“I forgot the bread. Might we make the same mistake in a more critical arena? In an effort to do good, we get distracted. We feed people. We encourage, heal, help, and serve. . . . address racial issues and poverty. Yet there is one duty we must fulfill. We can’t forget the bread.”- Max Lucado
“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.”- Acts 2:22-24 (NLT)
Max Lucado begins Chapter 4 (“Don’t Forget the Bread”) of Outlive Your Life as he notes that Peter never forgot the bread. Moreover, in Acts 2:22-24, Peter responds to the question of the people raised in Acts 2:12 – “Whatever could this mean?”
Hence, Peter , in rapid succession, fires a trio of God-given endorsements of Christ:
- Jesus’ miracles signified God’s endorsement. Through these miracles, God stamped His seal of approval on Jesus. (v. 22)
- God delivered Jesus to death. The cross, viewed as a tool of shame, turned into a badge of honor. A badge bestowed on only one man – Jesus of Nazareth. (v. 23)
- God set Jesus free from death and raised Him to life.
In conclusion, Pasto Lucado envisions Peter pausing at this point in his sermon. Furthermore, as Peter scans the crowd, his eyes defy someone to challenge his claims about Jesus. Consequently, this creates the perfect opportunity for a Pharisee or soldier to contradict Peter. That is to say, to destroy Christianity in its infancy. But Peter didn’t forget the bread.
Since no one possessed Jesus’ body, no one spoke. Hence, as Max states, “The word was out that the Word was out.”
Today’s question: As Max phrases it, how do you fulfill your duty not to forget the bread? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Traffic signs – God’s posted them everywhere”
