A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Tuesday,
April 6,
2021
"Death Could Not Hold Him!"
Message
summary: Today
we rejoice in this truth and live for the
One who once for all died for our sins and
now lives forevermore, for it was
impossible for death to keep its hold on
Him! It is for this truth that we must
earnestly, faithfully and vigorously
contend!
Listen
to this message on your audio player.
“This man (Jesus) was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him” (Acts 2:23,24).
“This man (Jesus) was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him” (Acts 2:23,24).
In
our daily verse Peter is preaching to the curious
crowd on the day of Pentecost. Fifty days earlier
he was among the first witnesses to the greatest
event in history, the resurrection of Jesus
Christ.
“This
man (Jesus) was handed over to you by God’s
set purpose and foreknowledge." The
redemption plan was a plan from the very
beginning. Pastor Steven Cole comments, "Peter
shows that Jesus was not killed because He was a
victim of His enemies. He was killed because God
predetermined before the world began that Jesus
would die as the Savior of His people. Isaiah
53:10ff prophesied, “But the Lord was pleased
to crush Him, putting Him to grief.” And so
rather than invalidating Jesus as Lord and
Messiah, His death actually validated Him, since
it was a fulfillment of God’s eternal decree.
"And
you, with the help of wicked men."
What a convicting statement the two words "and
you" must have been to the initial
hearers, for ultimately it was the sin of the
human race and each individual sinner which "put
Him to death by nailing Him to the cross".
Stuart Townend captures this sentiment in his song
"How Deep The Father's Love For Us" with these
words.
Behold
the Man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
In
Peter's message one verse was devoted to Jesus'
life/incarnation (Acts 2:22) and one verse on His
death/crucifixion (Acts 2:23), but Peter then
expounds on Christ's resurrection for the next
nine verses. In fact the resurrection of Christ
could well be called the main theme of the
apostolic preaching in Acts.
“But
God raised Him from the dead” is the
first reference to the resurrection in apostolic
preaching in the book of Acts. Apostolic preaching
consistently emphasized the death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ. It was and ever will be at the
very heart of the Gospel. A faithful witness will
always, "earnestly contend for the faith that
was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude
3).
“Freeing Him from the agony of death." Peter, who infamously denied the Lord at His trial, had been a witness to this agony, although at a distance due to his denial and shame. But the resurrection freed Him and the gripping chains of death were broken.
“Because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.” Peter surely recalled the teaching of Jesus he had heard time after time. These teachings made sense to him now. Early in His ministry Jesus had said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19). After Peter had made his great confession of faith, Jesus clearly taught that He would “suffer many things, be killed, and be raised again the third day". Even his enemies were aware of the claim and made provision for a guard at the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66). But no paltry Roman guard was going to stop this glorious, supernatural event! Death had forever lost its sting.
“Freeing Him from the agony of death." Peter, who infamously denied the Lord at His trial, had been a witness to this agony, although at a distance due to his denial and shame. But the resurrection freed Him and the gripping chains of death were broken.
“Because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.” Peter surely recalled the teaching of Jesus he had heard time after time. These teachings made sense to him now. Early in His ministry Jesus had said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19). After Peter had made his great confession of faith, Jesus clearly taught that He would “suffer many things, be killed, and be raised again the third day". Even his enemies were aware of the claim and made provision for a guard at the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66). But no paltry Roman guard was going to stop this glorious, supernatural event! Death had forever lost its sting.
Today
we rejoice in this truth and live for the One who
once for all died for our sins and now lives
forevermore, for it was impossible for death to
keep its hold on Him! It is for this truth that we
must earnestly, faithfully and vigorously contend!
Death
could not hold You, the veil tore before You
You silenced the boast, of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring, the praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again!
You silenced the boast, of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring, the praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again!
Be
encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we thank You for the living hope we have through
Jesus who did not die in vain, but instead
conquered sin and death. You raised Christ’s body
from the dead, because death could not hold Him.
The certainty of Christ’s resurrection is taught
and reinforced throughout the New Testament
writings and is the cornerstone of our faith.
Biblical perspective makes the reality of the
grave not a finality, but a springboard from which
we will enter into glorious, eternal life. With
deep conviction we choose to earnestly,
faithfully, and vigorously contend for this
essential truth of the resurrection of Jesus
Christ. Amen.Further study: In Acts there are three prominent preachers from whom we have the text of their messages recorded; Peter, Stephen, and Paul. Both Peter and Paul have the resurrection as a very prominent element in their preaching.
Stephen’s sermon was interrupted when he
proclaimed, “You stiff-necked people, with
uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like
your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!
Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not
persecute? They even killed those who predicted
the coming of the Righteous One. And now you
have betrayed and murdered Him (Christ), you who
have received the law that was put into effect
through angels but have not obeyed it” (Acts
7:51-53).
“When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him” (v. 54) and this progressed to his stoning. He was unable to complete his sermon which I am sure would have progressed to declare the resurrection.
“When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him” (v. 54) and this progressed to his stoning. He was unable to complete his sermon which I am sure would have progressed to declare the resurrection.
However, Stephen declared the
resurrection of Christ in another way: “But
Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to
heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus
standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he
said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts
7:55,56). The risen Lord was seen by Stephen at
the right hand of God so thus he also proclaimed
the resurrection of our Savior! Praise the Lord!
All
this week our messages will be on the resurrection
of Jesus Christ as taught in each of the major
sections of the New Testament.
- Yesterday's message was from the Gospel accounts.
- Today we examine how the resurrection was a core element in apostolic preaching in Acts.
- Wednesday and Thursday we look
look at the epistles' accounts.
- Friday we will look at the Book of Revelation.
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"How
Deep The Father's Love" Video Selah
"What A Beautiful Name" Video This is the song we quoted above that has the line, "Death could not hold You". We sang this in our church on Sunday but today I will post a link to the pre-pandemic version with the Calvary Church Choir, Orchestra and congregation.
You
have no rival, You have no equal
Now and forever God You reign
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name, above all names
Now and forever God You reign
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name, above all names
"Chain
Breaker" Video Gaither
Vocal Band
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Weber".Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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