One way of reading the scriptures is to ask, “What does this tell me about myself?” Another is to ask, “What does this passage say about Jesus?” The second question is most important.
Luke was recording Peter’s sermon after the apostles healed a lame man at the Temple. First, Peter explained that the healing did not come from their own power or godliness (3:12). Then he identified Jesus, God’s servant as the Holy and Righteous One and the author of life. Next he talked about a suffering Messiah.
In these verses, Luke points to the return of the Messiah. As we repent and turn to God, he brings times of refreshing. Then Peter says, God will send the Messiah. Jesus ascended into heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything.
We may make our expectations and explanations of Christ’s return more complex than the scriptures do. I understand the interest in putting all of the pieces of the puzzle together. Who wants a puzzle with holes in it? But I’m not sure some of the reconstructions of the Bible’s teaching are accurate. Peter preached that Jesus died, rose again, ascended into heaven, and would one day return to restore all things. If we believe these things, we will repent and turn to God.
Understanding who Jesus is helps us to understand what we are to do. The Father knows when Jesus will return. What if the Messiah returned today? How would we live? Let’s live that way.
