Jesus Of Nazareth

FEBRUARY 6, 2022 STUDY NOTES ACTS 2:22-36 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES JESUS OF NAZARETH INTRODUCTION Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost Jesus had promised to send the Holy Spirit when He returned to the Father (John 14:26; 15:26) It was an event that was filled with wonder and amazement, Act 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Peter took the opportunity to stand before the crowd and to stand up for his Lord, Act 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: What brought about the change in Peter, the man who had denied Jesus 3 times? (Mt. 26:69-75) The man who would not stand for Jesus before a maid, who had stood in the crowd as a coward Now Peter, with the disciples who had also forsook Jesus, are ready to stand and speak for Jesus Their new-found life is proof of the resurrection of Christ from the dead, "Jesus is alive" Disciples who had denied Jesus are willing to die for their "Living Lord," who lives in them Peter stands before the crowd and with a loud voice, shouts, "listen to me," (without fear) Peter no longer spoke from a mind of doubt, but from an assurance of heart, "Jesus is alive" From a powerful voice will come a powerful message with the power of conviction (Acts 2:41) JESUS OF NAZARETH--Act 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Israel, God's chosen nation, God's covenant people who were given the promise of the Messiah The nation who claimed to long for that day of the Coming Messiah (Acts 1:6) Peter presents to them the Messiah that they had failed to receive, and God had endorsed He was known as "Jesus of Nazareth" who was "a man," the Messiah must be a man If He was not a man, He could not fulfill the redemptive work of the Messiah (John 19:19) The qualifications of a man from "Nazareth" had been questioned, Joh 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Peter is now saying to the crowd, "Come and see," I want you to see "Jesus of Nazareth" Jesus of Nazareth was well known by the Jews, a well-known name (Acts 3:6; 4:10; 6:14; 22:8) Peter said, "You have already seen the approval of God upon Him," evidence beyond any doubt God put Him on public display before your very eyes, Jesus has been confirmed by God You saw Him perform "miracles and wonders and signs" and you should have believed John said, there could have been many more signs recorded, Joh 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But there has been more than enough for you to believe, Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (Supernatural works of God's power was the sign that said, believe in Jesus) Could not Peter stand before us today and say, you have heard enough, you have seen enough Why would you not commit your life to Christ? Jesus gave His life for you! JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED--Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: "Him," the same man that God presented to you through signs, proving He is the Messiah It was not just the Jews, but all wicked hands of sinful man that nailed Jesus to the cross All according to God's eternal plan of redemption for sinful man before the world began, 2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, The only way you can understand that verse is to believe that "God is God" (His Sovereignty) God knew before He even created man that He would have to give His Son to the cross, Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (God's gift was more than the birth of His Son) God the Father gave His Son unto the death of the cross, confirming that Jesus was the Messiah The Jews thought that the death of Jesus on the cross proved that He was not the Messiah, but--- JESUS IS ALIVE--Act 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. God put an end to His death by setting Him free from "the pains of death" (Mark 16:6) It is interesting that the word translated "pains" is the same word referring to "birth pains" Women cry out and shed tears of suffering while bringing forth a child unto life But then when that baby is in their arms and upon their breast, they now shed tears of joy Jesus went to the cross knowing there would be life delivered through pain and He rejoiced, Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus is now at the right hand of God because God raised Him up, "Jesus is alive" Atheist and agnostics say it was impossible for Jesus to be raised up from the dead God said it was impossible for death to hold Jesus, who are you going to believe? Death could not hold Jesus because of God's promise, God's purpose, and God's power GOD PROMISED DAVID--Act 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Peter quotes from Psalms 16:8-11 which presented David's deliverance and Jesus' resurrection David had a counseling session with God, Psa 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. (Death was no threat to David) David had a word from God and knew that it was a promise of God's eternal presence with him Promises unto David that were based upon the fulfilled promises through Jesus of Nazareth Death would not conquer Jesus because in three days the tomb would be empty (John 2:19) And our risen Savior would be seated at the right hand of God for us, Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. "That I should not be moved," refers to Christ who fulfilled His work of redemption for us Those who will believe in Jesus and receive Him will experience His power, Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, The same power of life that was manifested in the resurrection of Christ, Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Because Jesus lives, we can live with Jesus, Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: THE JOY OF HOPE--Act 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope (Read Psalms 16:9) "Therefore," takes us back to the previous verse, that which is related to the previous truth David said, no wonder my heart is filled with joy, his joy was joy because of the joy of Jesus A heart filled with joy based upon a life filled with God's promises and God's power In the previous verse he said, "I foresaw the Lord always before my face" David had not seen the Lord with His physical eyes, but with the eyesight of his mind (faith) Peter tells us what David was talking about, 1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: A tongue cannot be silent when the heart is filled with joy (Philippians 4:4) David expresses something that our world so desperately needs today (eyes upon Jesus) There are many people today whose life is filled with discouragement and despair Those who are living with broken hearts and disturbed minds, torn apart and defeated lives Living an outward appearance of success, putting on a show, but living a life of turmoil within Listen to David, "my flesh shall rest in hope," if I live, I rest, if I die, I rest "Hope" sustains me, all will be well with me whether it be life or whether it be death (Titus 2:13) "Hope" is faith waiting to see what God is going to do next, which is exciting expectation David knew what God was not going to do, God was not going to allow death to be victorious David was singing "Victory In Jesus" long before it was ever written in our hymn book VICTORY IN JESUS--Act 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Read Psalms 16:10) David's hope was in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, which he speaks of If you believe that Jesus is alive and have received Him into your life, you are saved, Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. If you are saved, Hades, the abode of the dead, has no victory over your soul (2 Cor. 5:8) If you are saved, the grave has no victory over your body, there will be a resurrection of the body The future resurrection of the believer's body is based upon the resurrection of Jesus, 1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. Paul agrees with David, the grave has no victory, 1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? THE WAYS OF LIFE--Act 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. (Read Psalms 16:11) What is more important to you today than life? What is more important to you today than knowing "the way of life?" The advertising world of today is filled with what they call the "way of life" Telling us that if you want to live, this is what you want to buy, this is where you want to go The advertising world is lying to you, buy this, wear this, go here, and do this, and you will live They do not advertise the end results of their way of life, they do not want you to see the end But you can see it in the torn lives, broken homes, disturbed minds, and hurting hearts of today Listen to David, "thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance" (Jesus' presence) Speaking of the presence of the Person of Jesus in your life, listen to Jesus, Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jesus is the "Way of Life" because He is alive and there is no other true "Way of Life" DAVID'S TESTIMONY--Act 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Peter said, let me tell you what David said, let me tell you the truth that David spoke David's words were not limited to David, he was not just referring to himself, he spoke of Jesus We know that because David did die, and David's body was buried David's body still-remains in the grave and David's flesh did see corruption (Not true of Jesus) We know that David was speaking of Jesus Christ because Christ is alive, and on the Throne CHRIST ON THE THRONE--Act 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; Being an inspired prophet of God, David spoke for God, David spoke of the promises of God Prophecy revealed that it would be a descendant of the flesh of David that would go to the throne The angel not only promised the Virgin Mary a Son who would be the Savior, Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. "Jesus" means "Savior," He was named Jesus because He is the only savior (Acts 4:12) The angel promised Mary that her Son would not only be the Savior, Jesus would also be King, Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: Jesus was that descendant of David who would be given the throne of David But Jesus could not be destined to sit on the throne of God if He was dead RESURRECTION OF CHRIST--Act 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. God had allowed David to look far into the future and he saw the Messiah, Savior, and King David saw that the Spirit of Jesus would descend into Hades, the realm of the dead It was not the victory of death over Jesus that David saw It was the victory of Jesus over death and hell that David saw and revealed (Psalms 49:15; 86:13) David saw that the Spirit of Jesus was not forsaken in hades, the realm of the dead David saw the body of Jesus in the tomb and saw that His body did not decay in the tomb GOD RAISED UP JESUS--Act 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. David was speaking of Jesus when he said, "God has raised up" (David's body is in the tomb) Peter was speaking of the "Same Jesus" that David was, Peter's words are strong Peter said, "This is the very Jesus that we are telling you about," we are witnesses, Act 10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. We, the disciples of Jesus "are witnesses" to the fact that Christ is alive, and Christ is exalted Is that our testimony today? Are we a witness to the fact that Jesus is alive and lives in us? CHRIST IS EXALTED--Act 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. In-order for Christ to be exalted He must come forth from the dead But His exaltation is not limited to the resurrection, His exaltation is more than resurrection He is exalted to the right hand of God (1 Peter 3:22) The proof that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God was the coming of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. There was a sound from Heaven, Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. There were tongues of fire, Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. None of which would have been possible unless Christ was alive and had sent the Holy Spirit IT WAS NOT DAVID--Act 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Again, David was not speaking of himself, God did not tell David to be seated at His right hand Peter quotes the words of David, Psa 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. There is an emphasis placed upon "Lord" in Acts 2:34, "Lord" is found twice in the verse Notice that the first is capitalized, meaning, "The LORD GOD," referring to "Yahweh God" Who said unto "my Lord," referring to the Messiah, God's Anointed, the Christ Unto Jesus, God the Father said, "sit thou on my right hand" (The present position of Jesus) The resurrection and the exaltation to the right hand of God assures us of the truth of Jesus The "Same Jesus" who was crucified is "Lord," Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; HIS GLORY YET TO COME --Act 2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. The "Living Lord" will defeat all enemies, Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. We will cover that subject Wednesday night in our study of the Day of the Lord EVERYONE MUST KNOW--Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Beginning with Israel, they must know, they must know "assuredly," we must know assuredly The facts are in, there is the understanding beyond the shadow of any doubt Everything points to the same conclusion God has made that "Same Jesus" The "Same Jesus" who died on the cross, the "Same Jesus" who arose from the grave The "Same Jesus" that ascended back into Heaven is going to come again to the earth, Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. God has given Him the name above every name, Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: His name is "Jesus," Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The day will come when all will-acknowledge the truth of Jesus, but all will not be saved His name is Jesus, Savior, because He is the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Christ Jesus is His name, Christ is His title, the sermon Peter preached was, "Jesus is the Christ" Peter had previously confessed it, now he preaches it, Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. That same Jesus is "Lord," the truth that must be believed and accepted, Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. "THAT SAME JESUS IS ALIVE," "THAT SAME JESUS IS CHRIST" "THAT SAME JESUS IS LORD" "HIS NAME IS JESUS" "JESUS, JESUS, JESUS," THE NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME What does His name mean to you today? Have you called upon His name for salvation? Listen to the song Page 5 of 5