Ponder Peter’s Punchy Preaching!

2nd Sunday of Easter, 4/15/12
Acts 3:12-20


Ponder Peter’s Punchy Preaching!
I. You killed the author of life.
II. But God raised him from the dead.


At a seminary the course which teaches the student how to develop, write and preach a sermon is called homiletics. In my library I still have my copy of the homiletics textbook that was used during my seminary days. Regarding the introduction to the sermon, that textbook states, “A preacher who begins [his sermon] by abruptly stating: ‘’Today we are going to talk about how prayer changes things,’ may be speaking to people who are praying for changes in the way their pastor introduces his sermons.”

And you chuckle a bit. That’s one good way of beginning a sermon—with a little humor. That textbook goes on to state that it’s important in the introduction to “enlist the attention and the good will of the hearer.” So, do I have your attention? I hope so.

Today’s sermon text contains a sermon that the Apostle Peter preached. Peter didn’t have to resort to humor to get the attention of his hearers. The verse right before our text states, “”While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them.” Peter had their rapt attention. Why? He had just performed a miracle through the power of the risen Jesus which enabled this crippled man to walk.

He had their attention and he didn’t waste this opportunity. In a brief and yet forceful way, Peter shared God’s saving word with this crowd of Jewish people gathered in the temple courtyard. And with his words Peter punched these people with what they needed to hear more than anything else—their sins which condemned them and their Savior who forgave them.

This morning let’s take a look at what he said and take his words to heart. Ponder Peter’s punchy preaching! May God’s powerful word enjoy the same results today that it did when Peter first preached it.

Part I.

Are you familiar with what a paradox is? One definition is that a paradox is a statement that contradicts itself. I’ll give you an example. A man named Georg Hegel had this to say about history, “We learn from history that we do not learn from history.” You likely agree with his statement, but, if you think about it, it doesn’t make sense. And yet it’s true. That’s a paradox.

Did you catch the paradox in today’s text? If not, let me help you. In his punchy preaching, Peter told his hearers, “You killed the author of life.” You can guess that Peter is speaking about Jesus, but in what way is he the author of life? As the eternal Son of God, Jesus was active in creating all things. He not only was present, he was active in creating plant and animal life, but, more importantly, he was active in forming human beings from the dust of the ground and breathing into them the breath of life as the second chapter of the Bible states.

Not only that, but he is also the one who gives us real life—eternal life. Jesus once declared, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (Jn. 10:10). Jesus is the One through whom sinners, condemned to eternal death in hell, receive eternal life with God in heaven. He did that by living a perfect life for us and dying as the punishment for our sins. The author of life dies! What a saving paradox!

But look what his fellow Jews had done to him! The Jewish leaders had rejected him to the point of stopping at nothing to put him to death. Here was the One that God had promised for thousands of years to send. But they quickly come to the conclusion that he’s not the One they’re looking for. Worse yet, they view him as a threat. So they plot to murder him and succeed. How could they? How unthinkable!

But notice Peter’s punchy preaching. He doesn’t only point his accusing finger in the direction of the Jewish leaders. He levels the boom of God’s law right at his hearers and blasts them with the words, “You killed the author of life.” He charges these people with the death of Jesus, the worst crime of all. His unspoken question is, “How could you?” How unthinkable!

But isn’t Peter stretching the truth here? How can he blame them for crucifying Jesus? Not one of them came to his defense. Not one of them opposed what their leaders were doing. They remained silent and their silence was deafening. They had killed the author of life.

But there’s the paradox. God used this most evil deed—the rejection and crucifixion of the Son of God—to accomplish the greatest promise and plan of all—the saving of a world full of sinners.

Ponder Peter’s punchy preaching. You killed the author of life.

The words Peter preached that day are timeless. He’s preaching them to me and you today. He tells you and me, “You killed the author of life.” None of us had the opportunity to defend Jesus or to oppose his enemies, but we killed him all the same. My sins and yours made his death necessary. My selfishness and thoughtlessness, my impatience and prejudices, my discontent and materialism, all these sins and others that I commit on a regular, daily basis, made the death of Christ necessary. And yet, what a divine paradox, that through that death God gives me and you life! He uses the greatest evil to accomplish the highest good! So why doubt him? Why question his ways? Why do we suggest that we know better than he does? Let the salvation that he worked out for you cause you to trust him completely for your eternal life to come and your earthly life right now.

Part II.

We began this morning by talking about what makes a good beginning to a sermon. But what about the whole sermon? When thinking about the whole sermon, what makes a good one for you? I suppose that’s rather subjective. Maybe it’s just what you needed to hear since you’re facing a particular issue in your life. Maybe it’s good when it holds your interest. Maybe it’s good because you’ve never heard it said quite that way before.

How about this one? A good sermon points hearers to Jesus’ death and his resurrection. That’s exactly what Peter’s punchy preaching does.

Right after leveling against them the charge of killing Jesus, Peter announces, “But God raised him from the dead.” Peter proclaimed Christ’s death and his resurrection.

Without a doubt, the resurrection of Jesus is the focus of our faith. It’s been said, and correctly so, that every Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. That’s one of the reasons Christians chose Sunday as their day of worship. Each Sunday we focus on the fact that we have a Savior who not only died for us but rose again. He now lives and rules eternally for us!

What refreshing news that is! That’s exactly what Peter preached about. He told his hearers, “Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, and that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” At the beginning of our worship, we confessed our sins of thought, word and deed. We’re guilty, no question about it. And the news of the resurrection of Jesus is just what we need to hear. The resurrection of Jesus is the certainty of our forgiveness. A risen Jesus means his death paid for the sins of the world, yours and mine included. A risen Savior means God the Father accepted the death of Jesus as payment in full for the sins of the world. My earthly life may be in a turmoil, but my spiritual life is secure in the certainty that all is well between the holy God and me. How refreshing!

The resurrection of Jesus also means that our God has our eternal future all figured out and guaranteed for us. We may not know what tomorrow will bring us, but eternal life awaits us through faith in Jesus. Our focus shouldn’t be on this life, but on the one to come which Jesus made sure for us by his resurrection. How refreshing!

Peter closes with a third certainty which results from Christ’s resurrection. His punchy preaching states, “That he may send the Christ, who was appointed for you.” Peter was referring to our Lord’s return to this earth on the Last Day. Just as Jesus promised to rise again from the dead, so also he promised his second coming to this earth. The Bible calls that day our glorious redemption. That will be our Savior’s final act of salvation for us, when he will raise our bodies just as he raised his, glorify our bodies and free us eternally from the effects of sin. From that day forward eternally, there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for those who trust in Christ. How refreshing! And it’s all because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Ponder Peter’s punchy preaching. Yes, Jesus died and our sins had a hand in it but God raised him from the dead!

So, what problem are you facing right now that the resurrection of Jesus doesn’t address and ultimately answer? Whether our bodies or hearts are aching, whether we’re facing some real need, whether our immediate future is tentative at best and completely uncertain at worst, whether we’re feeling overwhelmed or used or unappreciated, whether we’re feeling uncertain or insecure about a family situation, the resurrection of Jesus assures us that all is well in what matters most—our relationship with our God. In fact, it’s eternally certain!

The death and resurrection of Jesus—that’s what good preaching is all about. Don’t leave behind our Lord’s word through Peter as you depart today. Instead, ponder them. Ponder Peter’s punchy preaching and receive the daily comfort and confidence it gives. Amen.