#DailyDevotion God’s Ways Certainly Aren’t Our Ways

Acts 2:14a, 22-30 Then Peter got up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: ²²“Men of Israel, listen to what I have to say: Jesus from Nazareth — God showed you Who the Man is by doing miracles, startling wonders, and miraculous signs through Him among you, as you know. ²³God definitely planned and intended to have Him betrayed, and so you had wicked men nail Him to a cross, and you killed Him. ²⁴But God set aside the pains of death and raised Him – death could not hold Him. ²⁵David says of Him: I always see the Lord before Me. He is at My right hand so that I will not be shaken. ²⁶And so My heart is glad, and My tongue rejoices, yes, even My body will rest hopefully, ²⁷because You will not leave Me in the grave or let Your Loved One experience decay. ²⁸You show Me ways of life. You will fill Me with joy by being with Me.’ ²⁹Fellow Jews, I can tell you frankly our ancestor David died and was buried, and his grave is here to this day. ³⁰He was a prophet and knew God had sworn to him to put one of his descendants on his throne.

Peter says these people knew who Jesus was or rather what he had been doing. Since these men were from all over the world I think we can assume he means the miracles Jesus performed before Passover in and around Jerusalem. They must have heard how Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. Of course the Jews that lived in Judea would have known much more Jesus had done over the last three years. The question being by whose power and authority was Jesus doing these things. Nicodemas in the Gospel lesson of John three tells us, “we know You’re a teacher who has come from God. No one can do these miracles You do unless God is with him.” We also know many, out of jealousy would deny this.

These Jewish people who were there from Passover to Pentecost also would have known about Jesus’ crucifixion. Now here is a mystery which reveals a lot to us if we are willing to accept it. God works through means, in this case evil men, to accomplish his purposes, and still hold these men accountable. So Peter says, “God definitely planned and intended to have Him betrayed.” Then he follows that with, “so you had wicked men nail Him to a cross, and you killed Him.” God did not make them wicked men. But he did use the wickedness of their hearts to accomplish his purposes. That purpose is their very salvation, if they would believe it.

Now, more than that, God who used evil men to kill his son did not abandon Jesus to the grave. God raised Jesus from the dead. Death has no power over Jesus. Remember Jesus had said, “I have authority to give up my life and to take it back again.” Peter tells us Jesus is fulfilling the prophecy in Psalm 16. David was not speaking of himself because his grave is with us to this day and his body suffered decay. God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day so he did not suffer decay. More than that, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus is seated on David’s throne as the LORD God had promised David.

Jesus died for our sins and was raised for our justification. Believe this and you will rest quietly in your graves and will be raised to eternal life on the Last Day. Though your body see decay you will be raised incorruptible. In this faith you can rest now in peace knowing Jesus raised from the dead means the Father has forgiven you and is at peace with you.

Heavenly Father, you had Jesus killed so my sins would be forgiven. You raised him from the dead so I may have eternal life. Grant faith in these works always so we may live in your peace now and forever. In Jesus’ name we pray.