◄ What Does Acts 3:13 Mean? ►

"The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.

Acts 3:13(NASB)

Verse of the Day

For multiple centuries, the prophets of old had foretold of a coming Messiah Who would save His people from their sins. He would be a descendent of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David... and it was foretold that He would herald in a wonderful time of peace and prosperity for His people, Israel.

Throughout the Scriptures, He was given many names and multiple titles, and in the book of Isaiah, He was identified as 'God's Servant'. In chapter 42 we read, "Behold, My Servant, Whom I uphold; My chosen One in Whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him and He will bring forth justice to the nations."

For over three years the Lord Jesus had gone about doing good, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and raising the dead, with great signs and miracles which authenticated His claim to be the Messiah, the Servant of God about Whom Isaiah and the prophets spoke. But He was despised, His claim was rejected, and He was delivered up to Pilate to be killed.

Pilate's efforts to release Jesus were disowned and disallowed by the very people He came to save. They accused Jesus of blasphemy, lied about the truth, and cried out for His blood, instead of receiving Him as the true Servant of God about Whom Isaiah had prophesied.

Imagine how stunned and shocked they must have been to be brought to the terrible realisation that Jesus of Nazareth... Whom they had delivered up to be crucified, was in fact the very Servant of God about Whom Isaiah had spoken. They had killed their Messiah. They had delivered up the Holy One of Israel to death. They had crucified the Servant of God about Whom prophets of old had written. They had put to death the Prince of life.

Praise God that the glory of the Cross includes Christ's resurrection from the dead, as well as his death on the Cross... for God raised Him from the dead so that all who trust in Him for the forgiveness of sins would not perish, but receive His everlasting life.

God turned the greatest tragedy into the greatest triumph, for through Christ's death, the penalty of sin was paid and by means of His resurrection, the power of death in the lives of all who believe was broken forever - for although Christ was delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, glorified His servant Jesus Whom today is seated on the right hand of the Almighty in power and great glory - and He deserves our everlasting glory, thanks, honour, and praise.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, how I praise and thank You that You are a gracious God who turned the evil plans and purposes of the enemy into the greatest victory the world has ever known. I praise Your holy name for ever and ever, AMEN.