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5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 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. 11 This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:5-12 New King James Version)
Happy Wednesday, ConCafe Family! Blessings upon blessings for you, Friend, and ways in which to share them with others this day and all days!
One of the great pains I carry from my childhood is that I was responsible for the destruction of an immaculate collection of model aircraft assembled lovingly and carefully by my father. I remember the first time I was allowed to see the collection; my memory says he had Flying Tigers, Mustangs, and another assortment of WWII fighter aircraft of the propellor type. I never saw him put them together, but he did a marvelous job. The decals and every aspect of their assembly screamed devotion and time. But to a little boy they screamed "Take me for a spin!" My mind could not yet comprehend that these plastic aircraft could not really fly. The hardest part was to answer, "Who did this?!" Well, maybe the spanking after I had no choice but to admit that moi was responsible.
That same question is posed to Peter and John for what they did to heal a man who had been unable to walk since his birth. This was the man who went leaping and jumping and praising God for what the Lord did to him through the two disciples. Word of this action got to the religious leaders and they were not at all pleased about this healing and certainly not on a Sabbath day. Their question reflects the threats they perceived by such an action. Healings were rare in those days, and certainly not at their hands. "By what power or by what name have you done this?" It is Peter who answers, filled with the Holy Spirit; "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 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." Certainly not the answer they wanted to hear. Their efforts were to destroy Jesus and all He had started, and here they hear that it is by the name of Jesus that this supernatural power to heal has come to do this miracle; an unexplainable act of restoration of that which was as good as dead. How could the dried out leg muscles of this man come back to life? How could these eternally weak joints and limbs possibly support the weight of this man? How could a man that never learned to walk like "normal" kids now jump, leap, and run? And instead of asking for alms, how could his voice now praise God? Everything is beyond explanation! But, for this man and those who witnessed it, it was not beyond enjoyment. If you or me had been that man, we would be loving every minute of it! Too many years at floor level to now deny joy to being eye-to-eye with people. Too many embarrassing and humiliating days of asking please give me some of your money to now stop screaming, "Praise You, God!" and "Thank You, Lord!" Yet, for the religious leaders, again, not what they wanted to hear. How could a dead man, who died in the most terrible way possible, now have His name used as a power to heal? And why here outside the Temple on this sacred of days?
We know that everything that God does is of a sacred, usually unexplainable nature; usually meant to bless, to be enjoyed rather than explained. That happens in our lives when God brings us a blessing or we discover a blessing that God has shared with us and we just now truly understand it as such. How we respond is a great question. It was once presented to me by a new disciple who had come to faith in my church. He showed up in my office asking to be re-baptized because he now realized how much God loved him and he loved God. I was thrilled, but given our nature and understanding of baptism, I said, "We do not re-baptize people for we hold the sacredness of that first baptism to never wear off; but, let me ask you this; do you ever have days when you realize just how much you love your wife, or that she loves you? Do you say to yourself, I must get her to the church and we shall be married again? No, you know that that first ceremony still holds and your option is to show you how much you love her and you buy her something, take her to supper, get her some flowers; can't we do the same for God?" Indeed. He understood; as should we, to show our love and appreciation to God.
Peter goes on to share his faith in the same scriptures as his religious leaders, that Jesus is the "stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone." Ouch. Not what they wanted to hear; and certainly not something they wanted to believe. Peter further adds, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Double ouch! In Jesus we find salvation power; though Him we can find the right and proper relationship with God; in Him we find the removal of our sins, doubts, hurts, etc., removed once and for all. I would add, by the way, that the Jews were not known for their messages of salvation and restoration. It was only in Jesus that this becomes what is true and necessary for all humanity that hopes to find wholeness and meaning.
I have been witness to many a healing that has happened in this day and age through the Name above all names, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Our being supernatural people need to find that in supernatural things, unexplainable things occur, but only through the name of Jesus. That is why we pray and believe in the name of Jesus. It is the name that opens doors, provides opportunities, and solutions; not any other name, no matter how holy and sacred that name might be held by others; only in the name of Jesus can miracles still happen.
PRAYER: Loving God of all things wonderful and unexplainable; come to our needs as we pray in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth; for healings of loved ones, for the healing of marriages, for the deliverance from evil on the lives and bodies of close ones, bring deliverance and peace. For this nation and all nations, bring Thy peace; and we pray in the only name in which we believe these are possible, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Use the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth today in supernatural ways that will bless others!
Receive my blessings of peace and hope, in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
Pastor Eradio Valverde
