Acts 3:13-15
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
We have a tendency to double down on mistakes, even when evidence begins to mount that we have been terribly wrong. Behold the Jews in Solomon’s Portico. They had loudly called for the death of Jesus but then saw his disciples loudly proclaiming his resurrection in different languages. Now they saw a miraculous healing performed by his right hand man, Peter. In the court of public opinion, it was beginning to appear that a miscarriage of justice had occurred and they were guilty of a greater crime than the charge of blasphemy leveled at Jesus. They killed the Holy and Righteous one.
What could they do? They even cried out at Pentecost, “What shall we do?” The answer is gloriously simple; the same thing we can do. From Peter and Paul to the present day, those who confess their sins and repent, turning from their wickedness and surrendering to Jesus as Lord and Master of their lives, are saved. It may seem that your sins are too great and it is too late. Acts 3 shows otherwise. God can save anyone at any time. Peter knew that gloriously well.
Dear Lord, thank you that no one is beyond your capacity to love and forgive. We pray for those who seem to be so, even ourselves. In Jesus’ name. Amen.