2 Samuel 23:24 – 24:25, Acts 3:1 – 26, Psalm 123:1 – 4, Proverbs 16:21-23

2 Samuel 23:24 – 24:25, Acts 3:1 – 26, Psalm 123:1 – 4, Proverbs 16:21-23

 

            Seven minutes into watching "Anne of Green Gables" we see Anne in the office of an orphanage telling the headmaster the names of her birth parents and proud that that they had "such lovely names."  The director responds, "It doesn't matter what a persons' name is, as long as they behave themselves!"  Anne continues with respectful disagreement, "Well I don't know.  I read in a book once that 'a rose by any other name would smell as sweet," but I was never able to believe it!  A rose just couldn't smell as sweet it was a 'thistle' or a skunk cabbage."  Maybe Anne is right and Shakespeare is wrong (the rose part was from Romero & Juliet), maybe a name does have more power and significance in the way be see something and value something!  We know a rose will always smell sweet and look beautiful, but imagine telling someone, "I bought you a dozen red skunk cabbages!"  Not so sweet sounding and enduring after all!  I blogged about this same passage in November and I'm thankful for the fact that God shows and teaches me new things.  Tonight I saw the power of a name.

 

            In Acts 3 we see many names and images of Jesus.  They are:

·      "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" (verse 6)

·      "His servant Jesus" (verse 13)

·      "The Holy and Righteous One" (verse 14)

·      "By faith in the name of Jesus" (verse 16)

·      "It is Jesus' name" (verse 16)

·      "His Christ" (verse 18)

·      "The Christ" (verse 20)

·      "Jesus" (verse 20)

·      "A prophet" (verse 22)

These are a lot names and a lotta mentions for one guy in a few verses!!!  A few things we can take from this.  First of all, Peter and John healed a man…not with money (what the beggar was asking for,) not with medicine, not with the help of others, but did it in the NAME of Jesus Christ.  That's all it took.  By saying, believing, and having faith just in the NAME of Jesus Christ, a man was healed – physically and spiritually.   The name of Jesus is so powerful it is mentioned three times in the passage.  Peter and John gave all the glory to God – all the glory was given to the simple, but powerful name of Jesus. 

 

Secondly, we see the character of Christ described and revealed in his mention.  In these verses alone we know who he is.  He is God's SERVANT, and not just any servant.  Acts 3:13 says that God "glorified his servant Jesus."  We know that Jesus was Holy.  Webster dictionary defines "holy" as, "Exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness."  Sounds like Jesus.  Righteous is defined as "free from guilt or sin."  Yup!  Jesus again!  And He was called the Righteous One….the only One.  "Christ" comes from the Greek word meaning "anointed;" In Hebrew it would translate to "Messiah."  Jesus is God's anointed and chosen one and He is The Messiah.

These are the words and the message that Peter and John shared with the people near the "temple in Jerusalem at the time of prayer – at three in the afternoon."  This was one of the busiest and most populated times to be at the temple.  They went to pray and worship and they shared with others.  All they shared was the name of Jesus Christ.  This was their message.  God used them to build up the early church and the name of Jesus spread like wild fire.  All it took this day was them reaching for a man in need, and telling him about the love of Christ.  Because of this action a man went leaping and praising God.  Never underestimate the power and importance of a name.  Never forget the power of the name of Jesus Christ.  There are beggars and lost people all around us that are waiting for us to reach out of hands and tell them about the name of Jesus Christ.  Who He was, why He did what He did, and how He saves.  Are you ready of willing to reach out your hand?  Say His name?  It is a precious name…and it heals.