RESURRECTION!

R is for redemption.

E is for eternal life.

S is for the Spirit of God.

U is for unity.

R is for restoration and reconciliation.

R is for righteousness.

E is for evidence.

C is for confidence.

The apostle Peter is the poster child for today’s word. Because of the resurrection of Jesus, he moved from being a scared denier to a confident declarer.

When Jesus was arrested by the chief priests and Roman soldiers, His closest friends scattered in fear, just as the scriptures had prophesied. John and Peter followed at a distance, and through John’s connections, gained access to the courtyard of the high priest (John 18:16).

Frightened out of his wits, Peter stood warming his hands by the fire, waiting to see what would happen to his dear friend, Jesus. Just hours earlier, he had vehemently declared that he was willing to go to prison, and even be killed with Jesus but fear made him forget Jesus’ warning that he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed.

We know what happened. Peter did deny Jesus and was broken-hearted for it. For all the disciples, fear, confusion, and uncertainty led them to gather secretly behind closed doors during the time Jesus was in the grave. But something amazing happened once they had seen and touched and spoken with the resurrected Jesus!

Ten days after they had watched Jesus ascend into heaven, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. Empowered by Him, Peter gained an unshakeable confidence and a bold passion that would fuel him to fulfill his promise to Jesus, that he indeed would go to prison, and even be killed rather than deny the Savior.

Acts 4 describes one such encounter.

Acts 4:1-3 – As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.

The next morning, they were questioned by the high priest and others, called to defend what they were teaching. They demanded to know, “By what power or in what name, have you done this?” Listen to the impact the resurrection of Jesus had made on Peter.

Acts 4:8-13 – Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.

Their confidence came not just from being with Jesus, but from being with the resurrected Jesus. They had seen the power of God and now were fully convinced of the truth. For the rest of their lives, they would speak the gospel confidently and powerfully as the church was established and salvation spread across the known world through their words.

Peter makes two more statements in Acts 4 that we can’t miss. The first is in response to his critics’ demand to stop speaking and teaching in Jesus’ name.

Acts 4:19-20 – But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Peter and John had seen and heard the resurrection. It was foolish to think they would stop speaking about such an incredible, powerful, life-changing miracle.

The second statement is in Peter’s prayer of thanksgiving when they were released and returned to report to their companions what God had done.

Acts 4:29 – And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bondservants may speak Your word with all confidence.

Peter knew the battles were just beginning. He expected they would face more and more opposition. But instead of running away from it and hiding it as he had done in the past, he embraced it through the power of the resurrection. He asked the Lord to give him all confidence to speak God’s word for the rest of his life.

Have you been with the resurrected Jesus? Then you, too, should have all confidence in proclaiming His name. May God give us the confidence Peter had, even in the face of prison or death.

Hebrews 10:35-36 – Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.