 19Therefore repent and return to have your sins wiped out, 20so that refreshing times may come from the presence of the Lord and that he may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you.

God allows us to feel pain and regret, but He does not intend for us to be consumed by it. For physical pain He has blessed us with medical technology that can treat the source of pain and relieve it. What about regret? That relief is not found in pills, or at the bottom of a bottle, but it is found in God’s gracious invitation: 19Therefore repent and return to have your sins wiped out. God broke the spirit of indignancy in the Jews listening to Peter just as He breaks the spirit of pride that loves to take root in our own hearts. He wants us to realize how much we deserve nothing but hell for all that we have done. He does this to open the door to the sweetness of the Gospel; to send forth His call to repentance and restore the gaping hole left by the Law with His grace, mercy, and everlasting love. God’s Carpe Diem: Repent and be comforted by the Gospel while there is time.

Yes, it is true that the sins of the Jews and the sins of you and me brought the death of Jesus. And yet, at the same time, it is true that this was God’s plan from the beginning. It was God’s will that the Christ should suffer, that He should die at the hands of sinful men, but that He should also be raised from the dead. All this was His plan for the Jews that Peter addressed that day in Solomon’s Colonnade. It was His plan for all of you, both here in church and those watching online. So that you too may receive the comfort from knowing that your sins are forgiven. Your guilt has been washed away and, as a result, refreshing times may come from the presence of the Lord and that he may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you.

The temple in Jerusalem was the most important building to the Jews in that day because it was the House of God. It was where God’s presence came to be with His people. What is the result of the forgiveness and faith that comes through Jesus? The presence of the LORD is with you wherever you may be.

For the lame man: 16And on the basis of faith in his name, it is the name of Jesus that has strengthened this man, whom you see and know. This faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

God blessed his faith with the perfect healing so that he was able to walk again. God has blessed your faith too. 1. He has enabled you to feel pain and guilt over your sin. This is a blessing because it is a reminder to turn our focus on Him. 2. He has given you the perfect life, innocent death, and glorious resurrection of His Son Jesus so that previous pain and guilt is taken away.

Refreshing times are ahead for you, me, and all who call upon the name of the LORD. Think of the benediction that is pronounced at the end of every service. Every part of it is built on God’s call to repentance and the comfort He puts in its place: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Most of the terms in this benediction are related to each other. They double down on the assurance that the God who has called you to His side is not going to leave you on your own. But that His grace, His love that delivered you from the pangs of hell, will continue to abide in you every day of your life.

This is God’s Carpe Diem. It is His call to us: Hear the Law and repent of your sin NOW, before it is too late. It is His invitation to us: Hear of the love God had for us in that while we were still sinners Jesus died for us and receive the comfort that this salvation brings.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.