Acts 2:14a; 22-36—But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them…

²² “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— ²³ this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. ²⁴ God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. ²⁵ For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,

for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;

²⁶   therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;

my flesh also will dwell in hope.

²⁷   For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,

or let your Holy One see corruption.

²⁸   You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

²⁹ “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰ Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, ³¹ he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. ³² This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. ³³ Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. ³⁴ For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

³⁵        until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’

³⁶ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from the Triune God Who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

As I mentioned last week, the sermon text this week is a continuation of Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost.  The people who compiled the lexicon decided to keep a tiny little part of v. 14 to make sure that we remember that Peter is preaching.

Peter’s sermon is interesting.  Peter, you remember is that bold disciple who always has something to say.  Peter was usually the one who would speak when the other disciples were silent.

It was Peter who asked Jesus if he could come out to walk on the water (Mt. 14:22-33).

It was Peter who confessed about Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt. 16:16).

It was Peter who bragged, “Even if all the other disciples fall away, I will never fall away.”  And even when Jesus foretold Peter’s denial, Peter spoke even further, “Even if I must die with You, I will never deny You” (Mt. 26:31-35).

It was also Peter who spoke beside the fire in the court of the Sanhedrin when he was asked three times if he knew Jesus.  It was Peter, when he was asked this third time if he knew Jesus, who called down a curse upon himself (Mk. 14:66-72).

Peter likes to talk.  So what is Peter going to preach about after his Lord Jesus has died, risen, and ascended into heaven?

Peter preaches about Jesus Christ, crucified, risen, and ascended to the Father with all rule and authority.  Peter preaches about Jesus, but he also preaches about his hearers.  Peter says, “You saw this Jesus of Nazareth.  He was in your midst doing mighty works, wonders, and signs.  You saw those mighty works of God that Jesus was doing, but you killed Him.”

Peter puts the Lord Jesus Christ before the crowd.  Peter points his finger at the crowd and says two times, “You crucified Him.”  That’s a pretty bold statement to make, “This Jesus, Whom you crucified.”  That’s a bold statement, Peter.

It was just 50 days before, that Peter denied even knowing Jesus.  And now, Peter isn’t being asked if he knows Jesus, Peter is only being accused of being drunk.  All Peter can do is speak about Jesus.  All Peter can do is put the crucified, risen, and ascended Jesus Christ before the crowd.

Peter declares that this is no surprise.  King David wrote about this about a thousand years, a millennium, before.  King David was a prophet who foresaw by the knowledge of God that Jesus would be raised from the dead.  You can go and see David’s tomb, but not Jesus’ tomb.  Jesus was raised and is exalted and seated at the right hand of God ruling and reigning.

Peter says, “Jesus is both Lord and Christ,” then he puts his finger right back in their faces, “Whom you crucified.”

That’s pretty bold Peter it’s pretty bold to point the finger at your listeners when you were the one who denied Him.  But that is what Peter preaches.

Now, notice what Peter doesn’t preach about. Peter doesn’t preach about when Jesus called him and his brother Andrew saying, “Follow Me, and I’ll make you fishers of men” (Mt. 4:18-22).

Peter doesn’t preach about when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, when he himself stood with Moses and Elijah and Jesus as the voice of God said, “This is My Beloved Son with Whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 17:1-8).

Peter doesn’t preach about when many followers abandoned Jesus after He fed the 5000.  Peter doesn’t mention his  response to Jesus’ question, “Do you want to go away as well?”  when Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life” (Jn. 6:66-69).

Maybe the most interesting thing is that Peter does not preach about the forgiveness that Jesus gave him even after he had denied Jesus (Jn. 21:1-19).  Peter doesn’t speak about that morning on the Sea of Galilee when he jumped out of the boat for joy because he saw Jesus.  Peter doesn’t speak about how he swam to the shore and ate that breakfast with Jesus by the sea.  Peter doesn’t speak about the three times that Jesus asked him, “Peter, do you love Me?”  Peter doesn’t preach that Jesus forgive him and told him to take care of His sheep.

Peter doesn’t tell the crowd, “Your sin may be great, but Jesus forgave me and Jesus can forgive you.”  Peter doesn’t preach about that.

Jesus had forgiven Peter, but Jesus’ work was bigger than that.  Jesus is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of Peter (Jn. 1:29).  Jesus went even deeper and bore Peter’s sins in His body (1 Pet. 2:24).  Jesus confessed Peter’s sins as though Jesus had committed them Himself.  But Jesus went even deeper and actually became Peter’s sin (2 Cor. 5:21).

But Jesus didn’t do this just for Peter.  Jesus’ work is even bigger than that.  Jesus did it for you.

Jesus is the Lamb of God Who takes away your sin.  Jesus went even deeper and bore your sins in His body.  Think about your most secret sins—those sins that are so terrible that you haven’t specifically confessed them—Jesus knew about them even before you committed them.  Jesus confessed your sins as though He had committed them Himself.  Jesus actually became your sin.

Jesus told the Law to get off of your case.  He told the Law, “I, Christ Jesus, the Son of God, will become a curse.”  So the Law accused Christ and killed Him.  Then the law, “looked around and found no other sin anywhere in the world” (Paulson, Steven D.).  Christ is the “end of the law” for you (Ro. 10:4).

There is therefore now no condemnation for you who are in Christ Jesus; He has set you free from the law (Ro. 8:1-2).  And if Jesus Christ, the Son of God, sets you free, you are free indeed (Jn. 8:36).  Amen.