So that you may know

Today's Bible Passage: Acts 4:1-22 Notice with me the power of the Gospel~
1The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.4But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. 5The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11He is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." 13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." 18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." 21After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Good Morning.

Did you feel it? There has been a shift, and trouble is afoot for the apostles. . . the winds of persecution have blown into town, and suddenly, teaching about Jesus has become a dangerous thing. The high priests and temple officials take Peter and John into custody, and put them in jail. (The temple gates were closed for the day right after 4 o'clock when the last sacrifices had ended, and any judgments involving life and death had to be rendered during daylight hours.) Nonetheless, those who had been watching and listening had believed the message of Jesus Christ, so that the number of believers now grew to about 5,000. . . 'about 5,000? Yes, that number was just the men--so imagine, how many there were including women and children! The Gospel message was attractive.

As word of the commotion caused by the healing of the lame man, and Peter's teaching about Jesus reached Caiaphas, you can just imagine what he was saying--'I thought I got rid of Jesus once and for all, just weeks ago--and now trouble over Him has erupted again. This must be stopped!' But, when asked by what power or what name Peter had healed the lame man, the Holy Spirit filled Peter, and he answered them passionately: "It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth..." Again, we see the power in Jesus' name. Then Peter launches in one more time to tell them they had crucified Jesus... STOP RIGHT THERE. I was lying awake last night thinking and praying about why Peter repeated such an accusatory, inflammatory statement each time he addressed the people, and now the high priests. . . Each time, Peter says 'you killed Him, but GOD raised Him up.' Why? Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit's power, is making the point that 'it is not too late to see your error in crucifying Jesus; He is the Son of God, and that is why God raised Him from the dead. He was/is our Messiah-' (remember, His listeners and onlookers and now accusers are all Jews). Peter is preaching salvation messages to them--'see the error of your ways, repent. . . turn around.' And then Peter puts the exclamation mark on his message by saying, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4.12 Jesus had said of Himself, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14.6 Period.

There you have it--no apologies for the truth--there is no other way to God than through believing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We live in a day and age where people wish to be tolerant of all faiths, (pluralist thinking), to the extent that they have nominalized the saving power in the name of Jesus Christ, and Him alone. People wish to believe that 'all roads lead home--' so long as you are a good person, and you believe in some 'god' then that is okay. It is only okay if you do not have a soul--only okay if you are willing to risk spending eternity out of the presence of God, in utter darkness--(don't forget: eternity is a LONG time)

The Jewish leaders did not know what to do with Peter and John--after all, people knew the truth, that the lame man did indeed walk again; yet, these apostles were stirring up the people, and causing them to believe in this Jesus. Then they hit on it--'we'll just tell them they cannot teach in Jesus' name anymore.' There it is again--the trouble, (or the power), was linked to the name of Jesus. Well, two thousand years later, judge for yourself, whether or not the apostles obeyed them.

I take you back to Luke's introduction to the book of Luke, the first volume in this two-book set: Luke wrote an orderly account of the things that had been fulfilled among them. . . for what purpose?
"so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught."
Finally, notice with me verse 13--though Peter and John were simple, ordinary men, they had incredible courage--the Jewish leaders 'took note that they had been with Jesus.' I wonder. . . does anybody note that we are different, because we have been with Jesus? I wonder. . .

So that you may know. . .
Christine (DiGiacomo) You can post your responses, and see what others around the world are saying on Facebook: The Morning Briefings group; or check out ALLABOUTGOD.com--a great resource and also a social network where Christians, globally, are getting acquainted with what God is doing. I have a blog on there.