Jesus Is The Messiah Of The Old Testament

Acts 2:22-36

About two months after the crucifixion, the Jews had had time to assimilate what had happened. They now knew about the claims of resurrection, and of the people who had seen him in the forty days before he ascended into heaven. They also knew about the dead who’d been sighted in Jerusalem, the earthquakes, and the darkening of the sun. Curiosity was probably pretty intense.

The sudden, miraculous ability of the disciples to speak in languages which they were not expected to know had drawn a crowd. Peter then demonstrated that the miraculous sign was fulfilling prophecy that the people had believed for a long time, that it was not some new plan. He then explains the importance of Jesus life and death in God’s plan.

“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: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” (Acts 2:22-24)

Jesus had done many miracles in Jerusalem, as well as throughout Israel. Time after time it had been acknowledged that those things could only result from the power of God, and they had accepted the conclusion. God clearly knew what was going to result, because he had told the different prophets what would happen, and it happened just as God said. They had deliberately crucified him, knowing he was innocent, and could not claim innocence for themselves. That he had been resurrected was beyond doubt, since he had been seen repeatedly for forty days, making it clear that death had no power to hold him.

“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: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.” (Acts 2:25-28)

A thousand years before, King David had rejoiced that God would not allow the Lord’s body to rot in the grave, and that David was assured of being raised from the dead as well. That same Lord was the one who had taught him the way of life, yet he foresaw his experience. Peter explains further.

“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. 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; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.” (Acts 2:29-31)

The resurrection was the final proof that Jesus was the Messiah, the savior the Jews had been expecting for almost two thousand years. He was the descendant of David, as prophesied, and fulfilled the most important and impossible prophecy of all, and they have observed the proofs.

“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 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.” (Acts 2:32-33)

David himself was still alive when he prophesied that God would have Jesus sit at his right hand until some future time when he would make him ruler of all.

“For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:34-36)

Israel had to recognize that the man they had wrongfully crucified was in fact the Lord of heaven, and the Messiah, or Christ they had waited so long for.