The power of Jesus’ name - Acts 4:8-12
I’m told that naming a child is an especially stressful thing for soon to be parents. There’s no shortage of names and no shortage of opinions either. But really, all parents want to find a fitting name that will serve their child well. They want a name without negative connotations or baggage. They want a name that will carry their child's identity well for the rest of their life. That can feel like a heavy responsibility, because truth be told, a name becomes tied to someone's identity.
This was especially true of names back in the ancient world. Names weren’t just chosen because they sounded nice or felt unique at the time, they were often chosen because they communicated identity. Take, for example, the Old Testament prophet Samuel. Literally his name means “heard by God” because God heard his mother when she prayed earnestly for a son. Or think of Jesus’ disciple Simon renamed Peter. Jesus gives him the name Peter, meaning “rock,” because his confession of faith in Jesus is the bedrock confession of Christianity.
When a name is spoken, it often calls to mind a specific face, voice, and personality. That’s the power of a name. One simple word communicates someone’s entire reputation, character and accomplishments. That’s why I find this sermon text before us this morning so fascinating. A man who had been crippled his whole life is now standing all on his own in a crowded courtroom. No one is asking if he’d been healed. They weren’t asking for a step-by-step guide on how to replicate the miracle. They simply wanted to know who. Whose name had such power to do this thing. Peter replies it’s the power of Jesus' name, the only name that saves and the name we speak.
This whole account, recorded across Acts chapters 3 and 4, begins with Peter and John on their way into the temple for worship. There they meet a lame man begging for money at the gate. Peter replies “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” And immediately the man’s legs were strengthened and he went about walking, jumping and praising God. All who saw this dramatic and instantaneous transformation were amazed. Peter and John go on to preach the good news about Jesus' life, death and resurrection to their captive audience. Well, the Jewish leaders were not happy hearing the name of Jesus proclaimed so they threw Peter and John in prison overnight. The next day they bring them out to stand trial before the Sanhedrin, the religious Supreme Court of the day.
With some of the most prominent Jewish leaders gathered together they begin questioning Peter and John. But let’s be honest, this was a sham. They knew what had happened. They weren’t just gathering the details for a press release, ‘longtime lame man healed!’, they were trying to find an angle to shut this story down for good. They were willing to do whatever it would take to put this whole ‘Jesus thing’ behind them, murder, bribes, defamation, whatever it took. Now they wanted to make a statement to intimidate the remaining followers of Jesus.
But the disciples hadn’t really done anything wrong. And so eventually the only thing they can demand to know is how? “By what name did you do this miracle?” Truth be told, it has always seemed like a foolish question. They knew Peter and John were disciples of Jesus. They had just heard them preaching about him the night before. But they also knew that they didn’t like what Peter and John had to say and they wanted to shut them down. But, their question was a poor choice of words because they tee-d the disciples up to knock this question outta the park. And boy does Peter deliver. He responds, “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.” Peter doesn’t hold back the truth even in an intimidating environment. The power, he says, was in the name of Jesus. Peter takes no credit for himself saying ‘well, it was by my powerful hands as the super disciple with such great faith that I accomplished this amazing miracle.’ No he gives all glory to Jesus alone. ‘It was the power of Jesus' name, whom you killed and whom God raised from the dead. You know who he is. This was yet another sign for your slow and unbelieving hearts.’
But Peter wasn’t done just yet, he continues, “Jesus is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.” And let me tell you, this must’ve made their blood boil. Here Peter quotes a very well known psalm from the Old Testament, Psalm 118. This was a psalm that they would’ve known by heart because they sang it at the end of every Passover meal. It was a psalm of joyful anticipation of God’s promised salvation as they eagerly awaited the ultimate Passover lamb, the Messiah. But the religious leaders refused to believe that Jesus was its fulfillment. In fact earlier, while Jesus was alive, he quoted the very same passage to the religious leaders, identifying himself as the rejected cornerstone. They weren’t pleased then and they certainly weren’t now when Peter reminds them of it again. Now they had undoubtedly become part of the very fulfillment they were resisting.
But the prophetic significance of this passage was not the only sting of the law. Peter calls them builders, but not in a complimentary way. They had studied the Scriptures more diligently than most. It was their responsibility to teach God’s Word to his people, to be the builders of their faith. But the ones most equipped to recognize the Savior despised him when he came. And Peter tells them there is no other, saying, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” These so-called “religious leaders” were actively dismantling the foundation of true and saving faith by discrediting the name of Jesus. They were failing at their job of being spiritual builders by rejecting Jesus, the very foundation of salvation. And not only were they putting their own souls at risk, they were dragging down the house of Israel with them. Peter rebukes them, ‘what good are incompetent spiritual builders?’
That’s some pretty harsh law. But they needed to hear it, I mean they had degraded and disgraced the name of Jesus. Have you ever done the same? Maybe you haven’t openly blasphemed the name of Jesus but have you degraded and disgraced his name by your own words and actions? Have you used God’s name carelessly and so dishonored what ought to be kept holy? Have you used the name of your salvation as a poor expression of your uncontrolled emotions? Have you called upon the name of your salvation to substationate your own questionable credibility to appear trustworthy to others? No, maybe you didn’t stand in that crowd and personally cry “Crucify,” but you too have taken the name of your Savior, of your God, and dragged it through the dirt for self-serving foolish reasons. You and I have been called into the priesthood of believers. To be lights in the world, modern day spiritual builders, in our homes and in our communities, and yet we too are guilty of stripping away and dismantling the honor due to the name of Jesus, the foundation on which our salvation is built.
But not even the religious leaders shameful abuse of the name of Jesus could change what that name means. They couldn’t change our Savior's identity. And neither do you, even by your shameful abuses. Nothing can discredit what that name does, because the power of Jesus' name has the power to save. Not because you’ve always used it correctly. Not because you’ve always honored it as we should. Not because your whole life has reflected its holiness, but because that name speaks the identity of your Savior and there is nothing you can do to change or undo what he has already done for you. A Savior named Jesus of Nazareth was crucified for your every sin, even for the times dragged that name through the dirt. Jesus bore the weight of your sins on the cross where he bled and died. But if that were all his name stands for, a man who died an unjust and cruel death, then the name of Jesus wouldn’t truly have the power to save us. But he didn’t stay in that grave, God raised him to life on the third day, so that his name would not be just an empty memory of a good man. No, the name of Jesus is “the only name given to mankind by which we must be saved.” His is the only name that saves from sin, death and the devil and there will never be another.
When we truly stop and marvel at the power of Jesus’ name means for us, it's no surprise that our God desires us to use it rightly. His is not a name to misuse or abuse, but to be spoken with reverence and honor. Here we can see three ways that we can do that. First, we are to speak the powerful name of Jesus back to our God in praise. Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” That’s what Peter and John were on their way to do at the temple when their plans were redirected. It’s what you're doing gathered together here in God’s house on a Sunday morning. It’s what all Christians desire to do. To gather together to speak the name of our God in prayer, in praise and in giving thanks for all that he’s done for us.
Secondly, to speak the power of Jesus' name to others. Peter and John walked to the temple for worship not with the skills of a physician able to correct this man's lifelong ailment. They didn’t come with the wealth of the world that could provide a life of comfort. But what they did have, faith in the power of Jesus' name, they eagerly and freely shared. And by God's power, it made a world of difference to a man who not only began walking, but who began jumping around in praise to our God. You might one day meet your very own “lame man.” Someone who is just so eager to receive and hear the power of Jesus’ name, and you get to speak it to them. God be praised. How awesome is that!
But maybe, your opportunity to speak the power of Jesus’ name looks a little different. Maybe it feels more like you're on trial, being analyzed, judged and maybe even threatened by others. Peter and John once stood in a similar situation. But even in that most intimidating place, Peter speaks up. We are told that being “Filled with the Holy Spirit” he boldly spoke the name of Jesus, come what may. Well, your God doesn’t leave you high and dry in challenging circumstances either. No, he has sent his powerful Spirit into your heart and promises to work through you as you speak the name of Jesus to others. The power of Jesus’ name motivates you to boldly speak. When it would be easier to stay silent. Where others might not want to hear it. Even when you feel nervous or unprepared because it’s not about your own power to convert souls, you simply speak the power of Jesus’ name and let the Spirit do the rest.
Finally our God wants you to speak the power of Jesus’ name to your own heart. While this passage doesn’t say, “and Peter treasured up all these things in his heart,” his words and actions speak to his faith in the power of Jesus' name. The Holy Spirit has preserved his Word for you so that you would trust the power of Jesus’ name at work in your lives as well. Maybe it’s not as blatantly obvious as a lame man made to walk, but the power of Jesus' name has changed something in you. You live your whole life under his name because his is the only name that saves and it's the name you speak. Amen.
