CHAYYEI YESHUA

A Devotional Commentary on the Weekly Besora Reading

Dave Nichol

Acts 2:1-21 - Telling of the Great Things God has Done.

Our passage tells the story of a turning point of sorts.  The believers had witnessed Yeshua's death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven. They had been the frequent hearers of his teaching. Yet they did not know what to do with what they had seen. 

A few days after he left them, the believers gather together in a room in Jerusalem, which was packed full for the pilgrimage festival of Shavuot. Perhaps not knowing what else to do, they had devoted themselves to prayer, when, suddenly, a supernatural event changed the dynamics of their community forever. The believers go into the streets and begin ecstatically "speaking . . . about the great things God has done." Kefa stands up and speaks to the crowd, explaining this confusing occurrence by quoting the prophet Joel: "I will pour out from my Spirit upon everyone . . ." 

For the first time, we see the talmidim display more than just flashes of understanding of Yeshua's person and mission; for once, the disciples confidently take leadership and responsibility. Enabled by the Ruach HaShem, they are starting to look and act like guf ha-mashiach, the body of Messiah. 

Events like this remind us that not all of God's works in the world are subtle and hidden, or explained by natural phenomena or social movements. Sometimes God moves unilaterally and unequivocally. As a result of this event and Kefa's speech, three thousand more are added to the believers, who had previously numbered about 120. 

In retrospect, however, Kefa's use of the prophet Joel begs some questions. Joel is describing a time when God is saying "my people will never again be shamed" and "when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem." This reads in stark contrast to the actual situation of the Jewish people at that time. The Romans had killed the one whose glory Kefa was proclaiming. They still ruled Judea and the Galilee with an iron fist, and probably had brought in reinforcements to Jerusalem for the feast. And Kefa never once mentions Yeshua's impending return, or any political restoration for Israel whatsoever.

Yet many who heard his words "were stung in their hearts." Perhaps they saw in Yeshua's story of righteousness, martyrdom, sacrifice, renewal and glory an image of what Israel was meant to be all along. The witness of the believers and the story of Yeshua reminded them on a deep level why they were supposed to be in Jerusalem three times a year, and perhaps they discerned that they had departed from their calling and task.

Clearly, the restoration of Judah and Jerusalem has not yet happened in full. But our suffering is not the end of our story. As Jews, and even more so, as Messianic Jews, we are called to hope for when our fortunes will be restored, and live as faithful witnesses to "the great things God has done.