As we continue a series of blogs motivated in part by the violent demonstrations at the U.S. Capitol last Wednesday, it’s useful to think about crowds. Jesus had a large following of people from all over:

This resulted in massive crowds of people following him, including people from Galilee, Jerusalem, the land of Judah, the region of the Ten Cities known as the Decapolis, and beyond the Jordan River. (Matthew 4.25, TPT)

It was a large crowd at the Triumphal Entry, but many in that crowd were no doubt in the crowd clamoring for his crucifixion.

But in Acts 2 and 3, we’re reading about large crowds coming to faith:

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2.41, NIV)

But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. (Acts 4.4, NIV)

But crowds are made up of individuals. As I think about it, it’s reasonable that some of the first converts to what became Christianity…

• Were baptized by John the Baptist
• Followed Jesus’ ministry or at least were there for some of the big events of his ministry: Sermon on the Mount, feeding of the 5,000, etc.
• Cheered his entry into Jerusalem
• Demanded his crucifixion
• Believed at Pentecost or at the healing of the lame man

No one event defines any of us, for good or for ill. My friend Fisher DeBerry, former Head Coach of the Air Force Academy football team had a sign in his office:

You’re only as good as your last play.

So there is redemption available for anyone participating in riots, whether it was last week or last summer. Tomorrow I’ll share a new (to me) story of redemption, plus a couple of familiar ones. In the meantime, here’s Peter’s word, and some who heard this message believed. The last sentence seems especially appropriate…

[Peter said, ] The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead… Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. (Acts 3.13 – 17, NIV)