I cannot remember when I read it, but in the Second World War’s North Africa campaign against Rommel’s German Africa Corps, in the British advance which followed the Battle of Alamein, Rommel was away in Germany. The field marshall had a fearsome reputation as a battle strategist. One of the armoured brigade commanders of the British Army, engaging the enemy, sometime later, suddenly exclaimed ‘He’s back’. He meant that Rommel was no longer away in the Fatherland, from the direction of the armoured columns, from the strategy and stiffening of the fierce resistance to the British advance. There could be only one reason. Field Marshall Rommel was back on the job, commanding his army.
I have always felt that that is precisely how the enemies of Jesus felt when, after they had him arrested, condemned and crucified, dead and buried: after they had survived the shock of hearing that the same Jesus was alive, risen and unstoppable: after a good period of seeming all-quiet on the public front – suddenly there was a vast crowd in the Temple area. There were 3000 people baptised in the name of Jesus on that first day of Pentecost – soon it was 5000. Cripples were being healed; miracles were taking place; powerful words and visions being spoken; spiritually dead lives were coming alive; blind eyes were seeing ….

On seeing and hearing all this (the claim they dreaded and fought against that Jesus of Nazareth is Messiah and Lord, was being shouted from the roof tops), imagine one of the Jewish Council saying to another ‘He’s back’.
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

A Prayer:
Lord, we long for your people in every city, town and village, to be so alive in the Holy Spirit that the unchurched of the world can see that – HE’S BACK!

Now read again the dilemma of those opposed to Jesus, when Peter, the fisherman, spoke before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4: 5-22.