“Lord Jesus, to be Your witness is to understand Your resurrection and live out Your resurrection. We thank You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 1:21-22 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, (22) beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” We have seen several aspects of the requirement that needed to be fulfilled in the person, who would replace Judas. As Peter comes to the final part, he presents the matter of being a witness to the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus died, He was buried and then He rose from the dead and was with the disciples for 40 days after His resurrection till the day He was taken up from them. The witness should be one who was a part of this entire journey.
Acts 1:2-3 “until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, (3) to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” The person to be chosen, ought to have received the commandments of Jesus, post His resurrection. The commandments were regarding His kingdom. It was the message of His kingdom that Jesus came to deliver to humanity. Luke 4:43 but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” Being a witness to the resurrection of Jesus was crucial.
Acts 13:30-39 But God raised Him from the dead. (31) He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. (32) And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. (33) God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are my Son and today I have begotten you.’ (34) And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ (35) Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow your Holy one to see corruption.’ (36) “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; (37) but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. (38) Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; (39) and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Witnessing the resurrection of Jesus was of great importance for in it is hinged all that humanity requires to be rightly related to God.
God had promised the Fathers that there will be a permanent solution for sin and uncleanness. The Law of Moses was not able to provide righteousness for man. Zechariah 13:1 “In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.” The resurrection of Jesus has brought into place a new Law. This Law is the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. This Law that gives us victory over the law of sin and death is now applicable and functional because of the resurrection of Jesus. Living in this new Law of Jesus, which came into reality after His resurrection, gives us righteousness before God.
The body of David, decayed but the body of Jesus, did not see corruption. There was sin in the flesh of David, which caused his body to decay. When all of us die, our bodies will decay because there is sin in our flesh. The flesh of Jesus did not decay because there was no sin in His flesh. Acts 2:24 “whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.” Jesus has risen from the dead and is now making His flesh available to us through His Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables us to live out the victorious life of Jesus, in our flesh. This is our witness. Acts 2:31-32 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. (32) This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
Peter is referring to what David had spoken Psalms 16:8-11 “I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. (9) Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. (10) For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. (11) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” David was not speaking of himself but David was prophesying of Jesus.
“To be a witness to Jesus, we must experience the resurrection of Jesus.”