The Name of Jesus

June 4

2 Samuel 16-17

Psalm 68:28-35

Proverbs 15:5-7

Acts 3

The Name of Jesus

“But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, ‘Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?...And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”  Acts 3:12, 16 LSB

Peter and John were going to the temple to pray and they saw a man who had been lame from birth begging at the temple gate. When he asked them for money, they stopped and addressed the man.  Peter said, “I do not possess silver or gold, but what I do have I give to you:  in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk.” (3:6 LSB) Peter took his right hand and helped him up.  The man’s feet and ankles were strengthened and he began “walking and leaping and praising God.”  All the people who saw what happened were amazed and full of wonder.  Peter and John realized that the people were giving the praise to them for this miracle so Peter immediately set the record straight.  He explained to them that it was on the basis of the name of Jesus that the man was healed.  Peter pointedly told them, “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.  But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.” (3:13-15 LSB)   He didn’t mince words.  He laid it out clearly that it was only through the power of Jesus that this man was healed.  In other words, Peter said, “You remember Jesus, He is the One who has the power to heal.  He is the only One who can save you and you had Him put to death.  You blew it!” 

He went on to tell them, “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.  Therefore, repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”  (3:17-19 LSB)  Peter took the opportunity to tell them that even though they had rejected Jesus, it wasn’t too late.  They could come to Him now and believe.  Instead of accepting the praise the people gave them for healing this man, Peter and John used the opportunity to share the gospel and point people to Jesus.  They diverted any attention being given to them to magnify the name of Jesus and to give all the praise and glory to Him.  But they didn’t stop there.  They made it personal and gave them the chance to repent and follow Jesus.  It is important when we tell people about Jesus, that we don’t just stop there, but we give them the opportunity to follow Jesus personally.