I am a Jesus pusher!!! What a day of ministry it was for Peter. And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation,” (Acts 2:40). There is a strong emphasis of “subtraction” in this challenge. They must be removed from what controls them. Their culture, religious traditions, and self-protection have pushed them to crucify Jesus. Peter urges them to be removed from this control. But this is only half of the story. They were to be subtracted from one group in order to be added to another group. Luke writes, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them,” (Acts 2:41). Eugene Peterson, in The Message writes, “That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up.”
Luke gives only one verse expressing the “subtraction.” However, he spends the rest of the paragraph (Acts 2:41-47) describing the “addition.” Christianity is not a mere correction of some activities in our lives. It is completely beyond a token attendance to a different organization. There is a “signing up” taking place. It is a change in location from one group to another group. “Jesus” is our new location. We change our focus to Him. What motivates us is now Him. Jesus is the all encompassing driving force of our lives. I am “signed up.” I am a Jesus pusher!!!