Lord’s Day May 26

Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know. Acts 2:22

The Man of God’s Choice

“A Man approved of God” could only be said of one Man—Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael in his day had serious doubts when he said, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (Jn. 1:46). Certainly it did not look good from his perspective. But what was the answer he received? “Come and see.” He came and he saw. And what did he see? He saw the Son of God, the King of Israel (Jn. 1:49). And yet even greater things were in store for him, for he was to see the heavens opened to the Son of Man. By miracles and wonders and signs, God bore witness that this was the Man of His choice.

But the Man whom God approved was crucified and slain by wicked hands. “Away with this Man,” was their cry. This terrible act of crucifying the Son of God is the proof of man’s total depravity and enmity against God. All other sins of disobedience and willfulness and lust combined do not reach such proportions. Such was the moral darkness of the world then, and it is the same today. This is where “sin abounded,” and the whole world became guilty and condemned before God. What will you do with Jesus of Nazareth, the Man approved of God?

Thank God, the chapter does not close here. There is more! “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20). In sending His Son, God in love provided what His holiness demanded. By one man, sin entered this world to dishonor God; so also, by one Man the honor and glory of God were upheld in the putting away of sin. This same Jesus, the Man approved of God, is now sitting on the Father’s throne, waiting to bring His blood-bought people home. “As sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5:21).

Jacob Redekop