Jesus of Nazareth

Simon Peter was one of Jesus Christ’s most intimate friends and co-workers. He knew what he was talking about when he spoke to Cornelius and his household.

Acts 10:38:
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Peter was giving a group of Gentiles assembled in Caesarea an overview of the life and accomplishments of Jesus Christ. They believed Peter when he taught them that Jesus was raised from the dead and is now lord.  They were born again and spoke in tongues. Let’s look at a few points in Peter’s bold statement of truth.

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth—the authority, power, and ability that Jesus Christ had, came from his Father. The name “Messiah” means “anointed,” as does the Greek word “Christ.” Jesus was known by many names in his culture. He could be called Joshua bar Joses (Jesus the son of Joseph), based on his adopted father. He could also be called “Jesus of Nazareth,” because of his hometown. We know him as Jesus the Christ, because God anointed His Son.

With the Holy Ghost and with power—Jesus was anointed “with the Holy Ghost and with power.” The original languages read “with powerful holy spirit” or “with holy, spiritual power.” Jesus Christ was God’s Son in a few ways.

First, he was literally and physically God’s Son because Mary had conceived by the Holy Spirit, God. The Creator had given all that was necessary for this young child to develop in the womb and be born like other people. Jesus had 23 chromosomes from his mother, but the other 23 chromosomes came from God’s creation within her.

God created the first man, Adam. Adam disobeyed God and lost the spirit from God. But God promised that a “seed of the woman” would redeem mankind, and make a permanent spiritual connection available for them.

Later, God spoke to Abraham and David, and He told them that this promised seed would come from their bloodline. Jesus Christ was physically “the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). Jesus Christ is also the “last Adam” (II Corinthians 15:45).

Jesus Christ was God’s Son by the gift of holy spirit that he received when he was about 30 years old (Matthew 3:16; 12:18; Mark 1:10; Luke 4:18; John 1:32,33). Jesus said that God is Spirit (John 4:24). The Father gave His Son the spirit without measure, more than any person had ever received (John 3:34). Today we can be “born again” of God’s incorruptible seed when we believe on His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9,10; I Peter 1:23).

Who went about doing good—Jesus Christ knew his mission and he carried it out to the end. As he died upon the cross, he said, “It is finished.” He always did what pleased his Father (John 8:29). Jesus said, “Many good works have I shewed you from my Father” (John 10:32). He went about doing good, and taught his disciples to do the same (Mark 14:7; Luke 6:9,27).

And healing all that were oppressed of the devil—sickness and death are a result of the Devil’s original disobedience and then his tricking Adam and Eve. Separation from the Father cuts off His blessings, including good health. The human body was designed to heal itself, but the adversary tries to counter God’s goodness and design for health. Jesus Christ healed all that were oppressed of the Devil. At times, he cast out evil spirits, which brought healing. At other times he set people free from the physical results of Satan’s evil influences in the world. Here are a few examples.

Matthew 4:24:
And his [Jesus’s] fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Matthew 8:16:
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.

Matthew 12:22:
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

Mark 1:34:
And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

Luke 9:42:
And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

When Jesus sent out the twelve, he told them to heal the sick and cast out devils.

Matthew 10:8:
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

After his resurrection, Jesus Christ told his disciples that they would be born again and manifest God’s power. That included speaking in tongues, as they did on the day of Pentecost. It also included casting out evil spirits and healing the sick.

Mark 16:17,18:
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

For God was with him—The Father gave Jesus Christ, as the Messiah, the authority and power to redeem mankind and bring deliverance in every category of life.

• No man has ever seen God, but Jesus Christ declared, made known, the Father (John 1:18).
• We have only one God, Who is our Father. We have only one lord, Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 8:6).
• God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself (II Corinthians 5:19).
• Today, all God’s fullness dwells in Christ, and we are complete in him (Colossians 2:9,10).
• We have “Christ in” us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
• We can do the works of Jesus Christ, and greater, because he went to the Father and made the gift of holy spirit available for all who believe (John 14:12; Acts 2:38).

We can walk today in the steps of Jesus Christ, as we use the holy spirit power we have been given to do good and heal all who are oppressed with the Devil—for God is with us and in us!