When the Gospels teach there is power in Jesus’ name, it means great things are accomplished by the ‘authority’ of our Christ and his Spirit. Before Jesus ascended, he told his disciples he had been given all authority over heaven and earth (Mat 28:18). The Lord has authority over both the spiritual and natural realms. There is nothing the power and authority of Christ cannot do; he is the Creator and Almighty God. Period.
God is working in human lives and in this world all the time through Jesus. Whatever we encounter, as his disciples, is an opportunity to reveal his presence as Truth and power. When something is beyond our power to change or control, it is an opportunity for the miraculous authority of Jesus. We need to call upon the Lord and give him the authority to move and act through us; we partner with him and do whatever he asks. I love our reading for today, because I want and desperately need the authority of Jesus operating in my life, how about you?
Preceding the passage for today, the Spirit has been poured out on the disciples. As an eyewitness, Peter preaches a powerful message about the resurrected Christ and thousands of people become believers. These men and women form a community focused on the agape love of God and begin seeing signs and wonderful miracles happen through and around them.
In today’s passage, Dr. Luke shares his eyewitness story of Peter and John and Christ’s healing of a lame man who has spent his life on a mat at the Temple gate surviving on the generosity of others. To be ‘lame’ in Scripture brings the meaning of flawed, impaired, or unable to heal self. Spiritually and physically, this man is impaired and cannot walk in the Truth so, he sits outside the Temple and begs for help. The man is expecting money from the disciples, but instead he meets the authority of Jesus operating in and through Peter and John; he is instantly physically healed and his spiritual eyes are now open to follow the Truth. People watching were amazed.
Peter stands up and becomes the spokesperson. He rebukes the unbelieving crowd for crucifying their Christ (Messiah). He calls for their repentance. Peter speaks with passion, because he knows all too well his early suffering with lameness when he denies being Christ’s disciple (Lu 22:54-62). So, out of pure love for the Lord and in the power of Jesus’ name, Peter tells the people the Truth of what they have just seen…the miraculous power of Jesus to heal spiritually lame faith and physically sick lives! May God continue to heal our souls each day and use us to proclaim the Truth of the love that is transforming us!
Acts 3:11-16 NLT
11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.
Peter Preaches in the Temple
12 Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? 13 For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. 14 You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!
16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the wholeness Truth brings to life. Believers are so blessed to be able to enjoy a thriving relationship with you and live for you—being a mouthpiece, arms and legs that go outside the church and share the Truth that heals the lame. May we desire everything you came and died to provide us. We were the lame, but through agape we can walk in the Spirit. We praise you, Lord, for what you alone have done in believers. May we trust you more each day and see the abundant increase in the authority you bring to touch lives through us. In Jesus’ name! Amen.