Acts 2:23-24, 32-36
23 Long ago God planned that Jesus would be handed over to
you. With the help of evil people, you put Jesus to death. You nailed him to
the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead. He set him free from the
suffering of death. It wasn’t possible for death to keep its hold on Jesus.
...
32 God has raised this same Jesus back to life. We are all witnesses of this. 33 Jesus has been given a place of honor at the right hand of God....34 David did not go up to heaven. But he said,
“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right
hand.
35 I will put your enemies
under your
control.” ’ (Psalm 110:1)
36 “So be sure of this, all you people of Israel. You nailed
Jesus to the cross. But God has made him both Lord and Messiah.”(NIRV)
1. Sunday is Vindication
Who is this Jesus?
A liar? A lunatic? A good teacher? The Lord?
People didn’t believe him. Jesus was tried and sentenced to death on the cross
by government official and religious leaders as a blasphemer and criminal. He
was treated unjustly. However, the God of justice would not leave and abandon
the righteous one to himself. God vindicated him by reversing the punishment
imposed on him by men and making him live again.
2. Sunday is Victory
Jesus was not only given back his life. He was raised in glory. He was
appointed Son of God and was raised to sit on the right side of God, sharing
the throne. He was given all the highest authorities to defeat his enemies.
The disciples, who originally had no faith and were afraid of death, paid the
price with their lives for witnessing Jesus' resurrection and authority after
meeting the resurrected Jesus.
Question: Do YOU believe in the resurrected Jesus?
