This is the manuscript for the sermon preached at Christ Church the first Sunday after Easter
In his sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter declared that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36 NIV)
Acts 2:29-39 NIV [29] “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. [30] But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. [31] Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. [32] God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. [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 and hear. [34] For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand [35] until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’ [36] “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” [37] When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” [38] Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Introduction
The resurrection of Jesus Christ was a great shock not only to those who put him to death, but even to his beloved disciples.
In Luke 24 there is an account of Jesus walking with and having a conversation with two disciples 3 days after his crucifixion. They didn't recognize Him until they were sitting down to eat
Luke 24:30-32 NIV [30] When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. [32] They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
They got up and hurried back to Jerusalem where the disciples, were hiding and I believe that this group included the eleven Apostles.
Let’s start at
Luke 24:33-39 NIV [33] They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together [34] and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” [35] Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. [36] While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” [37] They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. [38] He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? [39] Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
The resurrection revealed that in a mysterious and miraculous way the purposes of God were at work in the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins.
This substitutionary atonement refers to Jesus Christ dying as a substitute for sinners. The Scriptures teach that all men are sinners (Romans 3:9-18, 23). And the penalty for our sinfulness is death. Romans 6:23 reads, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jesus Christ died in our place when He was crucified on the cross. We deserved to be the ones placed on that cross to die because we are the ones who live sinful lives. But Christ took the punishment on Himself in our place—He substituted Himself for us and took what we rightly deserved. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, you don’t have to work to be good enough. Christ’s goodness makes you acceptable to God.
It was only over a period of time, under the strong leadership of the Holy Spirit, that the disciples of our Lord came to understand that Christ was indeed the High Priest of good things to come and that by his death on the cross he had offered himself as a sacrifice for the sins of a guilty human race.
Hebrews 9:11-15 NIV [11] But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. [12] He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. [13] The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. [14] How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! [15] For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
He became the Mediator of the new covenant and thus made it possible for God to be both just and merciful in dealing with our sins.
By raising Jesus Christ back to life, the eternal God was appointing him to a position of authoritative lordship as well as recognizing his redemptive work on the cross.
In our text for today; Peter declared that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ
(Acts 2:36 NIV) “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ”.
There is probably no other word in our religious vocabulary that has experienced greater misrepresentation of meaning than the word Lord. This is a word that flows off our tongues as though it were nothing more than a given name.
In reality Lord it is a title that carries with it great authority.
We need to understand the meaning of the title Lord so that we can respond appropriately to the Christ who conquered death and the grave.
In Greek the word translated “lord” is kurios which was the normal word of personal address to a person who was respected. It is similar to the word sir in English.
I. Kurios was a title recognizing authority.
This term kurios was used for someone who had the right to command. It would signify the authority of the captain of a ship or the commanding officer of a military base. It is comparable to the authority of a chief of police.
“Chief executive officer”, “CEO” or “boss” is a title everyone can understand, and this is the indication of the position to which God appointed Jesus following his resurrection.
Responding to Jesus appropriately requires that we acknowledge him on more than a sentimental basis. We need to recognize his sovereignty and his right to be our “boss.”
This means he has the right to demand our time, talents, energies—everything.
II. Kurios was a term also used to describe someone who served as a guardian.
In the ancient world, women were denied legal rights. If women were to engage in business, they had to do so through the services of a guardian, someone like a husband, father, or brother or some other male relative. By means of a guardian, women and children enjoyed a great degree of protection. God has named Jesus Christ to be our protector.
That’s why our guardian has given us and teaches us how to use the armor of God.
Ephesians 6:10-17 NIV [10] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [13] Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [14] Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, [15] and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. [16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
He wants to protect us from the schemes of the devil and from the possibility of spending eternity away from God.
III. Kurios was the regular title given to Roman emperors.
A. By this title the emperor was recognized as the ruler of the empire.
B. By this title the emperor asserted authority.
In a world that resents authority and rebels against the establishment, we need to be careful that we do not fail to respond properly to the lordship of him who came because of God’s love for us.
John 3:16-17 NIV [16] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
V. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, kurios was the word regularly used in reference to Israel’s God.
God was powerfully declaring the deity of Jesus Christ by raising him back to life again. This was no mere demonstration of power. This was a divine authentication of the God-man, Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Saul of Tarsus, who we know as Paul Apostle was on his way to Damascus, to arrest those who were followers of Jesus, when he was confronted by that same Jesus, and Paul asked a question that is very appropriate for us today.
Acts 9:6 NKJV So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Jesus Christ deserves the utmost respect. Because of his authority, we need to relate to him in a submissive but loving relationship,
Because he is our CEO, we need to acknowledge his right to demand our time, talents, energies—everything.
Because he is the one whom God has assigned to be our guardian, we should be grateful to him.
Because Jesus is the one who serves as the king, the emperor in the kingdom of God, we should give him our loyalty and faithfulness.
Because he is the God-man, we should bow before him in worship.
John 20:24-28 NIV [24] Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” [26] A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” [27] Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” [28] Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Prayer
We will praise You, Lord, with all that we are, and we will never forget the good things You have done for us. You are the One who forgives all our sins, heals us from diseases, redeems us from death, and crowns us with love and tender mercies. We honor You as our Lord and Savior. Your majestic Name fills the earth. Your glory is higher than the heavens!
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