Wrested

"This is that which," Acts 2:16.

This? this what? This event, the event that currently unfolded in the hearing and sight of the gathered crowd. This. This is that. That what? That thing the prophet Joel had talked about 8 centuries earlier (or maybe a mere 5 centuries earlier). He had said the thing would happen in those coming days. This, that, those? This event, unfolding right then, is that thing Joel prophesied about centuries ago. These days are Joel's those days. Woah! Wait a minute. Messy! Back up. Who's talking? Peter. When's he talking? About 7 weeks after Jesus had been killed. And then raised back up to life. From the dead. By God. OK. So, what's the event of such interest? The outpouring of God's Holy Spirit on his people: opening the gates into Christ's kingdom. This Jesus, God has made Lord and Christ. And he is become king of the kingdom. This was that. This is it. Sky kingdom.

That we have a brother or sister to visit with today shows Jesus' two-millennial long (so far) reign. And, together, we give thanks to God for the eternal kingdom he wrested out of a lamb's death.