WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.439 Well, one of my favorite books growing up, one of my favorite books continue to this day, is a novel called To Kill a Mockingbird. 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:11.519 It's an American novel written by Harper Lee. 00:00:12.099 --> 00:00:20.519 It's set in the American South in the 1930s in a rather racially divided town, a fictitious town of Maycomb, Alabama. 00:00:21.539 --> 00:00:24.780 And the main character in the story is a young girl named Scout. 00:00:25.339 --> 00:00:29.280 She lives with her brother, Jim, and her dad, Atticus, who's a lawyer. 00:00:29.640 --> 00:00:36.579 And it's really a story that just tells about the goings-on, the common life in the small town in the south of the United States. 00:00:36.579 --> 00:00:42.299 And it really addresses some really unique themes of compassion and prejudice and justice. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:49.899 And there's one scene in this book where Atticus, the father, this lawyer, is sitting at home with his brother who's come to visit. 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:54.899 And they're talking about this really serious matter as the plot continues to thicken, 00:00:55.079 --> 00:01:03.759 where Atticus has been tasked with representing this black man who's been falsely accused of abuse and assault. 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:12.480 And so he's talking with his brother, how is he going to deal with defending this black man in a rather racially divided south? 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:15.879 And he's concerned not only for himself, but for his children. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:22.700 How are his children going to be treated, and how are they going to respond to this likely controversy that's going to ensue? 00:01:22.700 --> 00:01:27.740 And what we see, that conversation ends abruptly at the end of the chapter. 00:01:27.879 --> 00:01:34.579 And when we jump into a new chapter, it's a totally different scene that seems totally unrelated to what Atticus had just been talking about. 00:01:34.659 --> 00:01:41.620 Because it's now Scout and Jim who are outside who discover this rabid dog that's coming down the street in the neighborhood. 00:01:41.620 --> 00:01:48.439 And so what happens is Atticus, who had been at work, is called home along with the sheriff to deal with this rabid dog. 00:01:48.600 --> 00:01:52.800 And the sheriff actually hands Atticus the gun and says, here, you shoot the dog. 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:57.780 And it's to the surprise of the children because they had just been talking about how their dad was old, 00:01:58.060 --> 00:02:03.939 and he was kind of lame, and he never hunted, he never fished, he never drank, he never smoked. 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:07.140 They had no idea that their dad had ever even touched a gun before. 00:02:07.140 --> 00:02:15.800 And so what we see in this episode, this quick change in scene, is something that's revelatory to Atticus' children. 00:02:15.900 --> 00:02:22.319 Because they realized that they had sorely misunderstood, and they had underestimated their father before. 00:02:22.759 --> 00:02:29.599 And even as a reader, we recognize that we gained some insight into this character Atticus that's going to be really monumental 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:32.420 as we see this challenge that he faces in the future. 00:02:32.419 --> 00:02:38.679 And so what we see in our text is a similar shift in our passage today, because what I mentioned before, 00:02:38.780 --> 00:02:42.419 Peter is giving this speech to try to explain the coming of the Holy Spirit. 00:02:42.839 --> 00:02:45.819 And so you may think, well, he's going to continue talking about the Holy Spirit. 00:02:46.459 --> 00:02:51.500 He's going to tell us more about who the Spirit is and what he's done and what he's going to do. 00:02:52.099 --> 00:02:55.199 But we see this sudden shift in his message here. 00:02:55.199 --> 00:03:03.579 He turns his focus from the Spirit and he begins talking about the Son, Jesus, who's just ascended. 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:05.839 You may think, well, why talk about Jesus? 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:06.699 He's no longer here. 00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:07.819 The Spirit has now come. 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:12.959 And what we see in this transition, this shift, is this reframing of our understanding. 00:03:13.739 --> 00:03:19.159 He's wanting his audience to know the relationship between the Son and the Spirit 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:24.000 and how that relates together in this redemptive historical event. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:29.639 So if we think about the Holy Spirit just for a minute more, we recognize that some theologians 00:03:29.639 --> 00:03:32.599 have called the Holy Spirit the shy member of the Trinity. 00:03:33.479 --> 00:03:35.259 Now, that may sound a bit derogatory. 00:03:35.419 --> 00:03:40.080 It may be other terms we can use, self-effacing or modest member of the Trinity. 00:03:41.020 --> 00:03:44.240 But that doesn't mean that he's a lesser member of the Trinity. 00:03:44.740 --> 00:03:49.219 We only have to turn to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which helps us understand and articulate 00:03:49.219 --> 00:03:50.139 our faith. 00:03:50.139 --> 00:03:52.099 And it talks about the Trinity as this. 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:55.979 It's three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:03:56.279 --> 00:04:01.399 These three are one God, the same in substance and equal in power and glory. 00:04:02.359 --> 00:04:07.379 And so when we think about the Spirit, we need to recognize just a change in role that he has 00:04:07.379 --> 00:04:08.819 from the Father and the Son. 00:04:09.719 --> 00:04:12.139 It's been described as a floodlight ministry. 00:04:12.139 --> 00:04:20.319 The role of the Spirit in the lives of the believer is to reveal Christ to us and to allow 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:22.099 us to be united to Christ. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:28.419 And so this is why the Spirit has come, that we may understand and know Jesus. 00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:33.319 And so again, this new covenant era, rather than the Spirit simply being with the believer, 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:37.199 he dwells in the believer so that we can be found in Christ. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:42.539 And so when we think about this day of Pentecost, you may think, well, okay, this day of Pentecost, 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:44.399 we think it's all about the Spirit, right? 00:04:45.300 --> 00:04:47.819 But what we see is that the Spirit is all about the Son. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:50.680 And so this is the focus of Peter's sermon. 00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:53.339 This is the focus of our passage today. 00:04:53.699 --> 00:04:57.620 Three things I want us to consider when we consider the life and ministry of Jesus. 00:04:57.620 --> 00:05:04.959 I want us to think about the guilt of man, the work of God, and the role of Jesus. 00:05:05.220 --> 00:05:07.939 The guilt of man, the work of God, and the role of Jesus. 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:10.139 So let's first look at the guilt of man. 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:16.459 Now, Peter begins this portion of his sermon with a rather forceful accusation. 00:05:16.540 --> 00:05:19.959 If we look back in verse 23, he's talking to this crowd and he says, 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:24.860 you, with the help of wicked men, you put Jesus to death by nailing him to a cross. 00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:30.240 Now, this may not be a method that modern-day evangelists would likely employ. 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:36.080 It's not a seeker-sensitive model of immediately accusing your audience of murder. 00:05:36.900 --> 00:05:40.460 This may not be the best way of joining a crowd and getting them on your side here. 00:05:40.520 --> 00:05:43.920 But what Peter's doing here, he's really flipping the script on them right from the beginning 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:46.660 because he had just been accused of being drunk. 00:05:47.500 --> 00:05:52.080 And now he is rightly accusing this audience of murder. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:56.699 Undoubtedly, some people that would have been there that day would have been the same people 00:05:56.699 --> 00:06:01.099 that would have seen Jesus at trial and called out, crucify him, crucify him. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:03.719 But certainly not all of them. 00:06:03.859 --> 00:06:06.120 We see that there's likely a big crowd here. 00:06:06.939 --> 00:06:10.519 You may think, well, some there would say, look, I know nothing of this Jesus. 00:06:10.620 --> 00:06:12.199 I came for this religious ceremony. 00:06:12.539 --> 00:06:14.779 I maybe heard stories or maybe I've heard nothing about him. 00:06:14.860 --> 00:06:16.459 Don't accuse me of murder. 00:06:16.459 --> 00:06:20.839 Peter calls out and he says, he calls them lawless. 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:24.659 This is a term to describe Gentiles, to call a Jew lawless. 00:06:24.739 --> 00:06:25.560 This is shameful. 00:06:25.659 --> 00:06:26.339 This is offensive. 00:06:27.060 --> 00:06:29.159 But what Peter's doing here, he's lumping them all together. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:31.839 Jew, Gentile, Roman, leader, follower. 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:35.839 When he says, you put them to death, he's speaking in the plural here. 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:37.959 Talking about everybody. 00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:41.259 He makes this accusation again later in Acts 4. 00:06:41.319 --> 00:06:43.439 And he's actually a little more specific about who he's targeting. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:45.519 He speaks of Herod specifically. 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:46.560 He speaks of Pilate. 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:49.779 And then he says, all the Gentiles and all the people of Israel. 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:53.600 And so, again, it's not just the Jewish leaders. 00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:55.060 It's not just the Roman soldiers. 00:06:55.060 --> 00:06:57.139 He's saying, you, everyone. 00:06:58.300 --> 00:06:59.920 Jesus' blood is on your hands. 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:06.800 And so, Peter's message to that crowd is actually the same message for us today. 00:07:08.060 --> 00:07:11.759 The blood of Jesus is on our hands. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:16.579 And so, you may think, well, look, this is the first time I've been at church. 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:18.339 This is the first time I've heard this gospel message. 00:07:18.420 --> 00:07:19.139 Anything about Jesus. 00:07:19.459 --> 00:07:20.420 He can't be on my hands. 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:21.319 I don't know the guy. 00:07:21.699 --> 00:07:22.860 Or I'm totally indifferent. 00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:24.219 I don't care if he lives or dies. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:25.199 So, don't blame me. 00:07:25.420 --> 00:07:28.279 But what Peter is saying here is, it doesn't matter. 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:29.599 We are all guilty. 00:07:30.740 --> 00:07:33.300 It is our sin that sent Jesus to the cross. 00:07:33.300 --> 00:07:37.840 And so, think about the words of the hymn that we sang at the very beginning. 00:07:38.400 --> 00:07:39.900 How deep the Father's love from us. 00:07:40.819 --> 00:07:42.840 Think of the stanza that we sang. 00:07:42.960 --> 00:07:44.900 It says, behold the man upon the cross. 00:07:45.620 --> 00:07:48.000 My sin upon his shoulders. 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:53.420 Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers. 00:07:54.340 --> 00:07:57.879 It was my sin that held him there until it was accomplished. 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:00.580 His dying breath has brought me life. 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:01.780 I know that it is finished. 00:08:01.779 --> 00:08:07.399 The Bible is very clear that we all have sinned. 00:08:07.459 --> 00:08:09.299 That we have rebelled against God. 00:08:10.259 --> 00:08:13.000 And the penalty for that rebellion is death. 00:08:14.219 --> 00:08:16.639 And so, what Peter is saying to his audience here. 00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:20.879 He wants us to consider each one of us what we have done. 00:08:21.059 --> 00:08:23.879 How we have participated in Jesus' death. 00:08:23.959 --> 00:08:27.079 Whether we are physically at the crucifixion or not. 00:08:28.059 --> 00:08:30.399 Consider how we have rejected God in our hearts. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:33.079 How we have chosen our own ways. 00:08:33.179 --> 00:08:34.840 How we have refused the need for a savior. 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:41.460 We recognize here that Peter, though he's making this accusation. 00:08:41.460 --> 00:08:43.700 He's not wanting his audience just to remain guilty. 00:08:44.700 --> 00:08:46.340 That's not the goal of his sermon. 00:08:46.420 --> 00:08:48.040 It's just to make everyone feel bad. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:54.620 But we recognize, as Calvin says, its guiltiness is the preparation for repentance. 00:08:54.620 --> 00:08:59.240 And so, it's following this guilt that he carries on with this message. 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:00.419 And this brings us to point two. 00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:01.320 The work of God. 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:02.899 In verse 22. 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:04.659 Fellow Israelites, listen to this. 00:09:05.299 --> 00:09:08.980 Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you. 00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:14.659 By miracles and wonders and signs which God did among you through him as you yourselves know. 00:09:14.659 --> 00:09:19.319 This summer, many of you know, my family and I had a number of weeks back in the States. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:22.459 And it was the longest time we'd spent back in the States in five years. 00:09:22.539 --> 00:09:25.419 So, I had the opportunity to see family and friends and acquaintances. 00:09:25.959 --> 00:09:27.759 Church members who we'd not seen in a long time. 00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:33.759 And inevitably, most of them, the first comment was when they see our children, just how far, how much they've grown, how big they are. 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:39.360 And another comment, especially directed to my son, Henry, was, wow, how much you look like your dad. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:40.480 Poor guy. 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:45.679 But we recognize, I mean, I remember getting that same comment when I was growing up as well. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:51.960 But it's these, they recognize by his appearance, by his mannerisms, this likeness that we share. 00:09:52.819 --> 00:09:54.559 And so, we see something similar here. 00:09:55.019 --> 00:09:58.360 This miracle of Jesus, they would have been witnessed by countless people. 00:09:59.460 --> 00:09:59.580 Right? 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:02.620 These works of power, raising the dead, healing the sick. 00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:05.179 Word of this would have spread far and wide. 00:10:06.060 --> 00:10:10.480 But the purpose of these miracles was not simply to show Jesus to be some sort of musician. 00:10:10.740 --> 00:10:13.379 Or, not a musician either, but not a magician. 00:10:14.840 --> 00:10:22.940 These signs and miracles were performed by God through Jesus in order to reveal Jesus' family resemblance to the Father. 00:10:24.379 --> 00:10:31.100 And so, what God is doing here, he's demonstrating the quality, the specialness of his son. 00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:36.179 They're indicators of Jesus' divine identity. 00:10:36.179 --> 00:10:37.379 His plan of salvation. 00:10:38.179 --> 00:10:44.080 They prove that he's not only a man, but he is the son of God who's come to serve and to save. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:53.040 And so, not only then did God empower Jesus in his earthly ministry in doing these miracles, but we see the work of God continue. 00:10:53.139 --> 00:10:59.440 Because it says, Peter makes clear that God allowed Jesus to suffer by his deliberate plan and foreknowledge. 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:06.860 And this really points to a theme that we see throughout the gospel of Luke and this book of Acts that's also written by Luke. 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:09.140 It's that one of the sovereignty of God. 00:11:10.060 --> 00:11:13.680 Over and over again, Luke speaks of God's predetermined plan. 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:19.020 He makes clear that Jesus' death was not a mistake or an accident. 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:24.100 Now, many of us have probably made rash decisions before. 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:25.000 Right? 00:11:25.059 --> 00:11:30.579 Either we're short on time and have to make a decision or we don't really care in advance when we make a decision and we end up regretting it. 00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:33.019 That's not what happened here. 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:36.919 Jesus in his providence doesn't make rash decisions. 00:11:38.179 --> 00:11:41.980 Not only does he know the future, he determines the future. 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:49.759 And so, it's not as though God sent his son Jesus to earth to be the Messiah and was just shocked to find out that no one wanted to receive him as Lord. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:53.639 No, this was a part of God's plan from the very beginning. 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:57.940 Before the creation of the world, there was this plan made for the redemption of God's people. 00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:05.960 There was this agreement, a covenant made between father and son that the father would appoint the son as a mediator. 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:15.879 That the son would assume this appointment, accept this appointment and become obedient to death on a cross, securing salvation for God's people. 00:12:16.740 --> 00:12:20.139 And as a result, he would share in the eternal glory of the father. 00:12:20.460 --> 00:12:23.540 So, this was always plan A from the very beginning. 00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:26.120 And so, this may leave you questioning though. 00:12:26.200 --> 00:12:32.040 Okay, if it was God's plan to kill his son Jesus, then why in the world are we guilty of it? 00:12:32.039 --> 00:12:41.939 And this is where we need to understand and try to, it's difficult to do, but recognize how we hold in balance the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:46.620 And we don't have time to dig into this deeply, but I think we can say this. 00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:51.079 That when we sin, we act against the will of God. 00:12:52.059 --> 00:12:54.819 But not without the will of God. 00:12:54.820 --> 00:13:02.920 God's will cannot be thwarted by our actions and our actions do not occur outside of his will. 00:13:04.300 --> 00:13:07.220 And so, the guilt remains ours. 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:10.800 And the purpose remains God's. 00:13:12.560 --> 00:13:17.280 And so, you say, well, maybe that doesn't make total sense or maybe I still don't like that sound of that. 00:13:18.540 --> 00:13:19.300 Recognize this. 00:13:19.520 --> 00:13:20.980 Recognize what the promise is. 00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:24.080 The purpose of Jesus' coming. 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:28.460 The purpose of his death was not to judge, but to save. 00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:30.259 Not to condemn, but to rescue. 00:13:31.820 --> 00:13:34.840 And so, this is what Peter says later in his letter of 1 Peter. 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.159 He says, 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:39.420 Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the tree. 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:42.779 That we might die to sin and live to righteousness. 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:45.000 By his wounds we have been healed. 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:49.420 The work of Jesus goes on though. 00:13:49.419 --> 00:13:52.799 It doesn't end just simply at Jesus' death. 00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:53.899 We see in verse 24. 00:13:54.339 --> 00:13:57.519 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death. 00:13:57.639 --> 00:14:00.679 Because it was impossible for the death to keep its hold on him. 00:14:01.860 --> 00:14:04.519 Now, this phrase in the NIV, freeing him from the agony of death. 00:14:05.099 --> 00:14:07.860 The ESV says, loosening the pangs of death. 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:11.620 It's actually a Greek word that's used to describe birth pains. 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:16.299 And so, I'm sure we've all heard stories about a woman who's pregnant. 00:14:16.460 --> 00:14:19.580 Who goes into labor and doesn't make it to the hospital in time. 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:20.759 Right? 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:22.279 And his baby is delivered on the way. 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:23.039 Or at home. 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:24.220 Or in a car park somewhere. 00:14:24.940 --> 00:14:26.320 This is kind of what we're seeing here. 00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:27.340 The same imagery. 00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:34.039 That death could not hold Jesus any more than a pregnant woman can hold a child in her body during labor. 00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:41.120 Death was unable to hold Jesus by its powerful and painful grip. 00:14:42.579 --> 00:14:44.759 And so, we see two reasons that are given for this. 00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:45.799 One, we just talked about. 00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:47.079 It was God's plan. 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:49.519 God's plan does not fail. 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:52.519 But a second reason we see here. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:55.480 Because death has no claim on Jesus. 00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:59.680 We just said that the penalty for sin is death. 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:05.539 And so, you and I, because of our sin, death rightly has a claim on our lives. 00:15:07.060 --> 00:15:08.259 But Jesus here. 00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:12.340 Death had no claim on our sinless Savior. 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:20.220 And so, it was impossible for Jesus to be defeated by death when he is the perfect author of life. 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:24.759 And so, it's faith is based on this point. 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:26.559 It's based on the reality of the resurrection. 00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:28.159 Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15. 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:34.159 If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then our preaching, then our faith is totally in vain. 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:40.299 We see here that God's work even continues beyond the resurrection, though. 00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:45.980 Peter says that not only did God raise him from the dead, he exalted him to his right hand. 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:48.659 And so, we've seen this ultimate contrast here. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:54.299 Between the degrading work of sinful man and the glorifying work. 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:55.720 Of a sovereign God. 00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:59.980 This full fulfillment of the covenant. 00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:02.259 This is what we're seeing here. 00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:04.679 This promise between father and son from the beginning of time. 00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:05.740 This is where it's fulfilled. 00:16:06.179 --> 00:16:08.319 Upon the achieving of salvation for God's people. 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:10.840 Now the son gets to share in the father's glory. 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:14.700 And so, that brings us to our final point then. 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.680 The role of Jesus. 00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:20.620 Our passage ends in verse 36. 00:16:22.060 --> 00:16:24.200 Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this. 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:29.160 God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Messiah. 00:16:30.300 --> 00:16:33.200 In the Greek, kurion, kai, kriston. 00:16:33.320 --> 00:16:34.580 Lord and Christ. 00:16:34.580 --> 00:16:41.340 If we think back to that book, To Kill a Mockingbird. 00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:47.379 After Atticus is given that gun, he shoots that rabid dog with a single shot. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:50.160 And the sheriff comes over to him to retrieve his gun. 00:16:50.300 --> 00:16:51.040 Pats him on the back. 00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:54.440 And he calls him a nickname that his children have never heard him called before. 00:16:54.540 --> 00:16:55.500 One shot finch. 00:16:55.500 --> 00:17:01.960 And it's this nickname that's revealing to the children and to the reader. 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:06.619 That not only is he this unrivaled marksman. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:10.559 But for the children, it's this hidden skill that was unknown. 00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:15.559 To the reader, we get a bit more understanding of this complexity of Atticus' character. 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:18.859 That will play out through the rest of the story. 00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:22.599 And so here, Jesus doesn't merely receive a nickname. 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:25.140 He receives royal titles. 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:32.440 With deep significance that reveal more about his person and his character. 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:39.259 This would have been something that would have been veiled or hidden before. 00:17:39.339 --> 00:17:42.220 In his earthly ministry, Jesus humbly assumed human nature. 00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:44.799 He took the form of a servant. 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:47.720 Isaiah said there was nothing attractive about Jesus. 00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:55.519 But following his resurrection and ascension, Peter is highlighting his exalted and glorified state. 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:58.819 He is the Lord and the Christ. 00:17:58.819 --> 00:18:03.200 And so I want us to think about each of these titles just briefly. 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:04.700 Thinking about Christ first. 00:18:05.899 --> 00:18:07.359 Peter uses two psalms. 00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:08.599 Psalm 19 and Psalm 110. 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:10.519 These are the same psalms that we sang this morning. 00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:13.839 And so when we think about this title, Christ. 00:18:14.679 --> 00:18:16.299 It's not simply Jesus Christ. 00:18:16.399 --> 00:18:17.099 We hear that all the time. 00:18:17.139 --> 00:18:17.960 It's not his surname. 00:18:18.139 --> 00:18:18.259 Right? 00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:20.400 This is an official title. 00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:21.980 It means that he's the anointed one. 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:22.799 He's the Messiah. 00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:23.879 He's the deliverer. 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:26.599 And so if we think back to the Old Testament. 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:29.299 God comes to a young man named David. 00:18:29.879 --> 00:18:31.200 And he promises him. 00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:32.420 He makes a covenant with him. 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:35.720 That David, even though he's this scrawny shepherd boy. 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:37.019 He's going to be the future king. 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.680 And God says to him. 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:40.379 He said, I'm going to make your name great. 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:41.559 And I'm going to give you a kingdom. 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:43.879 And your throne will be established forever. 00:18:44.919 --> 00:18:48.279 And so that's the basis upon which David is writing this psalm. 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:50.159 Psalm 16 that we see in verse 25. 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:52.859 David is remembering God's promises to him. 00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:55.679 And he's actually speaking in the first person. 00:18:56.679 --> 00:18:59.599 And so we see him say, the Lord is always before me. 00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:00.919 I will not be shaken. 00:19:01.159 --> 00:19:02.339 My flesh will dwell in hope. 00:19:02.339 --> 00:19:04.599 You will not abandon my soul to Hades. 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:10.220 And the question that Peter wants his audience to ask is, how can this be? 00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:13.179 Did God break his promise? 00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:14.919 Because David's dead. 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:17.319 We know where his grave is. 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:19.119 How can he be saying this? 00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:24.919 But Peter makes very clear here that David is not talking about himself. 00:19:26.159 --> 00:19:27.740 Yes, he was the anointed king. 00:19:28.659 --> 00:19:32.779 But his reign points to a greater one who will reign. 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:35.039 A king from his own line. 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:37.139 A king who is the Christ. 00:19:37.139 --> 00:19:38.759 The true anointed one. 00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:40.480 The Messiah who will rescue his people. 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:45.720 And so Peter says, David, not only is he acting as king here, he's really acting as a prophet. 00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:52.220 Because he foresaw and spoke of the coming of this Jesus who would fully and perfectly fulfill the office of king. 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.579 What is that role? 00:19:55.179 --> 00:19:57.480 To rule and defend his people. 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:02.079 To restrain and conquer all of his and our enemies. 00:20:02.179 --> 00:20:03.779 Even the greatest enemy of all, death. 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:10.220 And so by calling Jesus the Christ, Peter is calling him the deliverer. 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:15.759 The one who delivers people from death to life by his own resurrection. 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:19.500 And then we see this title, Lord. 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:22.980 And for this title, Peter turns to Psalm 110. 00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:25.279 This is the most quoted psalm in the New Testament. 00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:28.180 In verse 34, we see it written. 00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:33.400 The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. 00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:40.860 Now, if you've ever read through parts of the Old Testament before, you've certainly come across that word Lord that's written in all caps. 00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:44.779 It's a translation of what would be God's proper name, Yahweh. 00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:52.299 And so this is what David is saying here, that Yahweh is saying to David's heir, sit at my right hand. 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:57.000 And so this verse, it's actually an interesting question comes out of it. 00:20:57.019 --> 00:21:01.980 And actually, Jesus poses this question to Pharisees during his ministry back in Luke 20. 00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:08.779 And he asked the Pharisees, he said, how can they say that Christ is David's son when David calls him Lord? 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:11.839 And the Pharisees have no answer. 00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.460 They fall silent. 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:17.779 But what we see here is that Peter is very clear in giving an answer. 00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:25.500 David can be called the son, his son Lord, because his promised heir is greater than he is. 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:36.700 Because of what Jesus, the son of David, accomplished on the cross, he now can sit at his father's right hand, a place of ultimate honor and glory. 00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:42.059 And so Peter tells us then what Jesus does in this position of honor. 00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:51.659 Verse 33, exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the father, the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see in here. 00:21:52.379 --> 00:21:57.579 Oftentimes, I think we can we can mistakenly think that Jesus's work finished on the cross. 00:21:57.700 --> 00:22:01.220 He ascended to heaven and was able to take a break until he decides to come again. 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.220 Kind of put up his feet. 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:08.779 We see that he is active in his in his service at his father's side. 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:12.279 He is the mediator of the blessing of the spirit. 00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:18.539 In his lordship, he gives the spirit to his people just like he promised that he would. 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:24.500 And so this is the explanation of the day of Pentecost. 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:30.279 The spirit has come as evidence that Jesus has risen and that he reigns. 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:33.279 It's marking the beginning of this new kingdom. 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:33.799 Kingdom. 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:36.700 Do you believe that? 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:40.660 Do you recognize the majesty of that? 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:48.019 I think many of us who have lived in Edinburgh for any amount of time, we we're appreciative that we live in a beautiful city. 00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:55.379 But we can also begin to take for granted the scenes around us, the architecture, the landscape. 00:22:55.380 --> 00:23:00.980 I ride my bike every day to and from work and so often I don't even look up to pay attention. 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:06.360 I usually just become annoyed when tourists are in the bike lane taking pictures or have their head up looking around. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:11.080 But I think we can often do that with Jesus. 00:23:12.540 --> 00:23:17.800 Those of us who have grown up in the church, who have heard this message before, we hear that Jesus Christ is Lord. 00:23:17.860 --> 00:23:19.580 We say, yeah, yeah, I know that. 00:23:21.540 --> 00:23:23.040 And we can take it for granted. 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:33.240 We can lose a sense of majesty and beauty and significance of this reality that God sent his son to earth, who he died on the cross. 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:34.319 He rose from the dead. 00:23:34.399 --> 00:23:38.200 He ascended to heaven and now rules and reigns at the father's right hand. 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:43.079 This is the core of the gospel message. 00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:49.039 I've heard it said it's so marvelously deep that theologians can swim in it. 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:52.099 But yet so simple that children can grasp it. 00:23:53.039 --> 00:24:00.420 And so this message that Jesus Christ is Lord, it's the same message that's announced by the angels at Jesus' birth. 00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:03.559 It's the same message that's preached by Peter at Pentecost. 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:10.980 It's the same message that we will hear upon Christ's return when all the saints will say he is king of kings and Lord of lords. 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:14.799 And so that needs to mean something to us today. 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:17.339 If we believe this, this is the message that we preach. 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:27.339 This is the message that's going to influence how we live our lives, that we put away the other idols and lords in our life and elevate the one true God to his deserving status. 00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:36.619 But maybe you're here today and maybe this is the first time you've heard this message or you've heard this message over and over again but yet have rejected it. 00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:38.619 Understand this. 00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:39.239 Understand this. 00:24:40.439 --> 00:24:43.899 That there's no neutral response to Jesus. 00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:51.839 Either you believe that Jesus is the Christ or you deny him. 00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:57.159 Either you accept that he is the Lord or you reject him. 00:24:57.160 --> 00:25:01.920 The Bible is clear that Jesus is Lord over all. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.880 That means he is Lord over you. 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:06.560 And guess what?