Resurrection 101 - From Peter the Damaged Goods to Peter the Dynamite

The incredible manifestation of the Holy Spirit created no small confusion among the people of Jerusalem that day.

Supernatural tends to blow up our normal functioning paradigms. We really don't know what to do with it. When confronted with supernatural, in addition to being confused, most of us are afraid, even terrified... or, left speechless. We need help to make sense of it all.

Of course, in any crowd there are always the doubters and the skeptics, the-know-it-alls whose limited grid doesn't allow for the supernatural breach into their ordinary.  They come up with their own interpretation and explanation for the strange events unfolding before their very eyes. In Jerusalem, fifty days after the resurrection of Christ, the Spirit-filled disciples seemed to those observers a little tipsy, the Holy Spirit inspired words - babbling of drunkards.

But Peter would have none of this. He steps up to the plate and faces the crowd several thousand people strong, who not too long ago cried out,

Crucify Him! Crucify Him!

and delivered his Master and Lord to the Roman soldiers to be condemned to death and nailed to the cross.

This Peter, however, is not the same Peter from few weeks ago.

The damaged goods Peter.

Peter the overconfident.  Peter - take one foot out of his mouth, only to stick in the other. Peter the fatigued... the fearful... the denier.

The Failure Peter with the capital F.

For, after the resurrection and heart-to-heart talk with Jesus, that Peter became the Forgiven.

Redeemed.  Restored. Re-instituted.

And, on the day of Pentecost, Peter becomes Peter the dynamite  He takes his stand, not as self-confident brat but as sober, Christ-confident spokesman - a witness! His voice loud and clear, commanding both his audience and the situation.

No, these guys are not intoxicated. It's only 9 AM, for common sense sake! But let me tell you what this is...

Then he launches three Holy Spirit inspired Scripture-loaded missiles - the old prophecies they all knew but never dreamed would see fulfilled in their lifetime. In simple words, he connects their history-prophecy-present day dots for them.  He is understanding and  the interpretation of the Scriptures is better than of a seasoned theology professor... and he is only a fisherman!