Redemption in History and in Our Lives – A Reflection for Easter
Acts 13:22–29 (NASB95)
22“After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.’ 23“From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, 24after John had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25“And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’26“Brethren, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. 27“For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him. 28“And though they found no ground for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. 29“When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.
As we draw nearer to Easter, we are invited to reflect on the profound words Paul shares—a message that intertwines the tapestry of God’s redemptive history with His transformative power in our lives today. Paul reminds his listeners of God’s unwavering commitment through a powerful connection between David—a man chosen and exalted by God—and the promised Savior. God's selection of David, illustrated through a rich array of prophetic affirmations drawn from the Psalms, Samuel, and Isaiah, revealed that divine favor was not only the foundation for David's legitimacy as king but also a foretaste of the ultimate deliverer who would fulfill God’s redemptive purposes. In orchestrating the removal of Saul and the rise of David, God unveiled a deliberate plan that now culminates in Jesus—a Savior whose work brings salvation that transcends earthly limitations to establish an eternal kingdom.
This narrative invites us to recognize that our lives are intricately woven into this ongoing story of God’s salvation—a legacy that began with His mighty acts toward His people and finds its fulfillment in Jesus today. As modern believers, we embrace our identity as heirs of that ancient promise, trusting that the same God who chose David understands our hearts and equips us for His mission. Paul then presents a profound turning point by reinterpreting the rejection and execution of Jesus—a tragic act, carried out by Jerusalem's leaders in ignorance or stubborn obstinance—as the very means by which our salvation was secured. Far from signaling defeat, the shameful instrument of execution becomes the stage on which God’s ultimate power is displayed, for it is through His sovereign act that Jesus was raised from the dead, transforming a moment of apparent defeat into the miraculous cornerstone of eternal hope.
This reflection challenges us to view our own moments of rejection, setbacks, or apparent failures through the redemptive lens of God’s grace. Just as Jesus’s unjust suffering became the catalyst for His triumphant resurrection, our personal and communal hardships can, in His hands, be transformed into opportunities for renewal. In a world rife with opposition and misunderstanding, let us stand steadfast in our trust that God can repurpose even the most painful experiences into testimonies of His healing power. May our ministries be marked by this conviction, proclaiming not only the hope of Jesus’s resurrection but also the enduring truth that every setback is an invitation to witness the glory of our Savior.