Jesus — Lamb of God - Friday
TODAY’S VERSE
Acts 3:6
But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (ESV)
Ever heard someone end a prayer saying, “In the name of Jesus, amen”? Me too. Maybe even, “in the precious name of Jesus” or “in the holy name of Jesus”.
In Acts 3, we see a scene where two disciples—Peter and John—come to the temple in the hour of prayer and meet a man at the gate who had never been able to walk a day in his life. Scripture tells us that this man came to the temple gate daily to beg, and likely he expected this day to go like any other. When he saw Peter and John, the man asked for money, per his usual routine.
But watch this in verses 4-7, “And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, ‘Look at us.’ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, ‘I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.”
We learn later in Acts 4:22 that this man was over 40 years old. For more than 40 years, this man had not been able to walk, which in those days pretty much meant that he wasn’t able to provide for his own livelihood. That’s why we see him begging at the temple gate.
Of course, what this man wanted wasn’t a few coins, but healing. He’d just resigned to asking for the coins instead. Recognizing this, Peter saw an opportunity to point this man, and whoever else was watching, toward Jesus. Not by Peter’s own power, pride, or self-discipline, but in the name of Jesus, this man was healed and took his first steps that day.
Fast forward to the next chapter, and Peter and John get arrested for teaching in the name of Jesus. The next day, they were brought out in front of the high priests and explicitly asked, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” (verse 7). I love Peter’s boldness by the power of the Holy Spirit in Acts 4: “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
APPLICATION
There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. No other name! On Sunday, we concluded service by singing “I Speak Jesus” by Charity Gayle. Take a few minutes to listen again.
PRAYER
Lord, there is no other name by which I may be saved. Your Word says that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ as Lord. May my knees bow and my tongue confess now, that Your Name be shared. You are worthy of all praise. Amen.
