Week 30—Sunday John 3:16-17
John 3:16-17
“EVERYONE”
Here is a vivid illustration of the word of equal standing before God and man become flesh. The Christian faith could have proclaimed the doctrine of equal standing before God and humans, but it would have left little dent on the prejudiced minds and hearts of people. The prejudices were taken in with the mother’s milk and were part and parcel of them. So preaching against them would have been shrugged off as mere words—Word become word. But an amazing happening took place—the Gentiles received the gift of the Holy Spirit—God’s highest gift—on the same basis exactly as the Jews.
Peter was speaking to the assembled Gentiles in the house of Cornelius. Peter began by reminding his hearers: “I need not tell you that a Jew is forbidden by his religion to visit or associate with a man of another race” (Acts 10:28, NEB). Patronizing. But Peter began the preaching of his gospel, and it carried him beyond himself and he uttered a word which God was looking for: “It is to him that all the prophets testify, declaring that everyone who trusts in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (vs. 43, NEB). And when he uttered that word “everyone,” through that word God poured the Holy Spirit. “While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word” (vs. 44, RSV). Note the “this” was “everyone.” The moment Peter gave God an opening through that word, the Holy Spirit fell—“fell on all who heard the word.” “Everyone” was Peter’s invitation; the Holy Spirit “on all” was God’s reply, and the greatest gulf between racial groups was bridged—bridged not by a word, but by the Word of equal standing before God and man become flesh. God had given God’s highest gift to a person as a person and not to a person as a Jew. That was the most leveling-up fact that ever occurred in human history.
O God, our Father, we thank you for this happening—the coming of the Holy Spirit. And we thank you that this Gift was given to “everyone.” And that opens the gate of this possibility to me. Give me the Holy Spirit for I’m a person for whom Christ died. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Prejudices and circumstances press me to say, “Some,” but Jesus presses me to say, “Everyone.”