Long ago, I lost count of how many funerals I have officiated. The number is easily over 1,000 and may be close to 2,000. Of all those services, I remember only one family asking me not to mention heaven. The truth is that everyone wants to hear there is hope beyond the grave.
On Pentecost, Peter preached about the resurrection. This likely troubled the Sadducees, who did not believe in resurrection, but encouraged the Pharisees, who did. He supported his message by referring to the biblical account of King David.
“Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
‘He was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh experience corruption.’ ”
— Acts 2:29-31
The resurrection of God’s Anointed One (the Messiah) is essential. If Jesus was not raised, we cannot be sure that we will be raised either. But because Jesus rose from the dead, Paul could write these words to the Corinthians and to people like us today:
“For we know that, if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be further clothed with our heavenly dwelling . . . So we are always confident, even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:1-2, 6-8
A friend’s father had an aneurysm and would not live long without emergency surgery. He was elderly, and his son asked, “Do you want the surgery?”
The father looked at his son and said, “No, I’m ready to meet Jesus.”
How could he say that? He knew Jesus rose from the dead, and even if his body died, he would soon be with the Lord in glory. Truly, for followers of Jesus, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
The Messiah’s Exaltation
For 40 days, Jesus appeared to his followers. On the last day he was with them, a cloud took him into heaven, signifying that He was seated at the right hand of the Father.
Because of this, Peter, an eyewitness empowered by the Holy Spirit, could boldly proclaim what they had seen and heard.
“This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ ”
— Acts 2:32-35
Peter used Scripture to explain what they had experienced, making it clear that what happened to Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s plan for the ages.
From his place of authority at the Father’s right hand, Jesus gave the Spirit to those willing to trust their lives to him.
Peter wanted his audience, who had seen the Holy Spirit at work and heard that Jesus had risen from the dead, to understand that they had played a part in crucifying God’s Messiah.
“Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
— Acts 2:36
He did not say this to shame them, but to lead them to turn to Jesus in faith.
Peter himself had denied Jesus, yet he was forgiven and restored. In the same way, those who had denied Jesus before Pilate and the religious leaders could also be forgiven and restored.
This is true for us today. All our failures and wrongs can be forgiven when we come to the Lord and ask for His forgiveness.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed Acts 2:29-36 on YouTube today.
Real Voices 