Pop! Goes the Weasel
Acts 2:14-24 ~ May 7 & 8 ~ Heritage Lutheran Church
Today is Pentecost. Fifty days after Easter God surprised the world with the beginning
of the Christian Church. While I studied the text this week, I kept thinking about my old
Jack-in-the-box. As a little boy, I can’t even remember how old I was, I owned a Jack-inthe-box. I know that most of you think Jack-in-the-box is the name of a west coast fast
food chain. And it is that, but that is not all it is. A real Jack-in-the-box is actually a toy
for small children. Wikipedia describes it this way:
A jack-in-the-box is a children's toy that outwardly consists of a box with a
crank. When the crank is turned, it plays a melody, often "Pop Goes the Weasel".
At the end of the tune there is a "surprise": the lid pops open and a figure,
usually a clown or jester, pops out of the box.
My Jack-in-the-box was just like this description. It was a little metal box with a clown
figure on a spring. I could push the little figure back into the box and shut the lid over
his head. Then as I turned the crank the music began to play. I remember my
excitement building as the tune played. At just the place where the song would say,
“Pop! Goes the weasel,” the door would pop open and old Jack would come flying out.
According to my parents, I would collapse in fits of laughter totally enthralled by Jack’s
abrupt reappearance time after time.
But, according to family folklore, my brother David did not have the same reaction to
Jack’s epiphany that I did. He was desperately afraid of Jack. So, when Jack burst out of
his box David was frighted. He matched my peals of laughter with wails of terror. I can
just hear the bedlam that Jack-in-the-box caused in our home. And probably not all of it
was innocent either. I am quite sure that I took advantage of this situation to intimidate
my younger brother. It seems like too good of an opportunity to pass up, even today.
So what does a Jack-in-the-box have to do with Pentecost? Well the point of a Jack-inthe-box is the surprise reappearance of Jack. Just when you think you have Jack all
safely stowed away beneath his lid, the music hits its climax and out he pops again.
This is something like the mindset of the Jews in Jerusalem on that first Pentecost.
There had been a big ruckus in the Jewish capital at the previous Passover. The Festival
Atonement had been interrupted by the Crucifixion of a Galilean trouble maker. Jesus
1
of Nazareth they called him. There had been a great deal of concern that Jesus’
followers would dramatically disrupt the peace of Rome. There had been near riots.
There had actually been a royal procession where the crowds claimed Jesus as King. But
the militia had remained loyal to the temple and Jesus had been dealt with. Even
though there were some disturbing rumors about Jesus being seen alive, everyone knew
that was a hoax. The Jewish leaders and the Roman officials felt like they had gotten
everything back in the box. For fifty days all had been quiet. Jesus followers had gone
into hiding. It looked like everything was safely smoothed over and covered up. But just
when, they thought that the “Jesus event” was safely under control…. “Pop! Goes the
Weasel” The Christian Church burst forth from Jerusalem like jack popping out of his
box.
On that first day of Pentecost when the Body of Christ came popping out of the box, the
crowds ran mad trying to locate the sound of a mighty rushing wind. Loud supernatural
noises brought everyone together around the disciples. Visible tongues of flame, the
symbol of the Holy Spirit’s presence, danced above their heads. They spoke in a variety
of languages. The shocked Jewish leader’s tried to calm the situation by suggesting that
the disciples were drunk. But those who actually looked and listened knew the truth.
God was breaking forth. His spirit was being poured out on all people just the way the
prophet Joel had predicted. Many who were present at that first Pentecost knew
exactly what it meant. They were seeing the changing course of God’s work in the
world. It was now associated with the person of Jesus the Christ. The messiah had
come. This day was the final evidence they needed to believe. But what had happened
to Jesus; Jesus who was the messiah. Wasn’t he dead?
And then a clear voice rose above the din. A voice that proclaimed a truth that now
rings down through the ages. Peter preached these words.
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by
God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your
midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan
and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God
raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be
held by it.”
Pop! Goes the Weasel. Just when they thought Jesus was safely under wraps, out he
comes popping up in the most public way possible. Jesus was alive in truth. At
2
Pentecost he was also alive and present with the disciples through his spirit poured out.
Peter’s listener’s had no excuse. Jesus had done all the signs and wonders predicted by
the prophets. Jesus was clearly the Messiah sent from God just as Scripture had
proclaimed. And yet standing, listening to Peter that day were men and women who
had closed their minds to the words of Jesus. They had hardened their hearts to his true
nature. And by the clear intentional will of God they had been party to his murder on a
Roman Cross. Like the Priest standing with the crimson knife dripping from sacrifice
they were personally responsible for the final atonement through the blood of the
Lamb, God’s only son. Peter’s words ring out, “this Jesus, delivered up according to the
definite plan and foreknowledge of God, YOU crucified and killed by the hands of
lawless men.” There was no question where the responsibility for Jesus death lay.
But even so death was not the end. The Resurrection of Jesus is even more convicting
than his murder. Peter puts it this way, “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death,
because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” Pop! Goes the weasel. A tomb
could not hold him. Jesus is the immortal God. He is the author of creation. He is the
victor over death and the grave. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was a dire threat to
those who had crucified Him. And Peter’s point was clear, Jesus and his body would not
be stopped by death. The church was now alive and active. The future belonged to the
Christian Church. The Jews who listened to Peter on that first Pentecost clearly
understood this. Acts records their response, Now when they heard this they were cut
to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we
do?”
Here was the perfect time for Peter to kick them in the teeth. He had them down. They
had killed his lord. They had terrified and hounded the disciples. The resurrection of
Jesus had put them right where he wanted them. Revenge could have been sweet. But
God’s spirit was in control and not Peter. In the loving gentleness of God’s Holy Spirit
Peter spoke the words of life to them. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit.” Peter could have scolded harshly. He could have reprimanded and
condemned. He could have chastised and berated, but he didn’t. Instead he made a
promise. He promised that their repentance would be met with forgiveness. He
promised that the waters of Baptism would bestow God’s Holy Spirit upon them. He
promised that they would be drawn into the body of Christ that was erupting from
Christ’s tomb with mighty power. It was power to proclaim the word of God. It was
3
power to cut sinners to the heart. It was power to pour out God’s Spirit on a world
desperate for a savior. So those who received his word were baptized, and there were
added that day about three thousand souls. Pop! Goes the Weasel.
Who in their right mind can hear this story of the first Pentecost and go quietly away.
Can we really hear and understand this message from Saint Peter and say, “Oh isn’t that
nice. What a wonderful story.” And then go back to business as usual. Yes, we are
saved by grace. No, we don’t have to do anything for our own salvation. But for
heaven’s sake the Spirit of God, Jesus’ Holy Spirit, has been poured out upon us. We
have each been given wonderful gifts. Don’t you think it is time for us to open them up
and get to work? Sitting around like a bump on a log is a very silly way to be a Christian.
The gifts of God are given to us for the sake of Christ’s living work in the world. This is a
current affair. It is not a history lesson. This is about today and tomorrow. It is not
about yesterday. Yes we are sinners. But we are sinners who belong to Christ. We
have our problems. But for Jesus, problems are not excuses. Jesus doesn’t pat us on the
head saying, “take it easy, you’ve had a tough time, you need to lay back and let the
world go by…” That’s not what he says, is it? He says, “Go therefore and make disciples
of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
I promise you that Jesus not only loves you and saves you, but he has also given you the
very gifts you need to do what he asks. You are called to be his disciples. You are
commission to do his work. You are given the power you need to go into the world
today and make a difference in history itself. You have the opportunity to follow Jesus.
You may enter into his work so that when history looks back on you and your efforts in
the body of Christ, people will say, “Pop! Goes the weasel!”
The cross is full. The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive and leading us out to go, make,
baptize and teach disciples. Let us take up our cross and follow him.
4