Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Acts 4:10-12 "...Let it be known to you all, 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 stands here before you whole. This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
THE HEALING POWER OF THE RISEN CHRIST
To do something in the name of another is to do it by their authority and power. Dead men may leave a will but that is a directive given while they are alive. Dead men are not aware of the needs of the living, nor do they respond to them. By healing a paralyzed man in the name of Jesus the actions of Peter and John gave the same testimony as Peter gave later before the leaders of Israel. Jesus lives. He has returned from the dead. He has healed this man who was crippled from birth.
At the climax of His trial Jesus was asked under oath, "Are you the Son of the living God?" When He answered, "Yes, I am," the unbelieving response of his judges was to declare Him guilty of blasphemy-- of taking God's name in vain-- and to condemn Him to death. That question of His accusers hangs in the air once again as Peter revisits the false verdict brought at Jesus' trial and presents significant proof of the truth of Jesus' reply.
"Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole."
"Whom God raised from the dead."
Before the men who rejected and murdered Jesus stands living evidence to this fact. Here is Peter, bold and courageous-- the same Peter who less than two months earlier had vehemently denied any connection with Jesus. Here is a man crippled from birth who stands whole and healthy. Both men have been healed and transformed by the Word of the Risen Christ.
But these are only samples of the changes the risen Jesus works in the lives of those who trust in Him. Take a few moments today to give some examples from your own life-- and give thanks to your living Lord.
