Rocky II

 Sequels usually disappoint.  Whether a movie or a book, the second rarely is as good as the first.  

Sylvester Stallone's "Rocky II" is a great example.  But here in his sequel, Luke gives us his version of "Rocky II."  

Simon Peter, who Jesus Himself nicknamed Rocky (Jn 1:42), delivers his second message.  Powered by Holy Spirit, Pete's sermon sequel doesn't disappoint.  

God used his first to save 3,000 (Acts 2:41).  He will use the second to save another 5,000 (Acts 4:4).

The setting for Pete's sermon sequel is Solomon's Portico on the temple grounds in Jerusalem (v11).  

This is the covered porch that surrounded the Court of the Gentiles.  Jesus preached at this very same place on at least one occasion (Jn 10:23).

God has just used Peter and his fellow apostle John to heal a 40-year-old beggar who was unable to walk from birth (Acts 3:7-8).  

Once healed, this dude danced and jumped around like he had just one the lottery.  And the miracle blew people away (Acts 3:9-10).

Once the former disabled dude finishes his victory lap around the Court of the Gentiles, he latches onto Pete and John.  The scene in the temple courts was getting crazy.  

Luke tells us that "the people, utterly astonished, ran together to them” (Acts 3:11).  God's miracles tend to escalate things very quickly.

Rocky saw this is a God-given opportunity to explain to everyone what had just happened and to tell the crowd about Jesus (v12).  He uses this as a chance to set everyone straight on what they had seen.  

Pete tells the excited mob that he and Johnny didn't do anything.  There's no reason to be looking at them ("why do you stare at us?").  

What they had just witnessed had absolutely NOTHING to do with any special power or any great godliness on their part.

Rocky tells the crowd that God did all of this (v13).  And here on the temple grounds, he tells his audience EXACTLY who this God is.  "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers."  

In other words, the God who healed this man is the one and the same God who made those amazing covenant promises to their Jewish forefathers.  This is the same title God declared for Himself when Moses checked that bizarre burning bush (Ex 3:6, 15).

Pete goes on to say that this miracle was just the way for our Promise-Keeping God bring glory to "His servant Jesus."  

In other words, it was God's way of reinforcing His point that all of the covenant promises are fulfilled in the Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth.  

Through this miracle, God endorses Jesus as Messiah and these two men as His apostles.  Time and time again in the NT, God uses wonders to reassure the people that these apostles are His divine representatives who speak His Gospel.

Rocky uses a very interesting title for Christ, "His servant Jesus."  It is only used of Jesus four times, three of them here in this impromptu sermon (Acts 3:26; 4:27, 30; Mt 12:18).  

The Greek word for servant here is pais/παις.  It can mean child.  But it also can carry the idea of a servant, specifically a king's attendant (Thayer/BDB).

While it's only used four times in the NT, but the Greek translation of the OT (the Septuagint or LXX) repeated uses pais/παις to translate the word servant.  

The Servant is one of Isaiah's most powerful images of God's Messiah (Is 42:1; 49:6; 50:10; 52:13).  This messianic Servant is to suffer at the hand of God on behalf of God's people (Is 53).  

Pete explains that is exactly what has happened to Jesus.  He is the Messiah God promised.  He is that Servant that Isaiah prophesied.

In other words, Jesus and the Gospel of Grace is no sequel.  He is the continuation of God's original story of salvation! 

Here in Rocky's sequel sermon, he goes back to the same theme of the first.  He accuses his audience of killing Jesus.  

Instead of embracing their God-promised Messiah, they handed Him over to Pilate and demanded his execution.  They did all this after the governor had ruled Him innocent time after time.

"But you denied the Holy and Righteous One" (v14).  Pete charges his listeners with giving the Heisman to God's Holy One, for rejecting the Righteous One.  

Note the title.  Jesus was not just holy, but THE Holy One.  Again, a common title for Messiah in the OT, especially by Isaiah.  

There is no one else like Jesus.  He is set apart.  He is unique.  He is completely different.

And He is the Righteous One.  While not used as often, this is another term found in the OT.  As a matter of fact, God uses it to talk about Jesus in Isaiah.  

"By His knowledge shall the Righteous One, My Servant, make may to be accounted righteous, and He shall bear their iniquities" (Is 53:11).  As the Righteous One, Jesus is absolutely without sin.  Pure.  

And if rejecting God's Holy and Righteous One isn't bad enough, Peter points out that the people "asked for a murderer to be granted to you."  

That's Barabbas (Lk 23:18-25).  As bad as Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio was, this was the worst trade in the history of mankind.

Rocky then delivers his knockout blow.  "You killed the Author of Life, whom God raised from the dead" (v15).  

Imagine standing before thousands of people and telling them they killed God.  But that's EXACTLY what Pete did.  

"Author" is the Greek word archegos/αρχηγος.  It means the chief leader, the one out front, the pioneer, the originator.  

The writer of Hebrews uses it twice to refer to Jesus (Heb 2:10; 12:10).  They had taken the life of the One who gives it.

If Pete would've ended his message there, people would have had no hope.  But he doesn't stop there.  

He tells the crowd the Author of Life is no longer dead in the grave.  No, God raised Him from the dead!!!  

They may have killed Christ, but God has something greater in store.  And if the people have any doubts about the fact that Jesus is alive, there are plenty of witnesses.

Rocky tells his audience that it was this same Jesus that actually healed the disabled man.  

"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 the man this perfect health in the presence of you all” (v16).  

Pete tells the crowd to look at the guy.  He's healthy.  Jesus did that!  And this is picture of what life in the kingdom will be like for all of us.  Perfect health for everyone.

Peter preaches a message of grace.  This is about what God has done and continues to do.  

God made promises to the patriarchs.  God sent Messiah in the form of His Son Jesus.  The people rejected Him.  The people murdered Him.  Yet God offers life and salvation in His name.

God saves us because He is gracious.  He provided everything.  We've done nothing...nothing but reject Him.  

Rocky makes it clear that everything that has happened is God's doing.  The healing of the man.  The offer of salvation.

That's the theme of "Rocky II."  This sequel does not disappoint.

©2011

Jay Jennings