The Good News of Easter

Today focus on reading from Acts - talks about what happened after Jesus resurrection

Acts - tells us about what happened after Jesus resurrection

So let’s consider what passage might reveal to us about Jesus resurrection

So let’s consider what passage might reveal to us about Jesus resurrection

Introduction

Before - Jesus followers had been proclaiming good news of Jesus resurrection in Judea & Samaria

Saul - persecutor / murderer of Jesus Followers - recently had radical conversion

Saul - persecutor / murderer of Jesus Followers - recently had radical conversion

Had radical turn around to

Jesus followers proclaimed Jesus was resurrected Messiah in Judea, Samaria, & to an Ethiopian

Even Saul - persecutor / murderer of Jesus Followers - recently had radical conversion

Mostly in places they knew & to people they felt comfortable sharing to

But all changed with Roman centurion Cornelius - devout follower / worshipper God = pretty unusual

But all changed with Roman centurion called Cornelius - leader of elite infantry regiment

who worshipping many Roman/Greek gods - worshipped Jewish God

= pretty unusual - Roman’s usually worshipped Greek/Roman god’s

God sent him an angel in vision giving him instructions to send for Peter

At same time in another town Peter had vision of sheet filled with religiously unclean animals

God told him to eat them - according Jewish Law make him spiritually unclean

Peter said no, I’d never eat anything spiritually unclean / God said don’t call something unclean I’ve called clean

God replied - don’t call something unclean I’ve called clean

At that point Peter get’s visitor - servant from Cornelius asking Peter to travel to meet him

So Peter travels to meet Cornelius - Brings us to today’ passage...

Brings us to today’ passage...

Who’s the Good News for?

What is the Good News?

The New International Version (1984) Peter at Cornelius’ House

33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

First off want focus on content of what Peter said / what God wanted Cornelius to hear

Want to focus on content of what Peter says / what God wanted Cornelius to hear

I’m calling this ‘The Good News of Easter’

Peter shares version of gospel / passion story

It begins with God sending His message to world through His dealings with nation Israel...

Climax of God’s message was God speaking directly through Jesus

Content Peter’s ‘sermon’ was tailored to people was speaking to = Gentiles

Peter focused on fact they’d heard stories of what happened,

They could easily verify truth of what he was saying - because there were witnesses

People who heard & saw what happened & would testify to truth of what Peter was telling them

Peter even points to fact they didn’t just see & hear what happened - they experienced it themselves

Acts 10:36–41 NIV84

You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

Acts 10:36-

The New International Version (1984) Peter at Cornelius’ House

36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Peter starts - sharing his version of events around Jesus

ou know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ

You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ

It begins with God sending His message to through His dealings with Israel...

Climaxed with God speaking directly through Jesus

vs 36 - You know message God sent to people of Israel, telling good news of peace through Jesus Christ...

The New International Version (1984) Peter at Cornelius’ House

37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—

Then Peter’s recognises Cornelius & family probably already heard rumours / stories about Jesus

First points out Cornelius / family had already heard stories of what he’s about tell them

Vs 37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee...

The New International Version (1984) Peter at Cornelius’ House

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree,

Reminds them - could easily verify truth what Peter telling them - because were witnesses

Vs 39 We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem...

Those witnesses heard & saw what happened & testified to truth about Jesus

Vs 39 We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem...

The New International Version (1984) Peter at Cornelius’ House

41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead

These witnesses weren’t casual bystanders - experienced it all themselves

Vs 41 - ...us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead

us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead

The New International Version (1984) Peter at Cornelius’ House

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

Core Peter’s account = Jesus from Nazareth did good works / healed people oppressed by devil

He could do those things = God was with Him in power / through presence of God’s Spirit

vs 38 - ...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with Holy Spirit & power, & went around doing good, healing all... under power of devil, because God was with him.

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), .

Jesus was murdered by Jews (Peter generalised = speaking to Gentiles)

But God raised him from dead - could be validated by specific witnesses

Peter goes out of his way ensure his account was true - not myth / made up - based in reality

Was based on actual events he & others witnessed / experienced & could testify too

So that was story of how God’s message came to be delivered & how God validated message

But what was God saying through events of Jesus life, death, resurrection?

,

The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), .

Acts 10:36 NIV84

You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Acts 10:43 NIV84

All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

The New International Version (1984) Peter at Cornelius’ House

that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

But then in vs 43 - ...everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.

veryone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

God’s message = We can find peace with God / be reconciled to God through Jesus

Anything separates us from God - evil, wrongdoing, fear, anger, rebellion can be set right by Jesus

Jesus paid penalty for all things humanity done wrong - so our relationship with God can be restored

God will forgive us because Jesus paid penalty for us - so it’s through Jesus we can approach God...

& ask God for forgiveness because of what Jesus accomplished on our behalf at Easter

God freely forgives us / we get clean record / & our relationship with God restored

& clean record

That’s powerful message - message God ensured would be believed - was based in reality / history

Message delivered by eye witnesses who experienced it all & could testify to its truthfulness

What sort of people do we consider are trustworthy, believable who will tell us truth?

Perhaps people in positions of power, authority, influence or with wealth, fame, status, education?

Or maybe people with wealth, fame, status, education?

None of those things guarantee what they’re telling is truth & should be believed

Perhaps someone like Trump - claimed what he says true & people can trust him...

What about people in positions of power, authority, influence? Or people with wealth, fame, status, education?

None of those things guarantee what they’re telling is truth & should be believed

Remember this guy? Trump has claimed a lot of things over past few years

Would you trust

But its hard to believe things he says - when not based in real world

But its hard to believe things he says - when not based in real world

its hard to believe

E.g. Presidential Campaign Announcement Speech June 16, 2016, Trump proposed build wall between U.S. & Mexico - "I will build a great wall — & nobody builds walls better than me, believe me — & I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, & I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words."

Did you believe that? Could he be consider speaker of truth?

On trip to Southern US border 10 Jan 2019 told CNN - "When during campaign I would say, 'Mexico's going to pay for it,' obviously I never said this & I never meant they're going to write out a check… So Mexico is paying for the wall indirectly."

You can trust the Good News about Jesus

Jesus made claims about who he is, what God was saying to people

Then after Jesus died, witnesses from His followers came forward

Claimed Jesus was most important person to ever live - his message was God’s truth

& Jesus proved his claims by rising from dead - they witnessed this

Today Jesus life, death, resurrection - verified by written historical sources - Christian & Non-Christian

So when scripture says - can be forgiven for wrongdoing, accepted, & made right with God through Jesus

We can believe its truth - its message based in historical fact

Who’s the Good News for?

Who’s the Good News for?

When Peter arrived at Cornelius house - believed Jesus message for Jews

But when Jesus turned up - began to preach different message - message of inclusion

They had whole written history God’s dealings with them

But when Jesus turned up - began to preach different message - message of inclusion

Jewish religious people at time were quite prejudice towards anyone not Jewish

E.g. Samaritans - were historical part Jewish by heritage

But their religion was different to Jews - so Jews despised as half castes

Gentiles like Roman’s were worse - considered unclean, only dealt with them in business

If they committed to following Jewish law like Cornelius - weren’t consider proper Jews

Considered unclean - didn’t deal with them unless in business / committed following Jewish law

Weren’t allowed in temple to worship - had to stay in outer courts

Jewish religious leaders wanted to keep their religion exclusive, just for true Jews

But when Jesus turned up - began to preach different message - message of inclusion

The New International Version (1984) Peter at Cornelius’ House

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

So Peter still believed God’s message of forgiveness, peace, reconciliation was just for Jews

After receiving Peter’s vision from God then hearing about Cornelius faith in God & his vision of angel...

And after hearing Cornelius tell him about his dedication to God & his vision of angel...

Peter finally realised God’s message of peace, forgiveness, reconciliation was now for everyone!!

God had now declared He’ll accept everyone who comes to Him

God now declared He’ll accept everyone who comes to Him

Doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, what you’re cultural heritage or social status is...

None of that matters to God

If you believe God exists, genuinely seek Him, & recognise you need Him in your life...

Then God will accept you - nothing else in your life will prevent it

God has no favourites

In recent years been run of adverts from various brands - from Dove soap to finance company JC Penny

They’re advertising messages of acceptance regardless of race, gender, sexuality, etc

Its because in today’s world everyone appears to feel like they’re being judged by others

Consequently we’re looking to belong / feel accepted by some one or group

But even if we find person / group feel comfortable with - never truly escape society’s judgment

Neither Dove soap or loan from JC Penny will help us find acceptance!

But we can come to God at any point in our lives & He’ll accepts us just as we are

Whether young / old; happy / miserable; rich / poor; pakeha / Maori / Polynesian / Asian; celebrity / criminal

None of that matters to God - God has no favourites - He’s impartial

God’s message of forgiveness, peace, & reconciliation is for everyone

The Good News about Jesus is for YOU!

But we can come to God at any point in our lives & He’ll accepts us just as we are

Whether young / old; happy / miserable; rich / poor; celebrity / criminal...

None of that important to God - God has no favourites - no one is better than anyone else

God’s message of forgiveness, peace, & reconciliation is open to everyone

Brings us to final important point...

Why should I Listen?

As Peter spoke to Cornelius He wanted emphasise why Jesus was important

Peter testified Jesus risen from dead & he’d seen it - even had dinner with risen Jesus!

Jesus had proved he’d been sent by God = God done amazing things through him

But Peter knew Jesus was more than just man sent from God to perform miracles

The New International Version (1984) Peter at Cornelius’ House

the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all

Peter refers to Jesus as ‘Christ’ - or in Hebrew Messiah = chosen by God

Peter believed Jesus was saviour & deliverer God had promised to send Israel centuries before

But Jesus was more than that - Peter calls Jesus Lord of all

I.e Jesus is Lord or God of all people - He’s universal - only God people called to worship & follow

Jesus is universal - he’s only one we’re to worship & follow

& Jesus only one with power / authority to give us God’s peace, forgiveness, acceptance, & reconciliation

But then Peter then says...

The New International Version (1984) Peter at Cornelius’ House

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him

The New International Version (1984) Peter at Cornelius’ House

42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead

Jesus = one calls humanity to account for our lives & at same time paid penalty for all we’ve done

Jesus will judge humanity for all wrong / bad / evil things done… as well as...

One who saves us from consequences of wrong / bad / evil things we do

Jesus both those things at same time… must never have one without other

He is both of those things - can’t have one without other

So although God will hold us to account for how we live our lives

He’s also made a way where our guilt for our failures in life = taken away

I.e. good news story Jesus = critical for us to take notice of!

Peter’s announcement to Cornelius was considered good news back in 1st C - but not so today...

People aren’t interested in Jesus any more - So what do we class as good news?

Here examples found on Stuff website;

Christchurch Council spending 2/3 less on travel from $662k to $241k

Christchurch Boys High won rowing cup with rainbow tape on their oars as stand against homophobic bullying & also convinced other teams to do same

2) Christchurch Boys High won a rowing cup with rainbow tape on their oars as a stand against homophobic bullying & had convinced other teams to do same

Kiwi’s overseas experienced sympathy, concern & admiration for our national response in Christchurch & speedy legislative response with gun law reform

3) Kiwi’s experience sympathy, concern and, admiration in US for national response in Christchurch and speedy legislative response with gun law reform - tragic these things good news… it can’t change / effect us

There’s nothing wrong with these stories but sad examples what many consider good news today

Nothing about these stories will change our lives / effect us in ways matter in future or for eternity

The Good News about Jesus matters!

Easter account of Jesus life, death & resurrection isn’t myth - its event historically verifiable

What happened was witnessed by so many people started chain of events changed world

Its message still relevant today = God wants to be reconciled to everyone

Anyone who’s genuinely looking for Him & know they need God - will find him...

Regardless of who you are, where you’ve been, what you’ve done

Through Jesus we can all receive forgiveness, reconciliation, peace, & acceptance from God

And Jesus proved he has authority & power to give that to us...

By rising from dead & being appointed Judge of all humanity

Jesus is most important person you could ever learn about & meet

His message is one - will change your life both now & for ever

So if you haven’t