Jesus Is the Messiah, The Son Of David

Acts 13:23-43

Speaking before the Synagogue, at their request, Paul had reviewed what God had done to establish the nation of Israel up to the reign of David. It was a story the Jews were very familiar with. In any attempt to communicate, it is essential that some common grounds be established. Once a common understanding is established it can be built upon. Jewish history provided a foundation on which to build, and Paul was expert in the field.

The Holy Spirit often uses shared knowledge to enable us to communicate with those we come into contact with and will direct to the things he can use. The Holy Spirit then enabled Paul to transition smoothly to Jesus Christ, showing that Jesus was descended from David.

“Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.” (Acts 13:23-25)

In the fifteen years or so after Christ’s death, Christians had been driven from Jerusalem and visited many outlying synagogues. In addition many Jews made pilgrimages to Jerusalem, so that Jews in far distant countries had some knowledge of the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus and the church. They knew that John was very highly regarded as a prophet of God, and even thought by some to be the Messiah. John had stated clearly that he was not, but that the one to follow was.

“Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.” (Acts 13:26-29)

Because they didn’t recognize him or correctly interpret the prophecies about Jesus, the Jews had fulfilled the prophecies, condemning him to death. Every detail of the prophecies was fulfilled proving this was the Messiah, as John had said.

“But God raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.” (Acts 13:30-31)

More than five hundred people had seen Jesus after he was resurrected, over a period of forty days. As a result, it leaked out despite official efforts to conceal the truth, and was a topic of discussion far outside Israel.

“And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.” (Acts 13:32-37)

That Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise to David is demonstrated that he fulfilled those prophecies, even the one about his body never rotting. That prophecy could not have been about David himself, because he died and his body rotted just like everyone else. Jesus was raised from the dead, and his body did not.

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38-39)

For fifteen hundred years, the Jews had lived with having to offer a new sacrifice every year. They knew that the sacrifice of an animal didn’t take away all their sin, as Hebrews 10:1-4 states. “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

Jesus, on the other hand, offered his own blood on the heavenly altar, rather than on an earthly one, as Hebrews 9:24-25 tells us. “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;” As a result, no further sacrifice was required, and the work is finished according to Hebrews 10:12. “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”

“Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.” (Acts 13:40-41)

To ignore what Christ has done will carry serious consequences. Hebrews 10:28-30 reminds us of the consequences of ignoring the Mosaic Law. “He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.”

The consequences for ignoring Christ are not merely physical death, but eternal damnation. John 3:36 warns, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Mankind is destined for hell. His only hope is to believe in Christ. Failure to act will be disastrous.