Acts 2:22-24, 36-37
[22] “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— [23] this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. [24] God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
[36] Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” [37] Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
All week we’ve talked about Pentecost being the fulfillment of the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And when the Spirit, other promises or declarations became a reality, as well. For instance, Jesus declared over His followers that they are the Light of the world (Matthew 5:4), but He also declared He is the Light of the World (John 8:12). How do we reconcile this? Jesus stated He was the Light of the World as long as He was in the world. Jesus is no longer physically in the world, instead He is spiritually here through us. How? Pentecost.
That day when the Holy spirit came down and filled those in the Upper Room, the Church was filled with the Spirit of the living God. The Spirit that dwelt in Christ. Therefore, it was at that time Jesus’ declaration truly became a reality for us, because it was at that time that we began to be molded and transformed into the Image of God, which is Christ Jesus. The Light of the World. That is why He is the Light of the World, as long as He’s in the world. He’s now passed that torch, that mantle onto us to carry in and through His name.
It’s now up to us to teach, preach, and evangelize. It’s now up to us to reach the masses and spread the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. Jesus did His job. He made a way where there was no way. He died, rose again, ascended, and then sent The Holy Spirit to us. He did the hard part. Now, it’s time for us to step up and take up the torch and be Christ to the World.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Illuminate His Light.