"Jesus" (Acts 3:13b)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/4/2017 9:26 PM

My Worship Time                                                                                                      Focus:  Jesus

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                           Reference:  Acts 3:13b

            Message of the verses:  “Jesus, the One whom you delivered up, and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.”

            As we look at this word Jesus in this SD we need to understand what His name means.  “The Lord is salvation” is what the word means and is the most common name of our Lord found in the New Testament.

            Charles Spurgeon comments on Matthew 1:21 which says “"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."” 

“The angel spake to Joseph the name in a dream:  that name so soft and sweet that it breaks no man’s rest, but rather yields a peace unrivalled, the peace of God.  With such a dream Joseph’s sleep was more blessed than his waking.  The name has evermore this power, for, to those who know it, it unveils a glory brighter than dreams have ever imagined.”

            Peter is telling his audience that they were the ones who rejected Jesus, the One who provides salvation for them and many today make the same mistake as these people of Jesus’ day made, rejecting Him.  Oh they may not be the ones who were there to cheer on the leaders to have Him put to death, but there are many today who would like nothing better than to harm those who are following Him, since then cannot get to the Savior since He is in heaven.

            Peter also speaks of Pilate in this part of verse thirteen and states that Pilate wanted to release Jesus, even his own wife warned him not to do harm to this man, but because the Jewish leaders had some things on him, Pilate went ahead and had Jesus put to death.  Jesus told Pilate that the Jews were actually the ones who were responsible for His death, but Pilate was haunted about doing this deed for the rest of his life according to extra biblical accounts that I have read.

            John MacArthur concludes “Peter boldly confronts his hearers with the enormity of their sin in executing their Messiah.  All truly biblical preaching must follow his example and render men guilty before God.  That is the necessary foundation of the gospel message.  Only those who see themselves as sinners will recognize their need for a Savior and comprehend the work of Jesus.”

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Troas” (2 Corinthians 2:12).

Today’s Bible question:  “What indication of God’s love and care do we have in Luke 12:6-7?”

Answer in our next SD.  9/4/2017 9:42 PM