Regret to Redemption--Pentecost

 

Exodus 32--Regret

We begin with one of the most famous, regret-filled moments in the history of Israel.  This nation of former slaves has been miraculously rescued, under the leadership of Moses and the power of God.  They were spared the effect of the plagues, they were passed over by the death angel because of the blood applied to their doorposts.  They walked on dry land through the Red Sea, they watched their former captors drown in pursuit of them.  They were led by God's glory in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  They ate the bread of heaven, freely provided.  They traveled into the wilderness for approximately 49 days, complaining about conditions and pining for Egypt, the land of their slavery.  On the 50th day, according to Jewish scholars, Moses went up on Mount Sinai to meet with God and to receive the law.  The people heard God speak the Ten Commandments from the base of the mountain (Exodus 20:1) The law was meant to teach this new, growing community how to live in covenant with God and with each other.  They HEARD God say not to have any other gods beside Him. They HEARD Him say not to make for themselves a "carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.  You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God..." When the people heard all 10 commandments--along with the thunder, lightning, smoke, ram's horn blasting--they trembled with fear.  They asked Moses to go get the message from God and bring it back to them.  While Moses was gone, the people gathered around Aaron and begged for a god to worship.  Aaron, seemingly without hesitation, had everyone bring their gold jewelry to him.  He melted it down and molded it into the shape of a calf, which the people promptly worshipped.  Moses comes down from the mountain to the sound of a party. God wanted to destroy them (which would've been right, fair, and just), but Moses interceded on their behalf for grace and mercy.  Aaron, the priest in charge of  ministering to the Israelites,  gave an excuse that can be traced back to the garden of Eden--he blamed everyone else.   Moses called anyone who would be on the LORD's side to come join him, and the Levites gathered around him.   The LORD commanded them to kill everyone---brothers, friends, neighbors.  3,000 people died that day.  

Acts 2--Redemption

Jesus was crucified around the time of Passover.  We know this because He was in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, with many other devout Jews.  The Last Supper was the Passover meal.  When the powers that be were plotting His arrest, they said "We can't arrest Him during a festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people."  (Matt. 26:3) We know because Jesus said it Himself "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified." (Matt. 26:2)  After He was crucified, He spent three days in the tomb and--spoiler alert!!--He rose from the grave.  For 40 days, Jesus appeared to His disciples, His family, and strangers.  (Paul cites a crowd of 500 people at once in 1 Cor. 15:6)  He spent that time talking to His followers about the Kingdom of God.  In Acts 1, right before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His followers to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promised gift, the Holy Spirit.  10 days later, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came!  Like the first Pentecost, celebrated in the wilderness 50 days after the first Passover, it was unusually loud---a violent rushing wind, tongues like flames of fire, different languages being spoken and understood.  Like Aaron, Peter had been commissioned to "feed the sheep", aka minister to the people.  Unlike Aaron, Peter didn't lead the people in a drunken, idolatrous party.  He preached the gospel.  He told the story of Jesus, crucified, buried, and risen again. When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart.  Much like Moses called for those willing to step over to God's side, Peter told the crowd "Repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and you will receive the Holy Spirit".  He urged them strongly to be saved from this corrupt generation.  3,000 people were saved that day.  

So what just happened?  50 days after the first Passover--a festival to celebrate rescue from slavery in Egypt-- God gave the law to Moses and the Israelites.  The law shone a light on the sin already in the heart of mankind.  Our sinful nature wants to break rules--ask those who built a golden calf  right after being told not to.  Ask any mom whose child reaches for the cookie jar right after being told not to.  Ask me while I drive 62 right after seeing a 55 speed limit posted.  The law worked as a guardian for them until Christ; the purpose was to point out their inability to keep the standard so they would long for the One who could and would.  The law brought DEATH to 3,000 in one day. 50 days after Passover--the day Jesus finally and forever rescued us from the slavery of sin-- Jesus redeemed that number by bringing LIFE to 3,000 through the coming of His Spirit.   

For those who spend their days trying to be good and do good in an effort to win God's favor, that is a road that leads to death. All we bring to the table in our salvation is shame and regret.  Let Jesus turn your regret to redemption through the power of His Spirit, given freely to those who believe.