The Kingdom of the Messiah

The Sufferings of the Messiah Foretold...

Possibly no words define the mission of the Messiah better than His own in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." In the word "whosoever" we can all take comfort, for it includes all who will believe. I'ts well for us to remember that God's plan of salvation is from eternity. Revelation 13:8 says that Christ is "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Thus we see that God's plan to redeem man was conceived long before the fall, even before man was created. God sees the end from the beginning and plans everything after the counsel of His own will (see Acts 2:23; and 4:23-30).

Not only did God have the plan of salvation in His mind, but He knew how sinful men would reject the Messiah. The 53rd chapter of Isaiah glows with evidence of divine inspiration as it foretells the death and resurrection of our Lord. We're all familiar with the sixth verse which says, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." From the very beginning, Jesus the son was God's lamb through whose sacrificial death man would be redeemed. We can ponder long with wonder and amazement at the vivid picture of Christ's sufferings and death as they're written in Isaiah 53. This was written seven hundred years before Christ was born, and yet it tells such details as the fact that Christ would be smitten and numbered with transgressors. This was fulfilled when Christ was crucified between two thieves. Bible prophecy shows that Christ came to die; to give His life as an atonement for sin.

Christ Came to Reign...

But the Bible insists upon another equally prominent fact, namely, that Christ came to reign. He came to dispute the dominion of Satan and the power of sin in the lives and hearts of men. By redeeming men to God. He established His right to rule. Sometimes our habit of thinking of kingdoms and reigns only in terms of earthly empires, causes us to mistake the true nature of Christ's kingdom. It's quite obvious that Christ has not set up any kind of earthly kingdom that in any way resembles that of nations past or present. In view of the fact that He specifically proclaimed the Kingdom of God as a present reality, we should examine His words and see what kind of a kingdom He had in mind.

Turning to Mark 1:1 we read, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Since this passage introduces us to the beginning of the gospel it's in order for us to note what it began with. We've not far to look, for in verses 14 and 15 we read, "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye and believe the gospel." It's quite evident that we need not look for a future time to introduce the kingdom because Jesus said at the beginning of His ministry that "The time is fulfilled." The word fulfill means "to...carry out, as that which is promised, foretold or anticipated" (Webster). When Jesus said "the time is fulfilled" He meant the time to execute the promises of God had arrived.

The Nature of the Kingdom of God...

In John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Jesus declared that His kingdom was such that a person had to be converted in order to "see" it. It's one that we behold with eyes of faith; eyes that have been enlightened. In verse 5, he continues: "Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." We pause here to stress the fact that the Kingdom of God is one that can only be entered through conversion. We have to be saved in order to enter it. It's not difficult to see why Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world." Our citizenship on earth is the result of natural birth, but to become a citizen of Christ's kingdom requires spiritual birth.

According to Luke 18:16 and 17, the kingdom of heaven is a realm where innocent little children are members. Jesus said, "Of such is the kingdom of God." The atonement of Christ includes little children and the nature of His kingdom is such that they're members of it, because as yet they've made no sinful choice. In contrast with the foregoing is the story of the rich young ruler told in Luke 18:18-27. Concerning him Jesus said sorrowfully, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it's easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Some speculate that Jesus meant a low narrow gate into the city wall and that a camel might succeed in crawling through it on its knees and stripped of its load. We're confident the disciples would have been familiar with that custom in their time had it existed, but their question shows that they didn't understand Christ to be talking about that at all. In v. 25 they asked in amazement, "Who then can be saved?" Quite rightly they understood the Kingdom of God to be something only saved people could enter and the reply Jesus gave in v.27 shows that they were not mistaken. He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." To trust in riches or rank or heritage, or even the performance of religious rites , isn't enough. "Ye must be born again."

The nature of Christ's kingdom is further revealed in Luke 17:20 and 21 as follows: "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation (outward show, margin) neither shall they say, lo here! or lo there! for behold the kingdom of God is within you." First, you'll notice that the Kingdom of God is. It was a present reality when Christ made that statement. He also declared it to be a kingdom without outward show. How different from any earthly kingdom! It was built to be seen with the eyes of faith rather than of the flesh. One must be born again to "see" it. So, while the Pharisees were wondering when it was coming, Jesus explained how it was in existence.

Chapter 18

Why the Jews Rejected the Messiah

Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled...

We all know the Jews rejected Christ and it's believed that they committed a grave error in so doing. Their guilt is possible, however, only if Christ fulfilled all that was written concerning Himself in the Old Testament. If He failed to fulfill any particular prophecy spoken by the prophets concerning the Messiah, then the Jews would have been justified in rejecting Him and calling Him an imposter. This fact accounts for the constant appeal both Christ and His apostles made to the Old Testament in support of His work and ministry. Due to the fact that the Jews had developed a literal conception of the Kingdom of God, they expected the Messiah to conquer all their oppressors and give them a pre-eminent place in the world with plenty of everything for the enjoyment of human life. When it became apparent that Christ had a very different idea of the Messiahship, the Jews became impatient and then maliciously opposed Him and sought to slay Him.

When John the Baptist was in prison and sent his disciples to question Jesus, the reply given by Jesus was "Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see; The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them. And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me." The first part of Jesus' reply was a quotation from Isaiah 35:5 and 6, quoted in Matt. 11:4-6. But what did Jesus mean by the above sentence "Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me." Perhaps a quotation from Matt. 16:22 and 23 will help. "Then Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying Be it far from thee, (Pity thyself, margin) Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he (Christ) turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me Satan, for thou art an offense unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Quite evidently Peter expected a political victory for Christ in Jerusalem, but Jesus offered only the cross. Anything less, or anything else was termed and offense by Him.

Jesus cautioned John not to be offended in Him. John later became a martyr. Peter, at this point, was incapable of fathoming the deep purpose of God through Christ's suffering and death. After Pentecost his sermon indicated that he fully comprehended the cross as God's answer for man's sin (Acts 2:38 and 39). So far as the disciples were concerned the supreme test appears to have taken place at Caesarea-Philippi when Jesus asked, "Whom say ye that I am?" It was on this memorable occasion that Peter uttered his inspired confession, "Thou art the Christ (Messiah) the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16).

Man Can't Defeat God's Eternal Purpose...

The disciples having become convinced of His Person at last, Jesus unfolds the mission He'd come to perform. And we read that, "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples how that he must go unto Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised again the third day" (Matt. 16:21). Although Jesus knew the Jews would reject Him, still the events leading to the crudifixion are most tragic. God's foreknowlwdge doesn't interfere with man's freedom of choice. God knows the end from the beginning but He doesn't will any man's choice. For that reason the Jews were responsible for their part in crucifying Christ.

We should bear in mind that the kingdom that Christ came to establish was set up in spite of His rejection by the Jews, for His kingdom was founded on God's will and not on their plebiscite. In Luke 10:9-11 we read, "And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same and say, Even the very dust of your city which cleaveth to us we do wipe off against you; notwithstanding be ye sure of this, the the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." This shows that the rejection by the Jews didn't prevent the coming of the Kingdom of God as proclaimed by Christ.

In Matt. 21:33-46, the parable of the Wicked Husbandman is recorded. The entire passage should be read in this connection. In it we're told of a householder who planted a vineyard and took a journey to a distant land. During his lengthy absence the husbandman took the servants of the househoulder and beat them and otherwise mistreated them. When the heir of the vineyard came they took him also and slew him, thinking thereby to obtain possession of the vinyard for themselves. Having stated the parable, Jesus asked those Pharisees what the householder ought to do to the husbandman and they answered, "He will miserably destroy those wicked men and let the vinyard out to others." Unwittingly they pronounced their own fate. Jesus made it clear that the vineyard He had reference to was the Kingdom of God concerning which He declared, "It shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof" (Matt. 21:43). Turning now to Luke 12:32 we read, "Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." This little flock of believers became the nucleus of the new nation of believers who receive Christ as Savior and King. The unbelieving Jews couldn't receive the kingdom due to their unbelief and hardness of heart, but the saved remnant of Israel who were born again became heirs of the promises.

In this connection we shoud remember the 23rd chapter of Matthew, where Jesus delivered His most scathing discourse to the Pharisees and Sadducees. In addition to seven "woes" we find this stern judgment: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold your house is left unto you desolate" (vv. 37 and 38). These chilling words show how hopelessly the Jews rejected the Messiah and how they reaped the inevitable consequences.

Sin, the Underlying Cause of Rejecting Christ...

We ask now why the Jews rejected the Messiah when they had so much to gain by receiving Him. The answer is found in the words of Christ. In John 3:19-21 we read, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved. Also John 5:40, "Ye will not come to me that ye might have life." Just as salvation opens one's eyes to see the Kingdom of God and opens the door so he can enter in, so sin blinds the eyes, hardens the heart and shuts the door. The real reason for His rejection was sin in the human heart.

As a nation the Jews rejected Christ because they trusted in the flesh that they were Abraham's descendants, but they failed to have Abraham's faith (John 8:39). They rejected Christ because they belonged to Satan's kingdom rather then the Kingdom of God (John 8:48). We must remember that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). It was sin that caused men to reject Christ. Sin led Him to prison and judgment. Sin mocked Him and cruelly scourged Him. It was sin that led Him to dark Calvary and nailed Him to the cursed cross. It was sin, but not the sin of the Jews alone. In Acts 4:26-28 it says, "The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel (the whole world) were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done."

The Guilt of the Human Race Manifested...

You'll notice that it was the sin of the human race and not the Jewish nation alone that brought Christ to Calvary. How dark is the record of sin! How blinding its folly and how ruinous its results! How tragic its history! It degrades the mind and corrupts the heart of man. It warps his judgment and perverts his appetites. Its story is an unbroken record of sorrow and tears, heartaches and woe, of corruption and infamy, deceit and defilement. It leaves a trail of reproach, remorse and death. Sin is all that and more, for it's a rebellion against God. It disputes His sovereignty and rejects with scorn His righteous rule. You can hear the echo of its defiance in the words of the angry mob at the trial of Jesus, "We have no king but Carsar" (John 19:15). Thus the words of the parable become applicable, "We will not have this man to retign over us" (John 19:14).

Because God loved us with an everlasting love even when we were enemies, lost and undone, full of transgression and sins. He came in the person of the Son and suffered and died in our stead. In doing so He broke the fetters of Satan and established His right to rule and reign in the hearts of the redeemed in the manner described by Paul in Romans 5:21, "That as (in like manner) sin hath reigned unto death, even so (in like manner) might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Christ came to oppose the reign of Satan and sin and to establish the reign of righteousness, in accordance with Isaiah 32:1, "Behold a king shall reign in righteousness."

Chapter 19

The Trial and Death of the Messiah

Events Preceding the Arrest of Christ...

The death of Jesus Christ fills a very prominent place in the inspired account of the Messiah. Almost one third of the gospel story is devoted to this tragic event. In this study we'll seek to discover what relationship the death of Christ had to the Kingdom of God which He came to establish, and which during His ministry, He proclaimed as being at hand. We'll pay heed to the charges which were made against Him before the Sanhedrin and before Pontius Pilate.

Following His triumphant entry into Jerusalem amidst the thronging crowds of jubilant singers, we find that the anger of the Jewish leaders rapidly rose to a pitch of desperation. In Luke 20 the rulers made repeated efforts to catch Him in His words in order that they might accuse Him before the Roman tribunal. Their craftiness is shown in Luke 20:21-26 where they asked Him "Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or no?" Had Christ said, "Yes, it is lawful," they would have accused Him to His followers as upholding the Roman oppression; but if He had said, "No, it is not lawful," they would have immediately accused Him before Pilate. His answer was "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caeasar's and unto God the things which are God's." By their own confession "they could find nothing in His answers whereof to accuse Him."

Had Christ ever proclaimed an earthly kingdom during His three and one-half years of ministry, they'd have accused Him of it on this occasion. Proof of this fact is seen in John 18:19-21, "The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, "I spake openly to the world, I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple whither the Jews always resort; and in secret I have said nothing. Why asketh thou me? ask them which heard me what I have said unto them, behold they know what I said."

Proceedings Before the Sanhedrin Court...

Had Jesus ever proclained an earthly kingdom, there would have been thousands of Jews in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast who could have sworn evidence against Him. Since no such witnesses could be found, the high priest had to resort to seeking "false witnesses against Jesus to put Him to death" (Matt. 26:59). But this diabolical scheme failed also. Next we read in Matthew 26:63-66 as follows: "And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou has said...Then the high priest rent his clothes saying, He hath spoken blasphemy...what think ye? They answered, He is guilty of death." Thus ended the trial of Jesus the Messiah as far as the Jews were concerned. No crime was laid against Him. He was condemned to death because of His claim that He was the Son of God. In other words it wasn't what he did or said that provoked His death, but who He was. They rejected His person.

From the Sanhedrin the scene was immediately transferred to the official courtroom of the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. The Sanhedrin was composed of seventy-one members, including the high priest who presided over it. The Sadducees were the most influential element in it, although it included some Scribes and Pharisees. It was the highest council in the Jewish nation and it had authority to administer minor justice of a civil and religious nature. It couldn't, however, carry out the dealth penalty without having it ratified by the Roman court. That's why Jesus had to appear before Pilate.

The Trial before Pilate...

The Sanhedrin, as pointed out, pronounced Christ's death sentence on the charge of blasphemy, because of His claim that He was the Son of God. This charge, however, was not a capital offense in the Roman state, so a different charge had to be made before Pilate. At first they tried to evade the issue by saying, "If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee" (John 18:30). They hoped to have the death sentence confirmed without revealing the underlying cause, but Pilate refused to grant it without further evidence of His guilt. They were forced, therefore, to prove that Jesus was in some way a manace to the Roman government, as a basis for their charge of sedition. A seething mob of frantic men hurled a torrent of indignant accusations against Him, calculated to result in His death. Above the din one spokesman shouted, "We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ, a king" (LUke 23:2).

This charge amounted to treason against the Roman state, a crime for which death was the penalty. Barabbas was already in prison due to a similar charge of insurrection. Had Christ ever proclaimed an eartly kingdom, either present or future, this accusation would have been true, and capital punishment would have been warranted. Since there were no witnesses present to verify the accusation, Pilate took Jesus into the judgment hall and questioned Him privately. It's at this point that we protest in strongest terms against the teaching of the Scofield Reference Bible which states that Jesus "first offered the Jews an earthly Davidic kingdom, but later withdrew the offer because of Jewish opposition. In its place He substituted a Kingdom of rest and service," (see S.R.B. p. 1011). If we accept the Scofield notes as correct, then we must conclude that the court testimony given by Jesus was perjury, since He disclaimed ever to have taught that His kingdom was of an earthly character. Had it been so, Pilate couldn't have exonerated Him. Moreover, if the promises of the Old Testament demanded an earthly kingdom as fulfillment, then the only possible way Jesus could claim to be the Messiah was to fulfill them. He couldn't alter God's eternal purpose and be "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Any deviation from the prophetic fulfillment would immediately have convicted Him of being an imposter, as indeed that's what the Jews maintained He was.

It's noteworthy that each of the four gospels mentions that Pilate expressly asked Jesus, "Art thou the king of the Jews?" Obviously this question is of prarmount importance. Jesus calmly replied, "Thou sayest that I am," which was equivalent to saying, "Most certainly, I am," adding, "My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight that I would not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36). When Jesus said, "But now my kingdom is not from hence" He used an expression which means, "But as it really is, my kingdom is not from hence," that is, not of an earthly character such as would be gained through fighting for it.

When Pilate discerned that the kingship and kingdom of Jesus Christ differed fundamentally from that of Caesar, he was convinced of His innocence of the charge of perverting the nation, and he determined to let Him go. According to Matt. 27:18, "He knew that for envy they had delivered Him." He therefore geve his verdict of not guilty, but tried to compromise with justice and pacify the mob by ordering Jesus to be scourged. Although this was an extremely painful punishment, the decision only infuriated the people. Pandemonium broke loose. Stentorian voices shouted "If you let this man go you are not Caesar's friend. Whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar" (John 19:12). The people raged in this shocking manner until the blackest chapter in human history was written in the shed blood of the innocent lamb of God. "The voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed, and Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required" (Luke 23:23).

Man's Guilt Invariably Incurs God's Judgment...

Significantly, the last statement made by the Jews in the official proceedings was voiced by the chief priests, in John 19:15. "We have no king but Caesar." God took them at their word. For almost two thousand years they've reaped the lamentable consequences of their fateful choice. The prophecy of Deut. 28:64 that "The Lord shall scatter thee among all people from one end of the earth even unto the other," certainly has been fulfilled. To regain God's favor they must return, not to the land, but to the Lord. The New and Everlasting Covenant is now in effect.

We pause now to gaze at the procession wending its way so sorrowfully to Golgotha. The central figure is that of Christ. His bruised and wearied body is lacerated with many lashes, His strength exhausted, and His head crowned with cruel thorns. He reels under the ponderous weight of the cross He is forced to carry. At last they reach the appointed place---"the place of a skull." The executioners quickly perform their grim duty. The Messiah is crucified. In the course of a few agonizing hours the silence was broken by an anguished cry when the Savior announced to all the world the culmination of His mission in the words, "It is finished." So saying, He committed His spirit into the loving hands of the Father, then He bowed His head and died. Even nature itself seemed to revolt against the heinous deed that man committed. An ominous darkness obscured the light of the sun from midday until 3 p.m. A terrifying earthquake rent the rocks and spread panic in the appalling gloom. Some graves were opened and departed ones reappeared. Then miraculously and mysteriously the veil of the temple parted from top to bottom.

The death of Christ was part of God's eternal plan (Acts 4:28). It was the gateway to His coronation when He announced in these words after the resurrection, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28:18). The grave was but the stepping stone to the throne. The events of the trial and death of Christ reflect the human heart in all its sinfulness and depravity. In glorious contrast they vividly demonstrated the deity of Jesus Christ in His complete victory over every circumstance. The eternal purpose of God moved with majestic serenity toward its predetermined fulfillment. God makes even the wrath of man to praise Him (Psalm 76:10)!

Chapter 20

Heralds of the Messiah

The Kingdom Message...

The book of Acts is one of the most interesting in all the Bible; in fact, it's one of the most thrilling narratives ever written. It furnishes "many infallible proofs" of the resurrection and a vivid account of the consequences of that event. I'ts frequently referred to as the Acts of the Holy Spirit, due to the prominent place given to Him throughout the record of the Apostles' work. In our study we should notice the frequent references to the Old Testament promises and the inspired interpretation of them, as they were fulfilled. Christ spent forty days with His disciples after the resurrection, speaking to them "Of things pertaining to the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3).

Evidence that the idea of a restoration of the Jewish kingdom still persisted in the minds of some followers is seen in Acts 1:6, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" In reply Jesus tenderly admonished His disciples that some things were hidden in the counsels of God, and assured them that the Holy Spirit would descend upon them shortly (Acts 1:7-9). Significantly, you'll recall that Jesus said, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when He the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth" (John 16:12 and 13). No doubt some of those "hard things" concerned the kingdom of Israel, as it was currently held by Talmudic teachers. We've already noted that many Jews did look for an earthly kingdom (See Matt. 20:20-29). When the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and led into the full truth by His unerring inspiration, the idea of the kingdom of Israel faded out forever and the Kingdom of God became a glorious reality. In Acts 20:25 we read, "And now, behold, I know that ye all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more." The book of Acts everywhere demonstrates the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies in its proclamation of the Kingdom of God.

The Coronation and Enthronement of the Messiah...

There's two facts that we should observe in the sermon preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost. In Acts 2:30, Peter referred to the promise that Christ, the son of David, was to sit on His throne. We've already made it clear that the pronoun "his" doesn't refer to David's earthly throne in Jerusalem. Verse 33 lends additional proof to this fact in these words, "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted." This exaltation of Christ to the throne on the right hand of God Almighty, is the throne referred to as "His throne." This's the throne that will last forever and from which Christ wields the scepter of righteousness spoken of in Hebrews 1:8. This is the throne to which Christ ascended when He said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and earth" (Matthew 28:18). He's there, now.

Secondly, notice verse 36 which says, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (that is, King, Messiah). Remember that the only way He could be the Messiah was by fulfilling the prophecies and promises written of Him in the Old Testament. Going back a few months in the career of Peter, we find him at Caesarea-Philippi making his memorable confession, "Thou art the Christ (Messiah) the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16). Upon that occasion Jesus then said that He would give Peter the keys of the kingdom, but charged him not to make known the fact that Jesus was the Messiah until after the resurrection.

On Matt. 16:16, the Scofield R.B. comments, "The disciples had been proclaiming Jesus as the Christ, i.e., the covenanted king of a kingdom promised to the Jews and "at hand"...It is a turning point of immense significance" (p. 1022, S.R.B.). Exception is taken to this interpretation on the following grounds. In Matt. 16:15, Jesus asked the question, "But whom say ye that I am?" From the answer given it's evident that they were only at that time beginning to realize that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God (v 17). It would've been impossible for the disciples to "Tell no man that He was the Christ," if they'd already been doing that for some time all over Israel. If they'd been preaching Christ as a covenanted king over a kingdom promised to the Jews, it would first of all have been a crime against the Roman government; secondly, Jesus said at His trial that He'd never proclaimed such a kingdom (John 18:36). The first place Jesus was proclaimed as Christ is in Acts 2:36.

In Acts 2, the resurrection was past and Peter preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He was the first preacher to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah and this declaration was the key that unlocked the kingdom of heaven. No sooner had he uttered these words than conviction smote the multitude and three thousand souls were born into the Kingdom of God. Remember that one has to be born again in order to enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:5). When Christ is embraced as Savior and Lord, He unlocks all of God's kingdom to us. When Peter perceived that Jesus was the Messiah he had that key, and Christ commissioned him to be the first one to use it, which he did as recorded inActs 2:36.

In Acts 3:18 we read, "But those things which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled." Observe briefly that the sufferings of Christ "so fulfilled" that which was written by all the prophets. In the verses which follow Peter says that "Moses and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days." "Ye are the children of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you in turning every one of you from his iniquities" (Acts 3:22-26). Suffice it to point out that Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, explained that the salvation of the soul from sin is the blessing that God promised to Abraham. The sufferings and death of Christ not only fulfilled prophecy, but through them Christ atoned for our sins and became the Author of a universal redemption in which all the families of the earth are blessed.

The Gospel Fulfills Prophecy...

We now direct special attention to the 13th chapter of Acts. The entire chapter should be carefully studied, but we shall quote from the 23rd verse: "Of this man's (that is, David's) seed hath God according to His promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus." This again verifies how the resurrection fulfilled the promise God made to David. Verses 24-26 reveal the harmony of the message of John the Baptist with that of Christ in proclaiming repentance and salvation. Then in verse 27 the apostle Paul makes a sweeping indictment that the Jewish rulers misinterpreted the Scriptures. It reads as follows: "For they that dwell at Jerusalem and their rulers, because they knew Him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning Him." The Jews expected an earthly kingdom and a national Messiah. They were mistaken as to the nature of His kingdom and they misinterpreted the promises. We must be careful not to make the same mistake they did, and repeat the same error by refusing to accept Jesus Christ as Lord.

Continuing in verse 29, "And when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree." Again we note that all that was written concerning Him was fulfilled. We find the same thought in verses 32 and 33. Paul places the emphasis on the word fulfilled, so we enquire, "What was fulfilled?" The answer is given in verses 38 and 39. "Through this is preached unto you all things..." In every instance we discover the promises fulfilled when men believe in Christ to the saving of their souls.

As a nation the Jews refused to believe and so the apostles turned to the Gentiles, (v 46). But we must observe that the promises didn't fail; it was the people who failed to embrace them, and consequently they lost the benefits thereby. "As many as were ordained to eternal life believed" (v 48). In believing, the promises were kept and took effect.

We pass now to Acts 17:2 and 3, where Paul again reasoned from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. In fact he was so zealous and insistent that some local opposition lodged a charge against him that he was proclaiming Christ as King (v 7). We conclude of course that the Christ who died and rose again fulfilled the Scriptures from which Paul reasoned so earnestly. While the Jews insisted on a Messiah who would save them nationally from Rome, they rejected the Messiah who sought to save their souls from the Devil and sin. Their hopes were based on a wrong interpretation of the Old Testament Scriptures, an interpretation that led to their ruin.