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6. Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36)
ACTS 2:33-36
33 Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear. 34 For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
After a long introduction and description of the principles of salvation, Peter finally showed his hearers the relationship between Christ, who had been sent by God to be crucified and raised from the dead, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. His coming, death, and resurrection had been necessary for the dawning of the new age, for without the cross and the resurrection the Holy Spirit could not come.
Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father in full harmony with Him. God poured out on the One despised and rejected by the Jews much honor and glory. He gave to Him all authority in heaven and on earth, and committed into His hands all power to carry out the Promise of the Father. Christ sent the Holy Spirit to indwell His faithful, praying followers. The Holy Spirit comes because Christ reconciled us to God on the cross. He intercedes for us as the holy, High Priest with the Father. Christ’s intercessory service resulted in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
As a matter of fact, no one can be near to God and steadfast in intercession at the throne of grace except Jesus of Nazareth. All prophets, kings, and founders of religions are either buried in their tombs or resting in heaven, like Abraham, Moses, and Elijah. Christ alone, however, has been brought so near to God that He is united with Him. He abides forever in His Father and His Father in Him. In the revelation of the Holy Spirit, the prophet David saw this unity between the Father and the Son. He listened to the conversation between God and His Christ. He heard what the Father said to His Son when He returned to Him after His ascension to heaven, when He was surrounded by the praise songs of angels. He called out to Him: “Please sit down and rest, for You have finished Your course in Your suffering human body. You have completed salvation. From now on I am working with the power of My Spirit. He will carry out My salvation in all upright seekers, and bring judgment over the unjust and obstinate.
Judgment began to come on man with the descent of the Holy Spirit. Peter, guided by the Spirit, told the Jews to their faces that God would make them Christ’s footstool if they did not repent and believe in Him. Condemnation would come upon them if they did not receive the Son of God with tears. This fearful statement also applies to all other men on all other continents. The many different parties and religions of man are included in this judgment. He who does not receive the Son will be bound and placed under the feet of Christ forever.
Peter showed his people that, since Pentecost, the Holy Spirit could dwell in every part of our world without hindrance. Christ removed the partition between God and man. The storm of divine love continues on. Today, salvation is being realized in those who believe.
Sadly, the Spirit of the truth could not dwell in most of the Jews, for there was one sin that had not been confessed by the members of the Old Testament - killing Christ and refusing Him, even after His death. The Holy Spirit prompted the speaker to stab them to their heart by saying: “Jesus, the young man of Nazareth, is one hundred percent the Lord Himself, who was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. He is true God from the true God. It is the anointed Christ Himself whom you crucified. With these words, the most forthright among the apostles told the Jews that they had failed to grasp the highpoint of their history. They had violated and misunderstood the meaning of their covenant with God. In the name of the Almighty Peter had wounded the children of the nation. They had not been condemned by a man, but condemned by the eternal Judge Himself, who deeply pierced their consciences.
At the beginning of Peter’s speech, some of the Jews mocked the disciples and accused them of being intoxicated, for the joy of the Holy Spirit had filled them. Peter clarified truth to them not by rhetorical means, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. He explained who the Holy Spirit was, where He came from, and the reason for His presence. Finally, and with utmost severity, he made it apparent that killing Christ was the great guilt of his nation. By this example, we see that the Holy Spirit never agrees to a compromise, nor does He allow us to mix truth with untruth. He condemns our disobedience, and crushes our haughtiness. Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.
PRAYER: O Father, we have sinned against You, and participated in crucifying Your Son. My sins and I nailed His hands to the cross. Please forgive me my sin and sanctify me by Your Holy Spirit, so that I may reject every sin and not fall into temptation. I want to confess Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior, and do His will by the power of His love. O Lord, prick all hardened hearts so that they may repent and turn to You. In their broken heartedness let them then become healed.
QUESTION:
- Why did Christ ascend to heaven?