The Book of Acts ~ Study Nine

"The First and Last Perfect Sacrifice"


Acts 2:22-24 (NLT) People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.


Peter continued on with his speech before all the faithful Jews there at the Temple Mount for Pentecost (Shavuot). They had just experienced the hearing of their own languages and were possibly still hearing them as the disciples continued speaking the various tongues of those present. They were a rapt and interested audience wanting to understand more. So Peter took advantage of it.


Peter wanted their attention and he got it. He began explaining to these people why they were speaking in these languages and who they were speaking for. The only reason they could speak in tongues was because it was for God's purpose. He meant it only to tell many nations represented at the Temple that day about His Son Jesus and bring glory to Him.


Peter then went on to say how God sent Jesus to earth and accredited Him (proved who He was) by "the miracles, signs and wonders" He did. With all this proof, not everyone believed Him. Was God's plan thwarted? Absolutely not.


Isaiah 46:9-11 (NLT) Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. I will call a swift bird of prey from the East—a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding. I have said what I would do, and I will do it.


Do you ever wonder if God really has a plan or do we just wish He did? I wonder sometimes. But, if I am to believe that Jesus is who He says He is, then I have to believe that God had a plan when He brought Him here. Sometimes we don't always understand God's plans. Verse 23 kind of upsets me some (see below). What do you think?


Acts 2:23 (NLT) But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.


Why would God plan the death of His own Son? How could that ever be good? Wasn't there a better way?


Isaiah 53:10 (NLT) But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.


God knew that the only way to conquer sin in the lives of those He loved so dearly (us), was to conquer death. He knew that He would have to come down and die Himself and He did so with the life of His dear Son Jesus. Jesus is God and loved us so much that He willingly laid down His life. (See John 3:16-17)


The Jews understood that death was required for the forgiveness of sins. They had just walked out of the morning sacrifice. For centuries the blood of animals was used to cover their sins. It only covered the sins temporarily. Jesus' ultimate sacrifice was complete. It conquered sin and its result ~ death. 


1 Corinthians 15:52-56 (NLT) For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”


These bodies of ours must be renewed and no amount of plastic surgery or self-help books and conferences will get that done. Jesus was the first to lay His body aside and willingly opt for death because death to this world is the only way to life eternal. Though He never sinned He set the example and made the way to possible for our lives to be exchanged for the eternal.


Philippians 2:7-11 (NLT) Instead, he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


Couldn't there be an easier way? Could you come up with a better plan? Maybe God could just erase our sins without this ultimate sacrifice? Couldn't He has gotten rid of all the evil people and let the good people stay? If that were the case then all of us would die.


Proverbs 14:12 (NLT) There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.


Our plans end in death and God knows this. He knew it when He gave His Son over to the will of evil men. He knew that by letting them have their way His Son would die. God knew it but He also knew that His plan would be fulfilled and death would be destroyed.


Thank you Lord that you know best even when all we see is demise. His plan worked and we have eternal life because of it. Peter was telling the faithful of God about His perfect Son who was the first and last perfect sacrifice.

His plans always work!