Archegos
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Introduction
Introduction
Let’s to and you follow along as I read.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Q: This is a passage we all know well if for no other reason than that its the passage that Charlie Brown read at Christmas time. But let’s discuss this question for a moment: Who did Mary and Joseph think they were holding when they held Jesus in their arms before they laid Him in a manger?
In some ways, we figure they knew a lot because God has sent angels to inform them of a lot. But in other ways, we understand that they couldn’t have comprehended everything communicated to them, and they surely couldn’t see all that Jesus would do and all that Jesus was as they held Him in their arms.
This month we are focusing on the Names and Titles of Jesus in the hope that as we think about Jesus at Christmas time we will think of Him with greater understanding, behold Him with greater awe, and worship Him with greater devotion.
This past Sunday morning we talked about the Name Jesus, which means Savior.
Tonight, we want to talk about Jesus as archegos.
Turn with me to .
Major Ideas
Major Ideas
#1----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#1----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
{Summarize the story of Peter healing the lame beggar in .}
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? 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. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
Acts 3:
Q: In this passage, Jesus is called the Servant of God and the Holy and Righteous One, but its His title in v. 15 that we want to focus on—the Author of life. Does your translations use a word other than “author”?
NASB, KJV, NKJV = Prince
HCSB = Source
ESV, NIV = Author
Q: Given the different English words used to describe Jesus, how would you explain Jesus as the Author of life?
The Greek word behind author, source, or prince in is archegos. It’s only used 4 times in the NT and only in reference to Jesus. It’s a word that describes Jesus as an originator, pioneer, initiator, founder, or path-breaker. It can—as the word “prince” signifies—refer to a ruler, king, captain, chief, or leader.
As we think about Jesus as archegos it may help us to think of the word architect. That word has its origin in two Greek words—archi (which means first or beginning) and tekton (which means builder). An architect is one who plans a building, builds a building (i.e., he oversees its construction), and he gets the fame or the blame for the building once its complete.
Much more significantly, Jesus is the architect of our salvation! He planned it, built it, and gets the glory for it!
Look again at and think of Jesus as the Author, Prince, or Source of life. Let’s consider its two meanings.
Meaning #1: Jesus is the Author of biological life ().
This idea is reflected in although the word archegos is not used.
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Q: Were you made? How were you made?
Yes. Through Jesus. We may not be able to explain this but our inability to comprehend or explain something doesn’t make it false.
Q: How should the intentionality of being created and being created through Jesus affect how you see yourself or how you live day to day?
Because we were created through Jesus, we know that we were created on purpose for a purpose. That we were created through Him suggests that we were created for the purpose of glorifying Him by enjoying Him as our Savior and Lord.
Meaning #2: Jesus is the Author of spiritual life ().
This is the idea of archegos in where it is translated as founder in the ESV.
For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
Jesus authored, founded, captained, sourced, or pioneered our salvation by taking on flesh and living among us, experiencing temptations and trials, remaining perfect (i.e., totally sinless and totally righteous) in all things before God the Father, and then He gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, our rebellions against and shortcomings before God.
As Peter preached in , he told his fellow Jews, “you… asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life...” Peter meant to emphasize the sinful irony of murdering the author of life and letting a murderer (Barabbas) live. But if that had been the end of the sermon or even the end of the sentence, it would have been dreadful. Peter, however, continues, “you… asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead!” And then Peter says in ...
“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
Q: Peter offers Gospel-hope in turning from sinful unbelief and trusting in Jesus Christ. He says if they (and if we) do turn from sin and trust in Jesus, our sins will be blotted out, times of refreshing will come to us from the presence of the Lord (i.e. the Holy Spirit will dwell within us), and Christ will come for us. But if Christ has to come for us, where is He now?
At the right hand of the Father. That brings us to Acts 5:31.
#2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
{Summarize the story in of the Apostles arrested for preaching the Gospel, being freed by an angel of the Lord, then questioned about preaching in the Name of Jesus once they were released.}
In we read...
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
Q: That word Leader in (ESV) is the word we’ve been talking about—archegos. How does your version translate it?
ESV = Leader
NASB, KJV, NKJV, NIV = Prince
HCSB = Ruler (I think this is my favorite.)
Q: Understanding this word like we do now, why do you think Peter and the Apostles used this word in their response to the high priest?
The high priest had arrested them and now threatened them again, but Peter and the Apostles made it clear that Jesus who died for them now ruled over them at the Father’s right hand (the supreme place of privilege and power). So, although they were arrested, threatened, and even beaten (cf. ), they… well, listen to ...
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Q: How is
Q: However, as Ruler (archegos), Jesus also ruled over the very ones who arrested, threatened, and beat the Apostles. He also rules over the very ones who might arrest, threaten, or beat us as we live for Jesus. How is our boldness encouraged by truly understanding Jesus as the Ruler at the Father’s right hand?
We answer to Him.
More than we fear them, we should aim to please Him
If we are meant as sheep to be slaughtered, so that others might know Him. Then so be it.
To live is Christ. To die is gain.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Q: We talked about what Mary and Joseph may have thought about Jesus as they first held Him in their arms. What do you think most people think of when they think of Jesus at Christmas time?
A harmless, non-demanding, non-intrusive baby in a manger. (Only those who have never been around any baby would think of them as harmless, non-demanding, or non-intrusive.) But most probably think of Him as securely tucked away in that manger, sweet and cute to be sure, but not the Author of Life and Ruler at the Father’s right hand.
(#1) At Christmas and at all other times, we should worship Jesus because that baby in the manger is the Author of life—biological and spiritual.
(#2) We should worship Jesus because that baby in the manger is the Ruler at the Father’s right hand.
(#3) And we should give up sin and look to Jesus for strength, for encouragement, for hope because He is the Founder (archegos) and Perfecter of our faith ().
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
