Acts 3:11-15 ESV [11] While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. [12] And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? [13] The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. [14] But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, [15] and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
In the context of Acts chapter three, a most miraculous healing of a lame man at the Beautiful Gate has occurred. This event has drawn great attention as people have seen this man day after day laying there. He had been lame from birth and carried there every day to beg for money but today is the day that he will receive something more precious than silver or gold, he will receive the ability to walk, he will receive faith. This man didn’t just walk away! He began walking and jumping and praising God causing quite a scene. Understandably so, he had never walked since birth and the people there were amazed! The man didn’t want to let go of Peter and John and the people were “utterly astonished.” Now, the crowd is fully engaged and runs to them on Solomon’s Porch where they are about to receive a piercing and profound message. In this atmosphere of jubilation and celebration, wonder and amazement, Peter is about to drop a bomb! Notice Peter deflecting the glory to God in verse twelve. He isn’t going to take credit for this miracle but give all the glory to God. The God that they proclaim to know. The God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, and then he adds this, “Glorified His Servant Jesus.” Now it is gonna get sticky! It was all good until you brought up that name. But Peter has just begun to preach. He is going to lay the blame for crimes against Jesus right at their feet.
The Crimes against Jesus
You Delivered
- Matthew 27:2: “And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.”
- Mark 15:1: “And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate.”
- Luke 23:1: “Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate.”
- John 18:30: “They answered him, ‘If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.'”
- Matthew 26:14-16 (ESV): “Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.”
You Denied
- John 6:41-42 (The Jews): “So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ They said, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?
- John 7:25-27 (Some of the People of Jerusalem): “Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, ‘Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.’
- John 7:40-44 (Division Among the People): “When they heard these words, some of the people said, ‘This really is the Prophet.’ Others said, ‘This is the Christ.’ But some said, ‘Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?’ So there was a division among the people over him.”
- John 9:18-22 (Parents of a Man Born Blind): “The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, ‘Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.’ His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.”The parents of a man born blind were hesitant to acknowledge Jesus’ role in their son’s healing due to fear of the consequences.
You Killed Him
What a statement this is “You Killed The Author of Life.” We saw you kill Him and we saw Him alive from the dead! We are witnesses! What a piercing message! What profound preaching! But wait before you Judge the Jews, the Romans, or even Judas. We all KILLED Jesus. Our sin killed Jesus. But nothing in creation could take the life of God. He must willingly lay down His life. He must give up the Ghost. His love compelled Him to submit even to the death on the cross, the most brutal death of all. The wage of our sin killed Jesus and Peter will not allow them, or us, to escape responsibility.
Personal Responsibility
As we reflect on Acts 3:15, it becomes evident that personal responsibility is a central theme. Each individual, regardless of time or place, is implicated in the crucifixion story. The recognition of our own shortcomings and sins is the first step towards understanding the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice. This reflection prompts us to confront our own lives, acknowledging the imperfections that contributed to the need for such a sacrifice. It’s a call to introspection, asking ourselves where we stand in this narrative of redemption.
- Romans 3:23 (ESV): “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”This verse emphasizes the universality of sin, suggesting that everyone has fallen short of God’s glory.
- Romans 5:12 (ESV): “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—”This verse connects the introduction of sin into the world through one man (referring to Adam) and the consequent spread of death to all because of sin.
- Romans 6:23 (ESV): “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”This verse highlights the connection between sin and death, framing it as the result or consequence of sin.
- Galatians 3:22 (ESV): “But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”This verse portrays the idea that everything is under the influence or power of sin.
- 1 Corinthians 15:22 (ESV): “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”This verse contrasts the impact of sin through Adam with the redemption through Christ.
These passages collectively contribute to the understanding that sin entered the world through humanity, leading to death, and that the need for redemption and salvation is universal. Yes, your sin killed Jesus and so did mine.
Confession and Repentance
Acknowledging our sins is only part of the journey. True transformation comes through confession and repentance. The act of turning away from sinful ways and seeking forgiveness is a powerful testament to the transformative power of grace. Confession and repentance are not just rituals; they are the soul’s response to the gravity of our actions. It’s a humbling realization that sparks the process of spiritual renewal.
A Freewill Offering
The voluntary nature of Jesus’ sacrifice is highlighted in the understanding that He laid down His life willingly. This freewill offering emphasizes not only the depths of God’s love but also the profound freedom given to humanity to accept or reject the gift of redemption. Jesus’ voluntary sacrifice underscores the divine invitation extended to us. It’s an invitation to embrace a love that is freely given and a sacrifice that speaks to the core of our existence.
John 10:17-18 (ESV): “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Deliverance from the Wage of Sin
The harsh reality presented in the biblical truth, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), underscores the severity of our condition. However, the narrative doesn’t end there. The gift of God, eternal life, offers a lifeline—a chance for deliverance from the inevitable consequences of sin. It’s a paradoxical journey—confronting the grim reality of sin while being offered a way out. The divine offer is not just a reprieve; it’s a complete transformation of our destiny.
Accepting the Gift
The crux of the matter lies in our response to this gift. Acceptance involves not only acknowledging Jesus’ sacrifice but also embracing the transformative power it holds. Through faith, we find deliverance from the wages of sin, securing the promise of eternal life. Acceptance is an active engagement with the gift. It’s a surrender to the divine grace that seeks to reshape our lives, offering a path to reconciliation and eternal communion. The passage before us today ends this way “And His name – by faith in His name – has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given this man this perfect health in the presence of you all.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
In understanding Christian theology, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ THE redemptive event that echoes through the corridors of time. The blame for His death is not cast upon a particular group, but rather on the collective weight of humanity’s transgressions. The blame is ours. Today we all know that WE are the ones whose sin killed Jesus.