Now Let's talk about Jesus
The Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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What do we like to talk about?
When communicating to an audience, it’s important to get their attention, raise a need, and orient listeners to the subject at hand. Peter and John got their attention when the lame man in the temple courts was miraculously and undeniably healed.
This drew a huge crowd of awed spectators.
It gave the apostles an open door to talk about Jesus who was crucified and resurrected. They talked about Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah who the prophets declared.
Peter’s sermon in Acts 3 is similar to the one he preached at Pentecost. He proclaimed the truth, enhanced with Old Testament Scripture, and then gave a call for repentance.
Peter used Pentecost in the first sermon… Peter used this miracle to get the crowd his full attention in this sermon.
11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
PRAY
Peter and John declared to this man, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. This lame beggar was healed…
The crowd was in awe because they witnessed an undeniable supernatural work.
This could only be explained by the power of God.
A man, lame from birth, a well known beggar who regularly begged for money at the temple entrance.
Then, in the name of Jesus this man was healed. This same Jesus whom they crucified, who suffered as the prophets declared… this same Jesus who died and was buried and then rose from the grave.
I’m sure this invalid ran into Jesus, I’m sure Jesus saw him and had the opportunity to heal him but not everyone was healed during Jesus’ earthly ministry.
Sometimes we struggle with the “why?” Why didn’t Jesus heal when HE had the chance?
Jesus knew what HE was doing then and HE knows what HE is doing now. Always remember that God is good and HIS timing is always perfect.
Jesus heals for the purpose of drawing others to HIMSELF and he used Peter and John to do just that.
God uses signs and wonders but it’s not just for making our life better, or easier… God works through signs and wonders so that the gospel can be presented and Jesus is glorified through HIS supernatural work.
Peter saw this opportunity, spoke up and addressed the crowd.
This was that divine appointment God used to get the attention of the religious folks… Jews going into the temple to pray.
This audience knew this man and his sad situation and they also are witnesses that this lame man was no longer lame… he was healed and Peter saw a divine opportunity to present the gospel to a captivated audience.
Peter saw it and took this opportunity.
Peter saw it and took this opportunity.
This miraculous healing could have been God’s big win.
God healed a lame man, the crowd was wowed and then everyone went home without any real opportunity for divine transformation.
This however was not God’s big win. God used it to get the attention of the crowd. This undeniable miracle to speak the truth about Jesus.
12 Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? 13 For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him.
Peter wanted to make it clear to this Jewish crowd that this miracle was the handiwork of the very God they claimed to follow, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God of all our ancestors.
The miracle also had purpose: to bring glory to his servant Jesus. God the Father was exalting the Son through this miracle.
We must keep our eyes ears and heart open
Sometimes we underestimate or overlook a supernatural work.
It’s easy to miss those supernatural God moments when we are not thankful… when we allow our focus to shift… when we don’t come before the Lord as if HE is common… not having that expectation that God is able to do the impossible.
Be ready to talk about Jesus
We see here that Peter was ready.
Acts 3:12 (NLT)
12 Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd.
We have to see it and then address it. Even when it’s uncomfortable, awkward, brings up fear.
God uses our mouth to deliver that word of encouragement, a word of life, a word of challenge and conviction to get the audience thinking about Jesus and then giving them an opportunity to respond.
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
God will always use us to deliver the greatest message ever… the hope for the lost… the good news… God loves us and HE wants us to receive HIS love, HIS gift of grace that can only be received through faith.
That message will never become obsolete… never be replaced… never loose it’s power. Even when the world is trying to figure out new ways to fix our problems, Jesus is still our only answer.
What people hear matters share your testimony of faith because faith comes by hearing…
Peter spoke the truth about Jesus.
Peter spoke the truth about Jesus.
Peter said that the messiah must suffer according to the words of the prophets.
13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
Many in the crowd were familiar with Jesus. All these thing happened just months before. Still fresh in the minds of so many.
Some may have been in the crowd when this suffering servant, Jesus was delivered over and murdered by an unjust mob.
Peter used the words “you” or “your.” You handed him over….You rejected….You killed…. what you did to Jesus … Now turn from your sins.
14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
Jesus is called the holy and righteous one identifying that Jesus holds equality with God. But the Jews had rejected him. The horrendous nature of their deed was much worse as they murdered Jesus and releasing a murderer Barabbas.
Peter stated that they had killed the author of life.
The term “author” means the “prince, leader, pioneer, originator,” a champion who is victorious in behalf of those whom he represents.
Peter uses three strong contrasts in three straight verses:
vs. 13—the Jews had delivered Jesus to be killed, though Pilate had decided to free him;
vs. 14—they had rejected Jesus, and requested the release of a murderer;
vs. 15—they had killed Jesus, though God raised him from the dead.
The one the Jews had killed was presently alive, raised by God himself and Peter and hundreds of others were witnesses of this.
But, that’s not the end. Jesus is risen, HE is still alive and HE has the power to heal.
16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.
Peter took no credit but gave full credit to the name of Jesus. Peter was referring to the full identity of Jesus. Jesus was the Healer.
Jesus is alive, HE is our healer and you are in a tough place because you… the crowd is guilty of killing the messiah.
Aren’t you glad the message doesn’t end on that note. Jesus not only has the power to heal but HE has the power to forgive.
Peter offered an opportunity for repentance.
Peter offered an opportunity for repentance.
17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
We do things in ignorance more often then we would like to admit.
We don’t see the big picture… we are swayed by pubic opinion… we respond without thinking, not in love…
The good and the scary news is that God still sees us, knows us, but yet HE loves us enough to want us to turn to HIM.
The message of salvation must also included the call to repentance—acknowledging personal sin and turning away from it. Many people want the benefits of being identified with Christ without admitting their own disobedience and turning from sin. The key to forgiveness is confessing sin and turning from it.
Peter offers the crowd an opportunity to repent.
“Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins.” They had rejected, despised, and killed Jesus, but they could still turn from their sins, turn to God, and be cleansed. They could change their minds about Jesus.
The words “turn from your sins” are the standard Greek for repentance. Turn away from a former way of life and toward a new way of life.
The term “cleansed” is often used in Greek as a figure of speech, meaning to erase, especially of writing.
In this case the “eraser” was God, and the “writing” was a list of their sins—not just their sins of killing the author of life, but all their sins.
God doesn’t save your list for some future time when he might want to resurface your failures. They are wiped out, separated from us as far as east is from west, a scarlet list that is now made as white as snow. That’s the power of the Cross.
Forgiveness is available for all, at the foot of the cross.
19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. 21 For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.
The “turning” in vs. 19 promises two results: (1) the coming of wonderful times of refreshment, and (2) the return of Jesus your Messiah to you again.
The expressions “times of refreshment” and “the time for the final restoration of all things” are unique to the New Testament. The word for “restoration” means to return something to its original state.
When we turn from our sin, our old way of life and we turn to Jesus, walk with HIM, talk with HIM, HE will make us brand new. We have a new life now in Christ.
Getting a new van vs a used van. If it’s used we have to fix those things that are broken by the previous owners.
Jesus came to give us refreshment and to restore us to the newness and the freedom we enjoyed before we were bound up because of sin.
Peter then breaks down the OT prophets… vs 22-23 Moses spoke about one come greater then Moses.
vs 24 Peter reminded the Jews about the prophets from Samual and beyond who have foretold these days.
Vs 25 Peter spoke of the promised covenant God gave to Abraham. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on earth will be blessed.’
The OT confirmed and declared that Jesus is the messiah, Jesus is that the suffering servant who came to heal, to restore, who came to forgive.
Take away:
Then, through this, 5,000 were added to the church that day.
4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
Are we presenting the gospel? Are we looking for those opportunities to share Jesus?
Are we speaking the truth about Jesus even when it’s uncomfortable?
We all need grace, we all need to repent and turn to Jesus. Are we drinking from the living water, eating from the bread of life?