2/15/14. Acts 2:22-36. GOD HAS MADE JESUS LORD AND MESSIAH- my devotional

Key Verse: 2:36                                                                                                                                                                                       Kevin E. Jesmer

“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”(ESV)

Dear Lord Jesus Christ. You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. You are the lamp in the darkness and the light that shines before us on the path of life. You show us the way the eternal life in the kingdom of God. You show us the most fruitful way in this life also. Billions of people, over the millennia have placed their hope and trust in you and have not been disappointed.  You satisfy as no other can. Even if we could marry the most beautiful, rich, wise and funny person, and have the best career, your grandeur and beauty and wisdom would exceed all any of them and you would truly satisfy more than any person or career path could. You bring true life to our souls. You bring more satisfying and quality life than going to a tropical resort every 6 months. You bring more life than driving a brand new Camero. You bring more life than anything this world provides. Ultimately you bring eternal life in the Kingdom of God. You are the best source of truth. You are better truth than award winning documentaries and news agencies. You are better truth than all of the other religions or philosophies in the world. Your truth brings healing and it brings life and it shows us the way. Please help all the world to know the Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Help all the First Nations people know the Way, the Truth and the Life. may the missionary families advertise this truth in wise ways. Help me to accept your word deeply in my heart today. I pray in life giving name of Jesus’ Christ. Amen.

Part 1: God Raised Him From The Dead (22-24).

Verses 22-24, “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— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” (ESV)

Jesus was sent by God and accredited with signs, miracles and wonders. In the first century nobody denied this. The Jew believed that Jesus did miracles. But in the Talmud they attribute the miracles to powers that Jesus learned in Egypt. The Romans did not deny that Jesus did miracles. Their historians testify to it. The early Christians spread the news about Jesus miracles far and wide. Jesus did heal the sick and raise the dead and turn water into wine. Jesus miracles were happening in Christians lives over and over again. Jesus’ miracles have not stopped for he is alive and he is still performing miracles in the lives of believers.

The greatest miracle, that truly attests to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah of God, the Savior of the world, is the fact that he was sinless and died and rose again. The true Savior needs to be sinless and be able to conquer death God raised this Jesus from the dead, defeating the power of death once and for all. It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Jesus the Lord of life. If someone did not conquer death then they are not the savior and can not save the people from sin and death.

First, Jesus was sinless. Can anyone tell me one sin that Jesus did? Is there any a time that he chose the selfish, self preserving path? Did he ever exploit anyone? He was sinless. And his sinless sacrifice was enough to pay for our sins. Now the Father can declare all believers, “forgiven!” Jesus was sinless and therefore death could not keep its hold on him. Second, Jesus rose from the dead. There is no evidence that Jesus was buried. The facts prove that he is alive. The fact that he works so powerfully in people’s hearts and performs miracles still is proof that he is alive even now and at work in the midst of his people.

If the person, who is at the center of your religion, is not sinless and has not conquered death, then he/she is not the Christ of God. That person is not the Savior of the world. They may be saying some wise things and inspiring millions and may be compassionate and loving, but they are not the savior and their teachings can never lead you to eternal life in the kingdom of God. All attempts to hold onto them as if they are the Savior must be abandoned and all attempts must be made to take hold of the only one who can bring true life, that is Jesus Christ.

Despite of the fact that Jesus is the Christ sent by the Father to save people from their sins, sinful men still nailed him to a cross. They were so blind. They were so foolish and lost. But the fact is, if we were alive back then we too may have joined in the crowds chants, “crucify him”. We think that it is beyond us to do such a thing, but we are prone to sin. We could not stand at all if it were not for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But despite of their best efforts to get rid of Jesus, they could not do it. This was part of God’s sovereign plan. God used the senseless acts of sinful people to accomplish his great plan of salvation. Satan may have thought that he had the upper hand, but actually God was in control. God’s plan of salvation can not be thwarted. From the beginning of the world, God’s plan began to unfold and it will come to fruition when Jesus comes again. That is why Peter declared in verse 23a, “this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God,…” We can be rest assured that God’s is in control and we Christians are on the winning side. May God open our spiritual eyes to see what his is accomplishing.

Part 2: Jesus Is Lord And Messiah (25-36).

Verses 25-36,  “For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me,  for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Even David wrote of the Messiah. He wrote: “you will not let your Holy One see decay.” Jesus’ death and resurrection are based on the Scriptures. The apostles were eyewitnesses of the risen Jesus (32). The evidence is the empty tomb, miracles, changed lives (like Peter’s) and the Holy Spirit that has been poured out all believers. Peter’s sermon comes to a climax in verse 36, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

     It was not just the Jewish religious leaders who pushed the Romans to crucify Jesus. We, as fallen people, all contributed to the need for Jesus to be crucified because of our sins. If you look at it that way we are all culpable. But God did not condemn us. He made a way for us to be forgiven. How? Well you might have guessed it. He made him both Lord and Messiah (Christ). Anyone who confesses that his/her sins contributed to the need for Jesus to be crucified and accepts Jesus’ sacrifice, by faith, will be completely forgiven and saved from their sins and have eternal life. (John 3:16) This is the good news of the Gospel.

Prayer: Lord, I confess my sins contributed to the crucifixion of Jesus. I repent and believe that he is Lord and Messiah sent to save all who believe, including me.

One Word: Jesus is Lord of all