In His Name

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

IN HIS NAME

Acts 3:11-16

11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

NIV

Once again, Peter takes the opportunity to tell the people they are the ones who killed Jesus. However, in reality, all mankind, including Peter, John, and us have put Jesus on that cross because of our sin. Although, historically, it was the chief priests, teachers of the law, and the elders who plotted to have Jesus killed. We know Peter, John, and all of us did not plot such a thing, but we are still responsible for Jesus going to the cross. However, it was also not the actions of those people who put Jesus on the cross, for it was predetermined by God that this was the way he was going to redeem us and why Jesus came to earth in the form of his creation for that very purpose. Nevertheless, it is our sin that nailed Jesus to that cross. However, Peter goes on to say that although Jesus gave up his spirit and left his body dead on the cross and was buried, he was raised up to life. Therefore we serve a risen Savior that is in the world today, we know that he is living, no matter what man may say, we see His hand of mercy, we hear His voice of cheer, and just the time we need Him He’s always near, He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today, He walks with us and talks with us, along life’s narrow way, He lives, He lives, salvation to impart, you ask us how we know He lives, He lives within our heart. The second truth that Peter makes sure the people know about the crippled man who was healed, is that he did not become healed of any power of man whatsoever. All healing comes from the hand of God because we invoke, through faith, the name of Jesus Christ. It is always because of faith in Jesus that all things are accomplished according to the will of God. We can ask for anything in the name of Jesus. He told us that Himself, as John records, “You can ask me anything in my name, and I will do it”. John also writes in his first letter that we can have the confidence in approaching God, that if we ask anything in accordance with His will, He hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we will have what we ask for. Peter and John knew this truth, as it was John that wrote all these words. He and Peter were intensely aware of the power in the name of Jesus, and they did many more powerful acts of mercy because of giving themselves over to the power of the Spirit within them, thus knowing all things are done through faith in the name of Jesus. We would do well, to call upon the name of Jesus in and for all situations in life.