The comprehensive message of Jesus

Acts 4:9-10 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, (10) let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

Peter and John had now reached their pivotal point in their response.  This was the resurrection of Jesus because of whom this lame made was made whole.

Acts 2:24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

The wages of sin is death.  This man was physically alive but he was dead in several ways.  One aspect of his death was his lameness. 

When God created His entire creation, including man, He looked at everything and saw that it was very good. Genesis 1:31 *Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.* So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

This goodness of God was the Shalom life that God gave man and creation.  The Lord commanded man not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; (17) but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

The comprehensive death of man and creation took place when we rebelled and rejected God.  Shalom was taken away from us.  One aspect of this death is various diseases and illnesses.

When we will be restored to the fullness of our fellowship with God, there will be no more death. Revelation 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (4) And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

This lame man was made whole by Jesus Christ, whom God raised from the dead.  This wellness that had happened to the lame man was a testimony and foretaste of the wellness/Shalom that will once again be restored in His presence.

The second matter was the forgiveness of sins. 

Acts 13:29-41 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. (30) *But God raised Him from the dead.* (31) He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. (32) And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. (33) God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’ (34) *And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption*, He has spoken thus: ‘I WILL GIVE YOU THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID.’ (35) Therefore He also says in another Psalm: *’YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.’*(36) “For David, after he had  served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; (37) *but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. (38) Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; (39) and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.* (40) Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: (41) ‘BEHOLD, YOU DESPISERS, MARVEL AND PERISH! FOR I WORK A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL BY NO MEANS BELIEVE, THOUGH ONE WERE TO DECLARE IT TO YOU.’ “

The sin in our flesh causes corruption. David died and saw corruption. Though Jesus died and was buried, His body did not see corruption but He was raised from the dead by the Father.  Sin and death were conquered.  Since Jesus was raised from the dead, He is able to give forgiveness of sin. 

This lame man was healed in his body but also in his whole person, he was now forgiven of his sin, because Jesus, who was raised from the dead had intervened in his life. 

This testimony of the healing of the lame man was crucial because the leaders needed to know that through Jesus Christ when a person believes in Him, he is justified before God, which the keeping of the law of Moses could not provide.  

Testifying before those who persecute us is the precious opportunity to present Christ as the Redeemer and Saviour of man and creation.  Let us not waste these opportunities by being self-focused.

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