Steve Sikes Blog  

What if you didn’t believe in angels or spirits? What if you majored in adhering to law where “an eye for an eye” literally meant “AN EYE FOR AN EYE!”? What if you didn’t believe in the resurrection – either Jesus’ or you own?

When I was growing up, my mother told me about an aristocratic group of priests in the Bible called SADDUCEES that supported the above beliefs. “Stevie,” she said, “If you didn’t believe in angels or in the resurrection of the dead – you, too, would be SAD…. YOU SEE!” I’ve always remembered her play on words, but never more than this week as I re-studied Peter’s second sermon found in Acts 3:12-26.

Peter opens his discourse following a miracle and the observers’ misplaced amazement. Peter redirects their amazement to, “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers (verse 13).” “HE IS NOT THE GOD OF THE DEAD BUT OF THE LIVING! (Matthew 22:32).”

Then in less than 15 verses, Peter unfolds the Gospel story in a very unique way. Like a mender of nets, Peter amazingly weaves God’s redemptive work using divine thread by pen-ning the following ten descriptors of His Son: His servant Jesus, the Holy and Righteous One, the Prince of life, the One whom God raised from the dead, Jesus, His Christ, the Lord, Jesus the Christ, a Prophet, and His Servant!

Nearing conclusion, Peter exhorts his audience, some of them Sadducees, to repent and turn back to God! Why? 1) That your sins may be wiped away. 2) That times of refreshing may come. 3) That God may send Jesus for you!

JESUS IS NOT DEAD! JESUS IS RISEN AND I’M GLAD….YOU SEE! AMAZING!

God is good all the time! Mr. Steve