Word of Salvation – Vol. 27 No. 24 – March 1982

 

Jesus Risen Is Jesus The Messiah

 

Sermon by Rev. G. Van Schie on Acts 2: 29-36

Scripture Reading: John 20:1-18

 

Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ,

How silly we can be in that sometimes in trying to get rid of a problem, we only get rid of the symptoms and not the cause.  We only get rid of that which highlights the problem.

A person who has a bad cold may be able to stop a bad cough with cough mixture, but the cause of that bad cough will only go away when that person receives medical attention and the virus leaves the body.

This was the situation in the events of the crucifixion of Jesus.  The religious rulers had their problem, but instead of dealing with the actual cause – the fact that Jesus was the Messiah, they got rid of the person who highlighted the problem – Jesus Himself.

Our text this morning reveals that their attempt to rid themselves of the problem of Jesus Christ failed.  The real problem for these rulers remained, for Jesus was the Messiah, and so nothing man could do could bring an end to His work in the world.  Not even death could do that.

In his sermon at Pentecost Peter did one main thing – from the Old Testament Scriptures which the Jews possessed, and in which they believed, he proved that that man the Jews had so recently crucified was the promised Messiah.  We shall also see that when this is seen to be true, a response ought to be forthcoming from man.

In his sermon Peter, having been made bold and strong by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, referred back to the old prophecies which spoke of the Messiah to come.  The Messiah all Israel awaited.  He went back to passages which Jews often turned to in order to be encouraged that there still was to come the Promised seed, who would deliver them from their slavery to sin.

The prophecy with which he set out to prove that Jesus was this Messiah is one of the Psalms of David.  This is most important on its own for it was from David that the Messiah was to come, and so David having received the promise of this Seed who would sit upon his throne forever, should know something about this One to come.

Well, what did David have to say?

First of all Peter simply reminds us of what David had said.  In the two Psalms quoted David expressed four main things.

In Psalm 16 which was a psalm of deliverance by the hand of God, David expressed the trust that the Lord God would not deliver his soul to the grave, and that his body would not see decay.  Then in Psalm 110 David spoke of how God was to make all his enemies subject to him and of how he was to sit in the place of honour at God’s right hand.

But is that so?  Was David referring to himself?  Did he really believe that he would not be abandoned in the grave?  Did he really believe that his body would not decay?  Were his enemies all of them subjected to his authority and control, and was he raised to the place of honour at God’s right hand?

We could agree that ultimately all who believe in God and walk before him obediently in Christ, shall be raised up from the grave and the work of decay reversed.  Yet, none the less decay would have occurred and for a time the body would have been abandoned in the grave.

No, says Peter.  David was not speaking of Himself in these Psalms.  How could he prove this?

Well look about you.  Is that not David’s tomb with us today?

And what is in that tomb?  Is there not in that tomb the body of David still lying in the grave?

And what would we find in that tomb if we opened it up.  Would we find a body which was complete?  Or would we find a skeleton where once there was flesh and skin.

That was a pretty positive proof?

If you or I were to consider someone who had died not to have been abandoned to the grave and not to have undergone decay, the very existence of their grave at the local cemetery would be proof enough that we were wrong?

David had died!  His body was still in the grave and it had undergone decay!  But that is not all!

If the tomb was still there in the middle of all the living, it would also mean that David had not been raised to the right hand of God.  It would mean that not all his enemies had been placed under his authority and control.

Well, if it is so clear that David did not speak of himself, then of whom was he speaking?

Our answer is found in v.30–31.

David looked forward with these words to the Promised descendant of whom God spoke.  The descendant who was not Solomon as first of all believed, but of the ultimate descendant who was to come – Jesus Christ.

It was Jesus of Nazareth of whom David spoke!

We can imagine the sudden chill that must have sent through the crowd of more than three thousand who were listening to Peter.  For it was this Jesus whom they had just crucified!  We can imagine the sudden explosion of concerned murmur racing through the crowd.

What did he say?  Did we hear it right?  Did he say that David was speaking of Jesus of Nazareth?

Well, if that is what you say Peter, what is your proof, that Jesus is the Promised One of the line of David?

Yes, what Peter was saying had serious implications for those who were listening.  For if Peter was right, then they had crucified the Saviour!

Yet let us realise that what Peter had to say also has serious implications for us as well!  For if what Peter said at Pentecost was true then this Jesus still lives today and as the One who is in authority over all things we must make answer to Him for all we have done, and all we do!

If Jesus of Nazareth, of whom even our ancient history books of today speak – if He is the Messiah, then even today we are commanded to bow down and worship Him and serve Him with all our heart and with all our might!

Well…. what is your proof Peter?

We have heard what David had to say of the Promised One to come.  Now, cast your mind back to the events of the crucifixion and the days following.  What happened?

Well let me see.

At the time of His death, Jesus was confessed to be the Son of God by a Roman centurion who during the darkening of the skies and the earthquake came to believe what was said of this man.

On that day there were also reports of those who had died walking round the streets and being seen by many.  And of course, quite mysteriously, the veil of the temple which hid the holy of holies was torn in two.

But it did not end there.  For this Jesus was said to have risen.  His tomb was empty and there was no trace of his body to be found.  And in spite of the efforts of the religious rulers, hundreds came to believe as this Jesus appeared to them at one instance, to 500 people at one time!

Indeed, what was said of David does match up with what happened concerning Christ.  David’s tomb still exists today with his decayed body within.  But the tomb of Christ lies empty and without His body for He has Risen!  Yes, Jesus of Nazareth is the fulfilment of God’s promise.  A Saviour would be born and His Kingdom would have no end.  Christ has risen and he has been given all authority and all things have been laid under His feet like a footstool.  Indeed, Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father!

There has not been anyone who has been able to fulfil in everything what the Old prophets spoke concerning the Messiah.  Therefore by His resurrection, it is proved that Jesus is the Messiah!  He is the promised One!

Well, that is all very nice to know but how are we supposed to react or respond to that truth?

It is proven that Jesus is the Messiah, the Saviour of the lost.  But what are we supposed to feel and do?  Look to verse 37.  Here we find the response of the crowd at that time.  They had been listening to what Peter had said.  They knew the prophecy of which he spoke and they knew the Man Jesus.  Now they saw that the prophecy and the works of Jesus tallied and suddenly they were moved!

This was the man they had just crucified!  It was for His death they had chanted that night when they cried out: crucify him, crucify him!  How do you think you would have felt if you were in that crowd?  How would you feel if you had been waiting years upon years for a national deliverer and when he finally came, without knowing it you put him to death as a rebel!

Yes, the crowd was pierced to the heart.  What Peter had said and proven had the effect of a sword being thrust through the ribs and straight into the heart.  It hit them where it hurt.  In their anguish as they realised what they had done the crowd cried out, “What shall we do?”

You and I live many years after these events.  They are history now.  Yet, history does not change the truth, it does not change facts.  David spoke of the Christ.  Jesus was the Christ.  What are we going to do about it?  The call of this Christ comes through His Word, even as it did then through the mouth of Peter, you must repent and be baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repent!  That is: be truly sorrowful for your denial of this Christ.  Your denial, by your words which are not wholesome and which ought not to be said.  Your denial, by the things you do which you know are wrong and against His will.  Your denial, in which you run after other things more than Him!

Repent – be sorrowful for your rebellion and turn away from your sin and turn to Christ.  True repentance involves that turning away from our former sinful life, and living unto Christ alone.  Repent and be baptised.  That is, be joined to Him in covenantal union.  Become a member of His body and join with His community in His worship.  Live in and for Him in all you do, think of yourself as a part of Him, for as those saved that is what you are!  This Jesus of whom we have spoken is NOW both Lord and Christ.

He is Ruler over all things and all peoples must answer to Him on the final day of judgement.  He is the Christ, the Anointed Saviour – in Him your sins are forgiven and you are counted to be one who is without sin.  What must we do?

At the Name of Jesus every knee must bow;
Every tongue confess Him King of glory now,
It is the Father’s pleasure we should call Him Lord,
Who from the beginning was the Mighty God.
In your hearts enthrone Him, there let Him subdue,
All that is not holy, all that is not true,
Look to Him your Captain, in temptation’s hour,
Let His will enfold you, in its light and power.

Amen