““Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’[f] 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2.29-36
Lord and Messiah. What does Peter mean by this? Well, he explains it twice in this passage by using a prophetic word spoken by King David. Peter tells how David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, rising from the dead and that his body did not see decay. And that as ”God raised this Jesus to life,” they were witnesses of this marvelous event. Jesus is Messiah in as much as he overcame sin and death, rescued God’s people from slavery and bondage, and rose to sit at the right hand of the Father.
Jesus is Lord as well. God said in Psalm 110.1, as quoted by David, ”The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” God called Jesus Lord. The Lord (God) said to my Lord (Jesus) — “Sit at my right hand.” Jesus is Lord, ruler, king over all people and all of creation.
This week I was at Revive Youth Camp (revivetexas.org) where students recognized and encountered this Living Lord. The Lord, who is seated at the right hand of God, met students and adults by the power of the promised Holy Spirit. This Lord Jesus, who is in Heaven, this spiritual place which might just be a few yards above our heads in an invisible realm, still meets people when they call upon his name. Dozens of young people turned to Jesus as Messiah and Lord, met him through the power of the Holy Spirit, and surrendered their lives to his purpose. Worship was an awakening moment of joy in the presence of the Lord and Messiah. It was a testimony to the words of Peter spoken in Acts 2, ”Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
What happened in years gone by continues to be active now. Scripture and God’s Spirit transcends time and space. The early Acts Church is also alive as the mission and means by which Jesus meets with people continues.
Have you called on the name of the Lord? If so, have you spread the message of the Gospel to your friends and neighbors who have not yet met the risen king? Is sin keeping you from grace? Is your life lacking meaning and significance? Call upon the name of the Jesus as Lord and Messiah. And your life will never be the same.
“O Lord God, I stand amazed in your presence. Time and time again I see you reawakening your people. Save the lost. Redeem the broken. Receive the hurting. Come now, by the power of your Holy Spirit, and make your way among us. I love you Lord Jesus and thank you for what you endured for my sake. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen