April 16, 2017 Temple Baptist Church, Jamestown, ND
TITLE: SUFFERINGREJOICING, Acts 2:22-36; Psalm 16:8-11; etc. (Necessary
Suffering #7)
Recently President Donald Trump ordered a cruise missile strike launched from two
Navy destroyers against a Syrian Air Base, in response to the gassing of Syrian citizens
in a rebel-controlled area. President Trump said that the suffering of the people,
especially the children, motivated him to respond to make a strong statement against
Syrian President Bashar-al Assad.
What was the response when an innocent man was condemned by the religious and
civic leaders of his own people, who then prodded the Roman magistrate to have him
executed as a criminal worthy of capital punishment by crucifixion? In the Passion Play
I play the role of a priest who eggs on the crowd by shouting, Crucify him!
We’ve looked at various passages the last few weeks that speak of Jesus’ suffering,
specifically how this suffering is foretold in many OT writings. Several of the reference
are from David’s psalms written a millennium before the events of April 32 A.D.
One of the charges brought against Jesus was His claim that if the temple were
destroyed He would rebuild it in three days. This references an account that John
records as early in Jesus’ ministry, the first time He was in the Temple in Jerusalem to
cleanse it. The Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?”
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The
Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up
in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he
was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they
believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. John 2:18-22
The Scripture John references is not clear. Some think it is Hosea 6:2, while others
suggest Isaiah 53:12 or even Peter’s message recorded in Acts 2 that uses David’s
words in Psalm 16. What is clear is that the Jews recognize Jesus’ Temple
cleansing action from His earliest ministry as a Messianic claim. At this point they
do not oppose Him, but ask for signs that will authenticate His claim to be Messiah.
His response? Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. The building of
Herod’s temple, begun 46 years earlier, would continue for another three decades. The
Temple would be the rallying symbol for the Jewish rebellion against Rome. Finally
completed in 64, it was destroyed and burned in 70 A. D.
John comments, They misunderstood. He was speaking about the temple of his body.
Indeed! The irony is that the Temple was the representation of God’s presence.
They had God among them all along. Another irony is that some three years after this
incident the Jewish leaders would be the ones to initiate the fulfillment of Jesus’ words,
when they arrest Messiah, declare Him worthy of death based on conflicting testimony
of these very words and turn Him over to the Roman magistrate, Pilate, to be executed.
When Christ spends some time with His followers that evening following His
resurrection, He shows them His wounded hands and feet. He eats a piece of fish.
Then He reminds them: “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with
you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the
Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day
rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in
his name to all nations . . .” Luke 24:44-47
Jesus’ suffering becomes cause for rejoicing. Why? We rejoice in this Resurrection
Day because . . .
•
God’s plan is accomplished . . . as He said.
Nearly six weeks after the resurrection of the One the Jewish authorities condemned to
death and jeered while He was dying, Jesus appears one last time to His closest
disciples before ascending to heaven. A week later was another Jewish festival,
Pentecost. While Jews from all over the region were gathered the Holy Spirit, Whom
Jesus promised would come after He left, comes with power on those who are His
followers. The crowd accuses them of being drunk in the morning. Peter says it is
something far different that is causing them to praise God in the native languages of
those gathered. This is what Joel, who prophesied many years earlier, foretold would
happen in the last days.
Peter explains how this all connects with a recent event to which many there were
witness seven weeks earlier, Jesus’ execution. Read Acts 2:22-36. You bear
responsibility for the crucifixion and death of Jesus of Nazareth as you delivered
Him into the hands of lawless men (2:23).
It’s not like you should be surprised. God did mighty works and wonders and signs
through Him in your midst. You know it. It is this Jesus Whom you delivered to be
crucified.
We hear the word crucifixion so often we do not acknowledge the emotional, mental and
physical suffering of Jesus. The Greek word used in Acts 8:33 of Isaiah 53:8 is
humiliation.
Here is the wonder. Peter says that Jesus’ suffering was all according to the definite
plan and foreknowledge of God (2:23). Jesus knew it would happen, Paul writes, when
He obeyed to the point of humbling Himself to death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).
Last week I spoke about the curse of the cross. This day is a rejoicing day, because
God’s plan is accomplished in Jesus’ suffering, but also in His defeating death in
His resurrection. We rejoice this Resurrection Day because . . .
•
God raised Messiah Jesus . . . as He said.
Back to Peter’s sermon and Acts 2. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death,
because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 2:24 Peter then quotes from another
of David’s songs, Psalm 16.
Read Psalm 16:1-11. Peter quotes the last four verses, commenting that David’s words
aren’t about himself, because he most certainly is dead and his tomb is a known place.
So how does Peter understand these words in David’s song? Peter says we need to
understand them as David himself understood them. “Brothers, I may say to you
with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his
tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn
with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on this throne, he foresaw
and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are
witnesses.” Acts 2:29-33 We cannot deny what we have witnessed.
Jesus’ suffered according to the plan of God. He also was raised according to the plan
of God. God raised the Christ/Messiah, this Jesus whom you delivered over to death.
Peter quotes from Psalm 110 about Jesus’ ascension, being honored by God at His
right hand, again, as He said. Then Peter brings it all together and makes it personal.
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord
and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 2:36
The people are convicted, cut to the heart, as they realize they are responsible for
Messiah’s death. They ask Peter, What shall we do? Peter instructs them to repent
and be baptized, indicating their sins are forgiven and their own reception of God’s gift
of the Holy Spirit. Peter urges them to respond and save themselves from this evil
generation. Four decades later Jerusalem would lie in ruins.
God’s conviction through Peter’s sermon brings about a tremendous response.
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about
three thousand souls. Acts 2:41 Next week we begin a new series about just what Peter
was referencing when he said they were added.
We rejoice this Resurrection Day, because God raised Messiah Jesus . . . as He
said. Death could not keep his prey, Jesus, my Savior! He tore the bars away, Jesus,
my Lord! Hallelujah! Christ arose! We rejoice this Resurrection Day, because . . .
•
God will raise us . . . as He said.
The implications of Christ’s resurrection are many. Death is defeated. Satan’s greatest
power is shown to be inadequate in holding Messiah. Creation, Paul writes, is now in
labor, waiting to be reborn, to be made new when Jesus returns. Jesus demonstrates
that He is King. God’s Holy Spirit is given. Furthermore, He chooses to make His
presence known, to dwell, not in a physical place but in the temple represented by
the lives of those who belong to God. He lives within us together.
But there is another implication. If God raised Jesus, He will raise us, too. The
apostle Paul makes this abundantly clear. In describing the gospel within us as
treasure in clay pots, he says that believing means we speak about this, knowing that
he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his
presence. 2 Corinthians 4:14
In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul writes about the certainty and nature of Jesus’ resurrection.
We, too, will be raised one day. In Ephesians Paul says this future personal reality
is a present spiritual reality. He (God) raised us up with him (Christ) and seated us
with him (Christ) in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6
In his letter to the followers of Jesus in Colossae Paul says the significance is that we
now are to live for Him. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that
are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1
Three weeks ago Diana Gray went to be with her Lord. One week previous Kathleen
Heller, Pastor Kalen and I were at her bedside talking, reading from God’s word and
praying with her one last time, reminding her of God’s promises to which she clung and
which she shared so many times with others. She responded with several nods and
tears.
If you have trusted Jesus the Messiah as your Savior, exchanging your sin for the
life He gives, God promises that He will raise you, too. We cling to that promise.
We rejoice in that promise . . . as He said. Seek the things above.
Conclusion. 1 Corinthians 15 is Paul’s magnum opus concerning the importance, the
certainty, the nature and the significance of the resurrection for this world and for us
personally. Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which
you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to
the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of
first importance what I also received: that Christ (Messiah) died for our sins in
accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are
still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the
apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 1 Corinthians
15:1-8
Note the word that Paul uses of Jesus. Christ. The Anointed One/Messiah. Verse
four says he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
Paul defines the gospel this way. Christ died as God said. He was buried, then
raised the third day as God said. Then He appeared to many, Paul listing several,
including himself. What I want to leave us with is His opening comments in the first two
verses of this chapter. You and I rejoice in this Resurrection Day, becasue this day
changes all days forever.
The good news we receive saves us from sin for God for all time and is the
foundation on which we stand. You may be going through some suffering regarding
past actions, health or relationships. Your suffering may be a direct result of your faith.
God knows. God understands. Jesus wants to move you from suffering to
rejoicing as you trust Him. The good news we receive saves us and is the
foundation on which we stand. We rejoice in this Resurrection Day. It is God’s
Day. It is Christ’s Day. In is the Day anticipated aby all creation. It is our Day.
(Pray)
NEXT STEPS: Read Psalm 16 three times aloud slowly. Share the word or phrase that
holds your attention. Now read Acts 2:22-36 and review the outline. Talk about your
experience with suffering. What leads you to rejoice? What impact, if any, does Jesus’
resurrection have on your life? Share a request and pray together. Next week we
begin a new series, TBC Together.