4 August 2010
Psalm 119:97-120; Judges 7:19-8:12; Acts 3:12-26; John 1:29-42

Gideon’s army sounds the trumpets and breaks the pitchers and the Midianite army is put to flight. The surprise attack is a success and Gideon then calls on the other tribes to come to their aid in capturing and destroying the army of Midian. In the midst of the battle the Ephraimites decide to upbraid Gideon for not calling them sooner. Gideon could have asked where they had been the past seven years but didn’t, giving them glory for the capture of Oreb and Zeeb. In the midst of his chase of the kings he and his exhausted and famished army seek sustenance from their neighbors and are rejected by both Succoth and Penuel. To their minds, Midian is not defeated so long as their kings were alive. Gideon’s promise to both was that he would destroy them for this failure.

John, true to his call, points to Jesus as the fulfillment of his prophetic message. Did he know what he was saying when he referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God? Did he have any idea Jesus would be slain? It seems unlikely given his message that Jesus was here to judge the Jewish nation and the world, but the term is not common. John’s witness here is that he didn’t know who was the Messiah until the fulfillment of God’s Word that the dove would descend at baptism. John’s two disciples with him the following day take John at his word and follow after Jesus and receive an invitation to spend the day with him. They have moved from lesser to greater because of John’s encouragement.

Peter won’t have any deflection of blame to Pilate in the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilate was ready to release him but YOU “rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and YOU killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.” The healing, Peter says, is due to Jesus. In spite of this treachery, Peter says that they acted in ignorance (remember Jesus’ prayer from the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”) and therefore there is forgiveness available if they will repent. It is an amazing sermon Peter preaches. All the more so for his audience, the religious leaders who had power over him, the men who were responsible for the death of Jesus. Peter’s fear during the trial is replaced by remarkable boldness after the resurrection and outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Unlike Gideon, Peter isn’t seeking revenge but offering pardon. Like John, Peter is pointing not to himself but to Jesus as the one whose death makes possible that pardon.

You are my hiding-place and my shield;
I hope in your word.