Today’s scripture passage: Acts 2:25-41.
A couple things about this passage. One, Acts can sort of be called “Peter and Paul’s sermon book”. There's 38 sermons or speeches in the book of Acts so, it feels like all Peter and Paul did was run around the Mediterranean giving speeches. These sermons are the framing device that
Luke chooses to use to frame events. It's almost as if an event happens and then Luke uses Peter and Paul’s speeches to help us interpret or understand the events that happen. That's because stories have power, stories in the words that we use have power.
We don't always give that credit. We can give a list of facts about a date or a list of facts about an event but a good history writer or a good biography writer will draw you into the story as if it were a novel.
Luke chooses to draw these sermons in as if they're part of a story. Which is really what they are - Peter here tells the story of Jesus as his evidence when people question him. Peter doesn't fight back he doesn't get angry or yell, he chooses to tell the story of Jesus.
We don't give enough power to the stories that we choose to tell the children, the stories we choose to remember. We sometimes we rely too much on argument, on fighting, on angry words, when we're farther along just to tell the story.
Just to tell the story. “This is my experience.” “This is why I understand
these things this way.” This event affects me this way because I remember this story. I think if we were honest with ourselves about the stories that define our lives, the memories that we remember at three in the morning or the memories we remember when something happens then maybe we
would interpret events differently.
Maybe we would understand the world differently. Maybe we would understand Jesus a little differently.
What stories do you have to tell about yourself? About your world?
What stories do you have to talk about Jesus? What stories do you have to tell about the church which has brought you comfort and peace and turmoil all at once?
Go and tell the story.
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