ESOCS Devotional 9 July 2025 – The Gospel Truth About Jesus
MEMORY VERSE: ““Explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, ‘This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,’ he said.” Acts 17:3 NIV
TEXT: ACTS 17:1-15
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 7 Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” 8 And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. 9 So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
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As declared by the Lord and Master Himself in Matthew 24:14, the Gospel of the kingdom must be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, the end will come (Mark 16:15). To this effect, the early evangelists took advantage of the scattering of the Jews into different nations by going to the Jewish Synagogues to proclaim the fulfilment of the messianic prophecies of Jesus (Isaiah 9:6-7; Zechariah 9:9). As they arrived Thessalonica, Paul made straight to the Synagogue as was his custom. He preached to the Jews who were already conversant with the message of the Gospel during their frequent visit to Jerusalem (Luke 4:16; Acts 9:20).
During his ministration, he declared to them that Jesus means Saviour; and that He came to save mankind from the bondage of sin (Matthew 1:21). He also declared that Christ was the Anointed One, who also functioned as prophet, priest of the Most High God (Hebrews 2:17, 3:1). This Christ is also the Sole King, who would rule unchallenged in the Kingdom of God, forever. (Hebrews 1:8).
Though equal with God, this Jesus resolved to become man, planted in the womb of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. Undoubtedly, Jesus is acclaimed as fully deity and fully human (John 1:1; Hebrews 4:15). He came to do His Father’s Will, including to suffer and to give His life as ransom, by dying on the cross to reconcile mankind with God. However, God raised Him from the dead; and now seated on the Right Hand of God Almighty. Someday, as He returns to judge the human race, those who believe in Him will be saved, while those who believe not, will be consigned to a burning hell (Revelation 14:9-13).
Present day believers and evangelists should endeavour to follow the footsteps of the early disciples and apostles. We should not be deterred by any form of threats (vv. 13 and 14). Against all odds, this message of the kingdom must be preached to all creatures – in obedience to the Great Commission Order (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).
CHALLENGES
- Jesus is both God and man. Do you agree?
PRAYER POINT
- Lord Jesus, the grace to obey the Great Commission Order, please grant unto me.
FURTHER READING: Daniel 8:1-14; Daniel 8:15-27, Acts 16:23-40
ESOCS Devotional 9 July 2025
