“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man 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 2:22-24
Peter’s great sermon on the Day of Pentecost looks back at the events of Passover and the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ to show that it was the plan and purpose of God in His crucifixion. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead—is the greatest single event in human history. This is why we celebrate that day on the Christian calendar. The word for “raised” is the compound verb anastasis. Ana means “up” and stasis means “to stand.” God stood Jesus up. He was on a stone slab in a cave—a lifeless corpse. There was no more breath coming from his lungs. His heart had stopped. His brain was dead. His life was gone. But God . . .
“But God” raised him from the dead. It was an absolute impossibility that Jesus could stay dead. He had done nothing to deserve death—he was sinless. This, too, Peter boldly proclaims, was the fulfillment of a prophecy from Psalm 16 by King David, “I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” — Acts 2:25-28
Do you know, my friends, that this prophetic statement, written by the Jewish King David, over 1000 years before the event itself—not only was fulfilled in Jesus Christ but this very same promise also applies to you and me today? The resurrection of our body from death—because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the promise of Christianity to all who believe. “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:21-22).
Every one of us has lost to death, someone we deeply love and miss. Let your hearts be glad—for all in Christ will be made alive again. They will stand up—and so will you. Oh, what a wonderful day that will be when we will see our loved ones once again and enjoy their companionship for all eternity. All because of our Lord’s victory over death in our behalf. — Maranatha
Pastor Don