Lift Him Up

Introduction

Last Sunday we looked at the healing of the lame man and its significance in our lives. Today we are going to be looking at the immediate results to that healing. Acts 3:10-11 “And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.” Describe a scene that we could probably all relate to at some point.

If you have ever seen one of these Magic shows by men like David Copperfield or Chris Angel, you can imagine what the response of the crowd was. I remember watching a magic trick that Chris Angel did where he appeared to be walking on thin air from one roof top to another roof top. Everyone in the crowd was amazed. Luke has used three different words to express the amazement in the text so far: filled with wonder, amazement and greatly wondering. They were left in awe and utterly amazed at what had happened. Unlike Chris Angel, this was a true verifiable miracle not some fancy magic trick. This man had been lame for his whole life, and was a regular beggar at the temple and just like most people, they were highly interested in Peter and John. Acts 3:11 says that the lame man clung to Peter and John and the crowds rushed in to see and hear what they had to say.

Today’s message is going to be what we call Doxological, meaning, our main purpose today is to Lift up Christ and adore Him because that is exactly what Peter did in this text. Notice even in Acts 3:6, when Peter healed the lame man, he did it in the name of Jesus. It wasn’t in the name of Peter. It wasn’t in the name of the Church, but it was by the power and authority of Jesus Himself. In Acts 3:12 “And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” Peter asks the people why are you looking at us like this? The implication here is that Peter did not intend to preach a message; rather he was just going in to pray. The verses say that Peter answered unto the people, when he saw that they had swarmed around them. Peter is moved with concern that the right person get the glory for what has happened here. He asks why are you marvelling at what was done and why are you looking at us so intently? The people were making assumptions that this miracle had been done in the power of Peter. They assumed the miracle was because of Peters inherent:

power- our own strength- We aren’t Almighty, powerful beings able to heal at will. The strength doesn’t lie in us.

holiness- our own good character- It isn’t that somehow we are the most holy of men and God has been pleased with us to perform this miracle as a reward for our goodness.

Peter redirects them to God and more specifically Jesus Christ. But Peter starts off by building a bridge: he mentions the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This isn’t some new god that he is introducing. It is the God that we are all here at the temple to worship. Acts 3:13 “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.” But he narrows down his point God’s Son Jesus Christ through faith in His name hath made this man strong. The end of the sentence is in vs 16. Rather than receive the credit Peter redirects them to Christ. So today’s message is going to look at what Peter said about Jesus Christ, how he lifted him up and what our response on seeing Jesus lifted up should be.

I. Christology

It is important to understand what the early church actually thought about and taught about who Jesus Christ was. In theological terms, we call this Christology. What was the Christology of the early church and more specifically Peter in this passage? In the words of AW Tozer “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” What we believe about him will have an eternal impact? If Jesus was just a man, there is no reason to believe what he had to say. Maybe we follow some of his teachings because they are beautiful, but there is no reason to worry about everything he had to say. But if Jesus is God and the Messiah, we must listen to what he says and respond. So the question we must ask ourselves is who is Jesus?

A. Servant vs 13- The word translated “Son” in this passage is not the usual word for “son” in the bible. Rather it means a child or a servant. Some translations will read “servant.” This difference in translation is not the result of a different Greek text but a legitimate translation choice. As servant, there are Messianic references to Isaiah 52:13- Isaiah 53 The Suffering Servant passage of Isaiah actually begins in the previous chapter when he is introduced. Some have tried to reinterpret this passage to refer to Isaiah himself, Jeremiah or a leper that was observed. But some of the descriptions in the passage cannot refer to anyone except the Messiah. Statements such as forgiving sin. It is this usage of Servant that is being referenced in Acts 3:13. In favor of the reading servant is also the concept in Isaiah 52:13 that the servant would be exalted; here in Acts stated as glorified. The Targum Jonathan ties the phrase servant here with the Messiah, though taking a traditional military Messianic approach to the text.

B. Holy One vs 14 Holy One is intended to draw out the contrast between Christ and Barabbas. They were willing to substitute someone who was morally flawed, a murderer over the Holy One. The term is appropriately a reference to the divinity of Christ. Psalm 78:41 especially in light of the glorification of Christ.

C. Just vs 14 The just is more literally “the righteous one.” Highlighting his innocence. The term would also have been recognized for its Messianic implications. The suffering servant is called the “righteous” servant in Isaiah 53:11.

D. Prince of life vs 15 Taking from my own notes on Hebrews, the word Prince carries more of the idea of a Champion, hero, or even a trailblazer, one who goes before. George Guthrie makes the following statement when describing this word in Greek:

However, the word might be translated better by “champion”—the preacher using the idea of the divine hero common in the ancient Greek world. For example, Hercules was called “champion” (archegos) and “savior” (soter). If this is the author’s intention, it is comparable to a modern preacher saying Jesus is “the real superman,” as crass as that might sound. It was simply a way of expressing a meaningful analogy that Jesus has come to our rescue.

In this sense, Jesus was the Champion who won life for us and paved the way so we could have life as well. Thus by virtue of conquering death, He also is the Author of life (another possible translation). The idea of translating the phrase Author of life may have more support since the central contrast is between Jesus and Barabbas, a man who took life. However, both are possible and have a connection to the meaning of the verse.

Summing up the evidence against the Jews:

They delivered up Jesus

They denied Him

They desired a murderer

By their actions they killed the Author of life

Vs 16 faith in his name is given emphasis in this passage. Perfect soundness is a word used in the LXX for those who are now ceremonial clean in Isaiah 1:6 which speaks of those who are not ceremonial clean.

Vs 17 Verses 17,18 highlight that human responsibility and divine sovereignty work side by side. God ordained  and foretold the suffering of Christ and yet man committed the act and are thus guilty.

E. The Prophet like unto Moses vs 22-23 Deut 18:15-19 “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” Peter is clearly claiming this prophecy as a reference to the Messiah.

F. The seed of Abraham vs 25 Peter’s purpose here is to show that the Jews are supposed to be the recipients of this message of salvation. The covenants were made to them and according to Gen 12:3 all the families of the earth would be blessed because of them.

G. The Fulfillment of the promise to bless Israel and all the world vs 26 Peter draws the application in even tighter. God would specifically bless the families of the earth though Israel because Jesus the Messiah came from Israel. Therefore unto them first, God sent Jesus to bless and to forgive.

II. Responses

So if Jesus is all of this, what are we to do with Him. If he is God, the Messiah should we not bow down to God and obey Him. If he is Holy, should we not fear him because of all of the sin in our lives. If He is the just one, should we not fear judgement. Justice is only a comfort to the guiltless. If He is the author of life, shouldn’t we come to Him to find our purpose and eternal life. And if he is the one who fulfilled all the prophecies made thousands of years before he was born in Bethlehem shouldn’t we believe what He has to say?

What was so bad about what the Jews did? The Jews by delivering Jesus up, denying him, and killing him were rejecting who Jesus was. They went so far in rejecting Him that they killed him.

Peter makes an application for those who do not know Jesus as their saviour in vs 19. Repent and be converted- are very similar words such that repent could be viewed as turning from and be converted as a turning to. Be converted literally means to turn. Therefore- the basis for this repentance is a clear vision of who Jesus is and what they have done with him. It also takes into account God’s longsuffering during their ignorance. Repentance was a key feature in the preaching of Jesus Matt 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ; in the preaching of the early Apostles when the church was primarily Jewish Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” and continued to be the message of the Apostles even to the Gentiles Acts 17:30 “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” and Acts 26:20 “But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” Thus the gospel message is the same for all: Repentance and Faith.

Repentance and conversion by faith are really two sides of the same coin. Repentance means to turn from my sin, turn from self-dependence and pursuing my way. We do this by changing our minds about who we are, what it takes to be saved, who Jesus is and how bad our sin actually is. So we turn our minds and hearts from these things. Faith is in essence a turning to God. Faith is trust. You come to a point in your life where you believe what the bible says about Jesus, you believe what it says about your sin and you trust Jesus only to save you from your sin. This is the response we must have if everything Peter said about Jesus is true.

So what are you going to do with Jesus? Are you going to reject Him to? Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Hebrews 10:26-31 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Today, God is giving you a knowledge of the truth. If you reject it, there are no sacrifices you can make to get forgiveness, there is no good deeds you can do to make up for all your bad deeds. If you reject Jesus Christ as your saviour like the Jews had done, all that remains for you is a judgment. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living, almighty, powerful, just, Holy God.

Hebrews 10:39 “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Thank God if you are a Christian, that you will not have to face condemnation. If you do not know Jesus Christ as your saviour, you do not have to continue to reject Him. You can be saved today.

III. Results

And if you do, these are the results

A. Sins will be blotted out Psalm 51:1 “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” Both the Hebrew and the Greek words used for this phrase indicate a “wiping away” In these times, ink would not permeate into the writing material and could be wiped away or washed. With Parchment it could be scrapped and then washed clean. This is called a Palimpsest. Some of our biblical manuscripts have been discovered this way because even though they were wipe clean and written over; modern technology can view the impressions made. The implication here though is that they are obliterated with no trace left behind. Though man might leave an imprint behind on a Palimpsest, God does not.

B. Times of refreshing may come- Refreshing here refers to a cooling or drying out of a wound. In the LXX, it is used for relief from the plague of the frogs. The word also refers to rest for slaves and animals as well as the refreshing influence of David’s music on Saul. It refers to entry into a new and unending eschatological life before the Lord. The closest parallel in the NT is the concept of “rest” in Heb. 3–4 . In light of this, the effects are experienced through the current rest we have in Jesus but will be fully experienced in the Millennial Kingdom.

C. Jesus will return- the final result is more specific to the Jewish audience that Jesus was addressing. If all Isreal would be saved, Peter was assured that Christ would come back to establish His kingdom. That day is coming. 2 Cor 6:2 “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” Psalm 95:7-8 “For he is our God; And we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, And as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:”

Conclusion

Sinner, if you do not know Jesus Christ as your saviour, today is the day you need to come. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. You stand condemned by a just and holy God. Jesus Christ who died for your sins, was buried and rose again victorious over death. To delay is to reject today. When we have our time of invitation, please come forward while everyone else is singing. If you are a lady, I will partner you with a lady who can show you how to have your sins forgiven. If you are a man, one of our men will take you out to another room and show you from the scriptures how you can be saved. Jesus said John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Will you come to the exalted Son of God?

For the Christian, the application of this message has been primarily about the lost, but there is a strong lesson from the life of Peter here. When others were tempted to give Peter the credit, the glory for what Jesus had done; his first response was to point them to Jesus. Do we deflect the glory to Him? As always you can come forward if you need to make things right or need to talk to someone.