SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON, NOVEMBER 12,2017, TOPIC: The Messiah: Resurrected Lord

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON, NOVEMBER 12,2017.
Topic: The Messiah: Resurrected Lord
Memory Verse: Acts 2:32. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses (KJV).
LESSON TEXT: Psalm 16:8-11; 110:1;Mark 12:35-37;Act 2:22-38.
CENTRAL TRUTH: Old Testament prophecies foretold the resurrection of Jesus.
FOCUS: To study prophecies about the resurrection of Christ and receive His life-giving power.

OUTLINE:
1. Christ Crucified and Resurrected
A. God’s Messiah
B. Risen Saviour
2. Christ Resurrection Foretold
A. David’s Lord
B. Prophet King
3. Christ’s Ascension Foretold
A. Divine Authority
B. Ascended Saviour

         Leaning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1. Review the evidence pointing to Jesus’ divine identity and miraculous resurrection.
2. Recognise the Old Testament’s proclamation of Christ’s resurrection and ascension.
3. Seek to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and clearly communicate the Gospel.
                   
                             INTRODUCING THE LESSON
QUESTION: In what sense are we only sharing a part of the gospel if we tell a sinner, “Jesus died for your sins”?
    The story of Christ’s death on the cross is a wonderful truth for personal evangelism and pulpit preaching alike, but we have far more to share. The Resurrection was absolutely essential to complete Christ’s redemptive mission.
    On the Day of Pentecost, Peter clearly connected for his audience the realities of Jesus Christ’s perfect life as God’s Messiah, His sacrificial death as the price for humanity’s sin, and His triumphant resurrection and ascension to heaven. We are called to proclaim that same truth today.

    COMMENTARY AND APPLICATION
1. Christ Crucified And Resurrected.
A. God’s Messiah – Acts. 2:22-23
       Peter will eventually speak of Christ to be both “Lord and Christ” ( Acts 2:36, KJV) or “Messiah” (NIV), but leading up to that assertion, the apostle offered fundamental evidence of Jesus’ identity.
QUESTION: What evidence did Peter offer in Acts 2:22-23 that Jesus is the Messiah?
  Peter did not need to give a specific list of Jesus’ miracles on the Day of Pentecost because his audience was very familiar with the events of the previous three years. Jesus has established a reputation throughout  Judea and into surrounding regions through His repeated miracles, wonders, and signs ( verse 22).
   Peter also confidently stated God was the source of what Jesus accomplished. This assertion gives additional weight to the audience’s knowledge of what Peter described. As devout Jews, they would not have allowed a claim of divine activity to go unchallenged unless they too believed that the events Peter cited were origin. The disciple spoke without fear that the crowd at the temple would contradict him or accuse him of blasphemy.
    Further, Peter accused the Jews in Jerusalem of taking part in Jesus’ crucifixion ( verse 23). Indeed, many of them were involved in the chants of ‘Crucify Him!” recorded in the Gospels (see for example Matthew 27:22-23). Through many of his hearers bore guilt in Jesus’ death, Peter also insisted Jesus’ crucifixion was carried out through God’s deliberate plan (Acts 2:23). [NOTE: Peter’s accusation was directed specifically toward the Jews who had been part of the mob at Christ’s crucifixion. Such guilt did not rest upon the Jewish people as a whole. Indeed, in Acts 13:27-29, Paul used the term “they’’ when he was speaking to Jews and attributed guilt specifically to those in Jerusalem.]
    As noted in the previous lesson God’s commitment to His plan of redemption did not change the sinful reality of what was done to Jesus, but brought about great good in spite of that sin. Peter understood that many in his audience had either seen one of Jesus’ miracles personally or know someone who had. One of the powerful tool in communicating the gospel is simply share with the lost the true life stories of transformation, healing, and restoration that come through a relationship with Jesus Christ. The believer’s testimony from personal experience is often far more compelling than any theological presentation.

B. Risen Saviour- Acts 2:24
     As awe-inspiring as Jesus miracles had been and as immeasurable a gift as His sacrifice represented, Peter directed his listeners’ attention to an even greater reality. Everything Peter said pointed to Jesus’ resurrection as the central, climatic event in salvation history.
    God raised His Son from the dead. Death was not victorious when Jesus gave up His life on the cross. All long, the divine plan of salvation had included Jesus victory over the grave. It was impossible, Peter insisted, for death to keep its hold on Christ (Acts2:24).
    It is important today that Christians strive to keep the work of Christ on the cross clearly in view.
This may involve saying a simple prayer of repentance when failing to temptation, or praising God for the restoration that He brought about from the destruction past sins had caused in your life. It is vital to understand the immeasurable price Jesus paid for our redemption. But the focus must include Jesus’ resurrection as well. The Cross without the resurrection is not the whole gospel.
QUESTION: How does Peter’s summary sermon about Jesus encompass the message of the gospel?
    Peter’s actions on the day of Pentecost serve as an example to all Christians. Through the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit, God created opportunity for hearts that were scarred and hardened by sin to receive the message of salvation. Because the apostle was obedient to the Spirit’s leading and relied on the truths of God’s Word and Jesus’ life example, a monumental response was recorded in Acts 2:41. The birth of the Church occurred in part because an obedient servant of God shared ultimate truth using simple words.

2. Christ’s Resurrection Foretold.
A. David’s Lord.  Psalm 16:8-11; Acts 2:25-28.
      Peter consistently anchored his statements in Old Testament prophecies to validate his claims about Jesus Christ. He demonstrated to his audience that the Old Testament Scriptures had foretold the Resurrection.
     King David, acknowledged by the Jews as their greatest King and recognized as inspired writer of Scripture, described in Psalm 16 several key points concerning his reliance upon Him in ruling God’s chosen people.

QUESTION: How does Psalm 16 offer personal application as well as prophetic insight?
      Psalm 16 calls for the believer to rest in the assurance of God’s care and hold to God in deep relationship. When Peter quoted Psalm 16:8-11 (see Acts 2:25-28), his audience may have had in mind the entire Psalm. They would have identified immediately with David’s call for protection (Psalm 16:1), his devotion to God (verse 2) and to God’s people ( verse 3), his rejection of idolatry ( verse 4), and his constant gratitude and praise to God for the Lord’s blessings in his life ( verse 5-7).
     But Peter was about to direct the people’s attention to a prophetic meaning in Psalm 16:8-11 that was, at that point, unfamiliar to them. He was about to show them how this Psalm of comfort ultimately provides critical information about the Messiah.

B. Prophet King. Acts 2:29-31
QUESTION: Why can we conclude that Psalm 16 applied to far more than David’s life and experience?
      Peter explained that Psalm 16 had an additional meaning that could not have been part of David’s personal experience. David’s statements in Psalm 16:8-11 were about God protecting him from death and decay in the grave. Yet David had been dead for roughly 1,000 years by the time Peter addressed his audience. Anyone hearing Peter’s message could simply visit David’s tomb in Jerusalem. Clearly, David could not have been describing himself ( Acts 2:29).
     Rather, as Peter explained, David prophetically anticipated the fulfillment of God’s promise to send the messiah as one of David’s descendants (verse 30-31). David obviously pointed to one who would triumph over the grave- the Messiah.
     Peter directly connected Psalm16:8-11 to Christ’s resurrection, noting that David was a prophet as a King. David knew one of his descendants would be the Anointed One, the promised, eternal Messiah who would come for all humanity. We experience the blessing of that promise. Though our bodies may experience decay temporarily, we are promised resurrection bodies that will never decay. These truths are anchored in Peter’s further proclamation. Jesus has ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the father.

3. Christ’s Ascension Foretold.
A. Divine Authority – Psalm 110:1
     QUESTION: How would Psalm 110:1 apply to David during his lifetime?
           Psalm 110:1 describes a King’s authority. Such authority comes from God ( see 110:2). David understood that God had appointed him as ruler over Israel. The psalm describes this King’s authority extending from Jerusalem, and overcoming a host of enemies with victorious troops ( see verses 3-4). This, too, was true of David during his reign.
         Peter, by again referencing a familiar passage of Scripture and calling to mind their greatest King, used a key term Lord – from the Psalm to point to Jesus as the risen Messiah. He is the sovereign Lord, who ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, exercising authority over all of creation (see Mark 16:19).
        It is important to note that from David’s perspective. Verse 1 described the covenant between the Lord God and “my lord,” that is, the descendants of David who would rule, through God’s blessing and power, by exercising dominance over Israel’s enemies. We will see, however, that Jesus brought true clarity to what was ultimately a prophetic declaration.

B. Ascended Saviour. Mark 12:35-37; Acts 2:32-38.
   Mark 12:35-37 records Jesus teaching in the temple, affirming He is the Messiah with the use of Psalm 110. Because Mark 12 lists several confrontations between Jesus and the religious leaders, these verses are likely directed at them. In Mark 12, Jesus offered a conundrum. How could a son of David also David also be David’s “Lord”? How could He occupy both a position of inferiority (as “Lord”)? It was a question that stumped the teachers of the Law.
     Jesus explained that His incarnation is the only answer to this mystery. He connected Psalm 110:1 with David’s royal line rather than David himself. To that extent, Jesus was repeating the teaching that the Messiah is the son of David. But,as Jesus pointed out, the Psalm repeat the term “Lord”. The first term point to God himself. The second, though also used of human ruler, would not be a term a king would apply to one of his heirs. That David referred to this heir as “lord” meant their heirs was greater than David. Jesus was pointing His listeners to His divine identity.
    Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, used Psalm 110:1 to not only identify the Messiah as divine, but connect the Messiah intimately with being in God’s heavenly presence. On one level, the psalm could describe God empowering David to conquer Israel explained, it pointed to the Messiah of God. Peter had already reminded the people that David’s body was long-since buried.
QUESTION: In light of what we’ve learned about Psalm 110, what important point about Jesus does Peter make in Acts 2:32-36?
    Peter noted he and the other disciple were personal witnesses of the risen Christ and had seen His ascension. Moving forwards through Church history, God has used Christians to proclaim the truth of the gospel through the evidence of their own transformed lives. In that sense, we too are witnesses of the risen Jesus who has ascended to His place at the right hand of the Father. We have experienced the presence of Jesus of Jesus: who is both the Ruler –Lord- of our lives and our Saviour-our Christ, or Messiah.
   God used Peter’s words to bring conviction to the multitude, and they wanted to know what to do (Acts 2:37-39). Peter assured them that by repenting, God would bring into their lives all the blessings the believers had already experienced. Not only did they receive forgiveness; they were also baptized in water, and the context makes it clear they were baptized in the Holy Spirit that had ushered in this proclamation of the gospel (verse 41)

                        DISCIPLESHIP IN ACTION
  Peter’s obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leading on the Day of Pentecost resulted in a multitude of people being saved and baptized in the Spirit. People continue to come to Christ and receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit today, in response to the proclamation of the gospel. Quite often, it is “ordinary Christians” who bring forth such proclamation.
   Peter’s message on the Day of Pentecost wasn’t effective because he was well known or had some special spiritual connection. It was because of his commitment to Jesus, including faithful Scripture study. The baptism in the Holy Spirit further empowered his ministry.
   It is important for you to be prepared for opportunities to witness through Bible study, prayer, fellowship with other believers, and by seeking the work of the Spirit in your life every day. With thses fundamentals in place, believers can expect their witness to others to be fruitful.
                         
                        MINISTRY IN ACTION
    Today’s lesson provides a good opportunity to pray with students who have accepted Christ as Saviour but have never received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Take time at the end of class to pray for students, emphasizing the value of Holy Spirit baptism in proclaiming the gospel.