I came across this quote today and added it to my collection of illustrations and the like; but it was too good to keep to myself, so I share it here in the hope that somebody somewhere may see it and share in it with me.
It is from John Stott’s commentary on Act
Peter’s beginning ‘listen to this: Jesus…’ [Acts 2:22] must be our beginning too. It is impossible to preach the gospel without proclaiming Christ. But how?… It is not enough to ‘proclaim Jesus.’ For there are many different Jesuses being presented today. According to the New Testament gospel, however, he is historical (he really lived, died, rose and ascended in the arena of history), theological (his life, death, resurrection and ascension all have saving significance) and contemporary (he lives and reigns to bestow salvation on those who respond to him). thus the apostles told the same story of Jesus at three levels – as historical event (witnessed by their own eyes), as having theological significance (interpreted by the Scriptures), and as contemporary message (confronting men and women with the necessity of decision). We have the same responsibility today to tell the story of Jesus as fact, doctrine and Gospel.
