The readings for the third Sunday of Easter are taken from Acts 2:14a, 36-41; 1 Peter 1:17-25; and Luke 24:13-35.
EasterTIDE is filled with lessons that take us from the reality of the accomplished saving work of Jesus to the realization of that saving work in each individual’s life.
This lesson from Acts is a third witness of Peter. His telling of the work of Jesus cuts to the heart those who heard, which makes way for the Spirit’s work of giving a new heart (Ezekiel 36:24ff). The people ask what they should do, BUT Peter’s answer explains that redemption is God’s work. It is God who will bring them to rest in honesty about dependence on Him by granting them repentance and confirming His grace to them in forgiveness and the sacraments. (NOTE: Many English translations have Peter saying, “Save yourselves.” That is impossible and ridiculous to hear. Peter said, “Be saved…” which is a command that God accomplishes through the “many other words” that Peter shared.)
1 Peter records Peter’s words that describe, in yet another way, how God saves us. How would you summarize this text?
Luke records how Jesus comes alongside two disciples on the road and opens the Scriptures so they can understand. Jesus practices with them what Acts 2:42 describes as the essence of the Christian church: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching, the connectedness with each other, the breaking of bread, and the prayers.”