Acts 4:5-12 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is "the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."
Someone wrote a little chorus who taught it to someone who taught it to us, in what seems a hundred years ago. Corito is the Spanish word for little chorus and it was based on this passage. Solamente en Cristo is its name and was among the first of the coritos that our Río Grande Conference churches learned and sang and sang. People of all ages would hear the first word and bam, everyone would sing it. And in reading this passage this morning my heart started to sing that song and to bring back the memories of all who sang it with me. But the powerful part of that little song is the line, No hay otro hombre dado a los hombres, solamente en Cristo, solamente en El. (There is no other name given to Man, only in Christ, only in Him).
Last week we read the account of the healing that led to the arrest of Peter and John, and this week we find them standing trial in front of the most powerful people in the Jewish Church. Their question, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Peter answers, guided by the power of the Holy Spirit, "Let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead." Ouch. Not only does he answer their question, he indicts them yet again of their deed of having put Jesus to death, but he adds that God raised Jesus from the dead. He goes on to call Jesus a biblical prophetic name, "The cornerstone" rejected by builders; in whom alone can be found salvation, and whose "name is the only name by which we must be saved."
There is power in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ; He risen and among us, He able to save and restore to wholeness; all we need to do is ask. Salvation is simply being forgiven of our sins and restored into a loving, full relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is being saved from sin and its destruction leading us to death, and being saved into that life Jesus spoke of; life in abundance, life in the fullest.
PRAYER: Loving God, through Jesus I want all that He offers. Forgive me of my sins, heal me of my infirmities and sins, and restore me to wholeness in all things and in all ways. This I ask in His might name, Jesus of Nazareth, my Savior and Lord, the Chief Cornerstone of my life, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Hear that song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyh263U9vzk
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