Peter’s Report

March 16, 2014 Background Scripture: Psalm 110; Mark 12:35 – 37; Acts 2:22 – 36 Lesson Passage: Psalm 110:1 – 4; Acts 2:22 – 27, 29 – 32 Peter’s first sermon on the day of Pentecost provides most of the background and lesson passage for today’s lesson. With the anointing of the Holy Ghost upon him, Peter preached the gospel to a bewildered crowd in Jerusalem. The entire message centered on Peter’s declaration of who Jesus is. Peter strongly defended Jesus’ humanity while also declaring his divine nature. He reminded them that they were aware of the miracles and deeds Jesus did in their midst for approximately three years. The miracles were done as a sign that Jesus was indeed sent from God and the signs were indisputable evidence of it. In spite of his goodness to them, Jesus was betrayed and crucified. Jesus died and was buried but God raised him up as proof that death and the grave could not hold him. All of this was according to the foreknowledge and approval of God. God spoke through David by way of Psalm 110 concerning an eternal priesthood. Some thought the Psalm was David’s literal reference to himself. However, it is clear that the Psalm was prophetic because it spoke of the king who would also be an eternal priest. David died and his body decayed in the grave. Put another way, David historically did not demonstrate putting on immortality as he wrote about in the Psalm of the eternal priesthood. David’s mortality is evident in that he remained dead. Jesus, on the other hand, was not allowed to remain in the grave indefinitely although he died. Rather, God quickened him or made him alive again on the third day and thus preserved his flesh from decay. God assured David that he would have a descendant who would have an eternal nature and could therefore establish an eternal kingdom. David wrote prophetically of this descendant who we know as Jesus. Peter’s sermon combined the prophecy of God with Peter’s eyewitness account. Peter witnessed what God had prophesied and thus he declared it in his initial sermon. Others had also witnessed the same thing. Peter’s closing statement was the explanation for why the people were bewildered. The crowd heard the Galileans speaking in the native tongues of those from throughout the various regions. Luke recorded fifteen different groups who represented many different languages in the crowd that heard this strange discourse in their native language. How could this be? Peter’s response provided the answer. Jesus, who had been raised from the dead by God, ascended back to God and received the promise of the Holy Ghost. Having received the promise, Jesus richly blessed his followers by allowing the Holy Ghost to be poured out as an anointing upon them. The gift of speaking in an “unlearned” tongue was the proof of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost. Jesus’ followers had received the promise of the Father and were now praising God for his wonderful works. Today’s lesson revisits Peter’s report to the bewildered crowd. Robert C. Hudson March 7, 2013

Son of David

March 9, 2014 Background Scripture: Psalm 89; Isaiah 9:1 – 7; Matthew 1:18 – 2:6; Luke 1:26 – 33 Lesson Passage: Psalm 89:35 – 37; Isaiah 9:6, 7; Matthew 1:18 – 23 There are a handful of people recorded in the bible who had a relationship with God that was nothing short of remarkable. God’s relationship with David is an example of just that. David’s initial innocence and heart that was quick to repent when confronted by God or His representative is noteworthy. The bible does not give us a record of David choosing God. Rather, biblical history shows us just the opposite—God chose David. When David appeared to have been rejected by his own family as someone who could possibly achieve greatness one day, God made choice of David above his older brothers. David’s older brothers were soldiers in Israel’s army but God gave Israel victory over their enemy by the hand of the shepherd boy, David. Later, God elevated the shepherd boy to be king over all of His people. David grew in favor with his brethren and he was feared by his enemy. All of this was the result of God’s hand upon David. God went further and declared that He would establish David’s throne forever. David’s descendants would continue to rule over God’s people without end. There was nothing David did to deserve such graciousness from God. God extended this unmerited favor to David. From the time of David throughout the remainder of Israel’s history, God continuously renewed his promise to David. Israel has long used songs as a method of preserving their history. As the children of Israel praised the Lord through singing, the words of their praise gave forth a strong testimony of their long-term relationship with God. Through the psalmists, who were inspired of God, God reminded Israel of his faithfulness to her and the many promises and warnings they received throughout their generations. In Psalm 89, the words reflect God’s covenant with King David and his descendants. God promised to establish an eternal dynasty through the descendants of King David. The promise also includes warnings that God would chastise David’s descendants who would dare to sit on the throne and walk in disobedience to God. God promised to use the rod of men to punish them. Again, the promise of God included a provision of the eternal existence of the throne of King David. This provision was echoed by the prophet Isaiah. Through the prophet Isaiah, God renewed His promise of an eternal king to reign over the eternal kingdom. Isaiah also included the reminder that the eternal king would be a descendant of King David. From the time of King David to the time of the prophets during and after the monarchy of Israel, the promise of the eternal kingdom was reiterated time and again. Again, Israel’s praise and worship songs kept the teachings of the patriarchs alive. There was a king coming through the lineage of King David who would rule Israel forever. The fulfillment of the promise finally arrived in the region of Judea during the reign of Herod the Great. An angel of God announced to a virgin named Mary that the time had come for the fulfillment of God’s promise to David. Since Mary was to be used and she was not yet married, this created a dilemma for the man to whom she would be married. This dilemma was resolved when the angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph in a dream and reassured him that what was happening was of God. This baby is Jesus. He descended through the lineage of David and he is the eternal king. Robert C. Hudson February 25, 2013