All in His Name: The Divine Plan for Israel and All Nations
Acts 3:24-26
"And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness."
It was all God's plan. All of it.
Peter and John had just healed a man lame from birth by calling upon the name of Jesus Christ, causing a crowd to gather in amazement at the temple (Solomon’s Portico). Peter seizes this opportunity to preach about Jesus, linking the miracle to His power and mission. Peter aims to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises and to call the Jewish and Gentile people to repentance. He asserts that the prophets, starting with Samuel, foretold the time of Jesus and the events unfolding in the early church. "These days" refer to the messianic era, where God’s redemptive plan through Jesus is being realized.
Why didn't the Jews know these things? Why were they blind to it? They knew their scriptures, the law and the prophets, what happened?
Simply put, they knew their traditions and dietary laws better. They had established their own righteousness through those works. And so they missed the Messiah because they weren't looking for him in the manner that the prophets had said. The Jewish people of Jesus’ time were deeply familiar with the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings, yet many failed to recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah. Several factors contributed to this spiritual "blindness":
Many Jews expected a political or military Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule, restore Israel’s national sovereignty, and establish a visible, earthly kingdom. Jesus, however, came as a humble, suffering servant (Isaiah 53), emphasizing spiritual salvation over political liberation. His teachings, miracles, and death on a cross didn’t align with their vision of a triumphant king, causing many to reject Him.
Many Jews then and now, and particularly the Pharisees, prioritized adherence to the Law and oral traditions (e.g., Sabbath rules, dietary laws, ritual purity). These traditions, while rooted in scripture, sometimes overshadowed the deeper spiritual truths of the prophets. This led to a works-based righteousness, where salvation was seen as earned through strict obedience to traditions rather than received through faith in God’s grace. Jesus challenged this mindset (e.g., Matthew 5:20, Romans 10:3), pointing to a righteousness fulfilled in Him, which many found hard to accept. Especially since he referred to himself as the Son of God and preached about the resurrection. The ruling political/religious system of that age was mainly made up of the Sadducees who denied the resurrection of the dead.
The New Testament describes a spiritual blindness among some Jews, partly attributed to their rejection of God’s message through Jesus. Paul explains in Romans 11:7-10 that Israel’s "hardening" was a temporary condition, allowing the gospel to spread to the Gentiles, though God’s plan still includes Israel’s redemption.
Romans 11:7-10
"What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written,"
"God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day."
"And David says,
Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever."
Jesus Himself noted this blindness, quoting Isaiah 6:9-10 in Matthew 13:14-15, saying the people’s hearts had grown dull, preventing them from seeing the truth.
Matthew 13:14-15
"Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:"
"You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them."
Not unlike today, while the Jews knew The Torah and The Writings, interpretations varied. Some prophecies about the Messiah were clear (being born in Bethlehem, Micah 5:2), but others, like the suffering servant of Isaiah 53, were not universally understood as messianic. Many people focused on the triumphant passages while overlooking those about suffering or spiritual redemption. And the traditional temple practices got in the way of this understanding.
The religious leaders, such as the Sadducees and Pharisees, often debated these scriptural meanings, and their authority was tied to established interpretations and temple traditions, making them resistant to Jesus’ claims. The prophets, like Isaiah and Jeremiah, called for a heart transformed by God’s grace (Jeremiah 31:31-34), but many prioritized ritual over relationship. Jesus’ message of repentance, forgiveness, and a new covenant through His death and resurrection didn’t fit their framework, leading to rejection. Peter urges repentance (Acts3:26), implying that their failure to recognize Jesus can be overcome through faith and turning from wickedness. Peter’s appeal shows that God’s plan continues to invite Israel to see Jesus as the Messiah.
As I said earlier, "it was all God’s plan." Romans 11:25-32 suggests that Israel’s partial rejection of Jesus was part of God’s design to extend salvation to the Gentiles, with a future promise of Israel’s restoration. This doesn’t negate our human responsibility but it does show God’s sovereignty in using even rejection to fulfill His purposes. And as we see in the book of revelation, also here in Acts and other writings like Romans, there will be a restoration of Israel.
The restoration of Israel in Revelation highlights God’s unchanging faithfulness. Despite the Jews’ initial rejection of Jesus due to misaligned expectations, traditions, or spiritual blindness, God’s covenant with Abraham; to bless all nations through his offspring (Jesus the Christ), remains intact. The restoration of Israel in the end times shows that God’s plan encompasses "all of it," including the salvation of both Jews and Gentiles. This truth invites worship of a God who keeps His promises across millennia, offering hope that He will complete His work in us and in the world.
The Old Testament prophets frequently spoke of a future restoration for Israel, where God would regather His people, purify them, renew their covenant relationship, and establish His kingdom. And it's important for all believers to understand these writings so that we will not become spiritually blind to the prophets. This restoration spoken by the prophets includes both physical (return to the land) and spiritual (turning to God through the Messiah) dimensions. Revelation’s imagery of Israel’s preservation (Revelation 7:1-8, 12, 21:12) and ultimate inclusion in the New Jerusalem builds on these promises, showing their fulfillment in the end times.
Containing oracles about Jerusalem’s future, the nations’ judgment, and Israel’s redemption, the prophet Zechariah's writings, specifically 12-14, was written after the Babylonian exile (circa 520-518 BC). These chapters are rich with messianic and eschatological themes that connect directly to the Revelation restoration narrative.
"Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the peoples around…On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples…I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness…I will keep a watchful eye over the house of Judah" (Zechariah 12:2-4).
God promises to defend Jerusalem against attacking nations, making it an immovable force. This divine protection ensures Israel’s survival despite global opposition. And like it or not, this scripted reality is being worked out in troubling ways even today. This aligns with Revelation 12, where the "woman" (Israel) is protected from the dragon’s attacks (Revelation 12:6, 14). The sealing of the 144,000 from Israel’s tribes (Revelation 7:1-8) also reflects God’s preservation of a remnant, echoing Zechariah’s promise of divine watchfulness.
"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child" (Zechariah 12:10).
This is a pivotal messianic prophecy. Israel will recognize the one "whom they have pierced" (the Messiah, Jesus) and mourn their rejection of Him, leading to repentance and spiritual renewal. The "spirit of grace" suggests a transformative work of God, aligning with the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). This prophecy echoes Revelation 1:7:
"Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him."
The mourning in Zechariah 12:10 is fulfilled when Israel turns to Jesus at His return, contributing to their restoration (Romans 11:26, "all Israel will be saved" ). This also ties to Acts 3:26, where Peter calls for repentance to receive the Messiah’s blessing.
And this is the key prophesy:
Zechariah 13:1-9
"On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness…They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God’".
God, in Jesus Christ, provides a "fountain" for cleansing, symbolizing forgiveness and purification from sin. The refining process, purging Israel, resulting in a renewed covenant relationship. The cleansing aligns with Revelation’s vision of a redeemed people in the New Jerusalem, where sin is eradicated. The 144,000 Jews, described as "redeemed from the earth" and pure (Revelation 14:3-5), reflect this purified remnant.
And finally, divine restoration and exaltation:
Zechariah 14:1-5, 9
"Behold, a day is coming for the Lord…Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations…On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives…Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him…And the Lord will be king over all the earth".
Jesus returns to defeat the nations of the earth set against Israel, "In that day the root of Jesse…shall stand as a signal for the peoples...He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth" (Isaiah 11:10-12). And the prophet Ezekiel also predicted this would happen: "I will take the people of Israel from the nations...and bring them to their own land. And I will make them one nation…My servant David shall be king over them…I will make a covenant of peace with them" (Ezekiel 37:21-26). Ezekiel’s vision of Israel’s regathering, reunification, and eternal covenant under a Davidic king (the Messiah) parallels Revelation’s restored Israel in the New Jerusalem, where God dwells with His people forever.
"It was all God’s plan." These prophecies show that Israel’s rejection of Jesus (due to their misaligned expectations and focus on traditions) was all part of a divine plan that leads to their ultimate restoration in the remnant. The "blindness" of the Jews in Jesus’ time becomes a confirmation that Israel will recognize Jesus, fulfilling Peter’s call to repentance in Christ Jesus' name (Acts 3:26). And that's a critical thing, His name Jesus, because it's not enough to believe in the God of Abraham, as many do including demons (James 2:19), it's important to understand what Peter is saying. The restoration of Israel; and indeed, salvation for all, hinges on Jesus Christ, as Peter emphasizes in Acts 3:26. Believing in the God of Abraham is insufficient without faith in Jesus Christ, since all authority has been given to Him. Peter’s sermon (Acts 3:26, 4:12) declares Jesus as the only name for salvation, holding "all authority" (Matthew 28:18). This is critical for Israel’s restoration, cleansing and universal salvation. All salvation hinges on His name.
God’s universal kingship, through the Messiah Jesus, aligns with Revelation 11:15 and 21:3, where Jesus reigns over all. This emphasizes Jesus’ authority and the exclusivity of His name, reinforcing that Israel’s restoration; and all salvation, depends on Him, not just Abraham’s God.
Prayer:
Almighty God,
You are the sovereign Lord whose plan spans eternity, weaving every moment into Your purpose for redemption. We praise You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given. Thank You for the promise that Israel will one day look upon Him whom they pierced, mourn, and turn to Him, finding cleansing in His name. We pray for Israel now, Lord. Lift the veil of blindness that once hid Jesus from their eyes. By Your Spirit, reveal Him as the Messiah, the One with all authority, who alone can save. May they call on His name, as Zechariah foretold, and be restored as Your people, joined with all who trust in Christ.
Come, Lord Jesus, to reign as King, as Zechariah and Revelation promise. May Your name be exalted above all, bringing restoration and redemption to all who call on You. Until that day, increase our faith and keep us steadfast, trusting in Your authority and living for Your glory.
In the matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, we pray.
Amen.