This morning, there continue to be those that are doing much like the rulers of the world did on this occasion.  They are today persecuting the Lord's name and people like they persecuted the apostles and early church.  Here, Peter and John are making their defense for the gospel that they preach and even tell the rulers that this was all prophesied by David in the Psalms.  David prophesied these words in the 2nd Psalm about the treatment that our Saviour would encounter while walking this sin cursed earth. 

Notice the language used by Peter when quoting this Psalm.  Many times, a quotation by someone in the New Testament will give us insight into the definition of words.  In the 2nd Psalm, David uses the word "anointed" when Peter uses the word "Christ."  Therefore, when we reference Jesus Christ, we are calling Jesus the anointed of God.  Indeed, this is a most fitting title for our Redeemer and Lord.  He was anointed to preach glad tidings.  He was anointed to redeem His people from the curse of the law, and He is anointed to one day judge the world in righteousness.   

The people that He redeemed will appear in heaven covered by His blood and righteousness, and the wicked will appear naked before Him to be sent into the eternal regions of woe and misery.  Many times, the Pharisees and those that opposed our Lord refer to Him as Jesus.  This reference shows that they admit a man walked on the earth whose name was Jesus, but they refuse to accept or admit that He is anointed by God, making them call Him Christ.  Jesus even asked them on one occasion, "What think ye of Christ?  Whose son is he?"  They knew the answer to that question, for the law and the prophets showed that the Lord's anointed must come from the offspring of David.   

Jesus Christ was and still is the only one that could meet the requirements to be the Lord's anointed.  Consider for a moment that anyone today who might claim to be the Messiah must prove his birthright.  To a natural Jew, it is imperative that the Messiah be proven to be of the seed of David, but our Lord (in His infinite wisdom) sealed the deal in AD 70.  Today, there is only one living Jew that can prove His birthright, and it is in Matthew 1 and Luke 3.  That Jew currently sits in heaven on the right hand of the Father.  So, indeed, the Lord's anointed has been here, and He will return in the like manner in which He left.  Let us ever rejoice in our Saviour and the blessed name above every name Jesus Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords.

In Hope,

Bro Philip