The Bible book of Acts tells the story of a man in his forties who had been crippled from birth.  He was being carried to a place of prayer, when he saw two of Jesus’ disciples, Peter and John.  The crippled man begged them for something small and temporary.  He asked them for money.  But as He so often does, God had a much better gift in mind for this disabled man—faith to be saved and, healing for his body.

“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.” (Acts 3:6-8)

Peter and John told the crowd quickly gathering around them, that it was not their own power or holiness that had produced this astounding miracle, but faith in the name of Jesus.  Since the authorities refused to believe this, they felt compelled to seek some other explanation.  They launched an investigation, hauling the two apostles in and demanding to know, “By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?” (Acts chapter 4:7)

Perhaps I should stop right here and explain something about the ancient world.  It was not pagan, as many today assume.  It was a very religious world, albeit a superstitious one.  Back then, the existence of supernatural forces was taken for granted—not scoffed at, as many people who consider themselves enlightened and progressive do, today.  So, it was quite reasonable to ask what power or force had been used to cure the man’s disability.  Natural science did not seem to cover it.

Ancient middle easterners believed that names possessed supernatural powers.  In both a practical and magical sense, your name represented you.  That’s why the ancient Egyptians, for example, defaced the statuary, monuments and historical records of their enemies, chiseling out their names. The idea was that you could end someone’s existence in the afterlife if you could manage to erase all traces of their name, in this one.

Even today, one’s name when signed at the bottom of a legal contract, may be all that’s required to borrow money, obtain credit, buy expensive merchandise or declare independence (just ask John Hancock).  Marketers and scam artists pay small fortunes for names, so they can ‘dial for dollars’ or phish for the keys to your bank account. Your name stands for you and all you stand for.  That’s why identity theft is a magnet for criminals and why people spend so much time, effort and money trying to protect or restore their “good name.”  Stealing your name opens doors for thieves that should only swing wide for you.  Your name has the power that you have.  If they have your name, they have you.

So the line of questioning taken with Peter and John should not surprise us (“By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?”).  That is just the sort of opening for which the child of God prays, watches and prepares. Peter & John charged right through it:

“If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole…Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:9-10, 12, emphasis added)

Why did Peter and John say that we “must” be saved through Jesus—why not, “can” be saved?  The Holy Spirit carefully chose the words He gave to Peter that day. “There is none other name under heaven,” means that the name of Jesus carries the authority of God to those down below, to those who live on earth.  “Given among men” means a privilege granted by God, a gift, not something earned, as well as the path marked out by God.  We must be saved by this name, because God has provided no other name, as the passage says.  No other name is connected to the cross of Christ, the blood of Christ, the empty tomb of Christ, the throne of Christ, the eternal life of Christ, and the glories and riches of the inheritance of Christ.

Are you trusting in Jesus’ name?  Have you received His free gift of pardon for your sins?  Are you following the ONLY way or are you looking for some other way?  Let me be frank with you.  You will not find it, even if you waste your whole life searching.  There IS no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved.  That was the message then, and that is the message now. And since men cannot deny the truth of the power of Jesus’ name, they focus on silencing the messenger:

“And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.  But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.” (Acts 4:14-16)

The authorities in Peter’s day (as in our own) wanted to explain away or conceal what had happened, because the implications, if the story was true, were enormous.  If the name of Jesus had power, real power, then…they should have LISTENED to Him…they should have BELIEVED in Him…they should have FOLLOWED Him.  No wonder they wanted to cover up this healing, rather than celebrate it.  They preferred to bury the good news, rather than thank God for it:

“But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.  And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.  But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.  For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed [done].”  (Acts 4:17-22, emphasis added)

“And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.  And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:  Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said [Psalm 2], Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:23-31)

God used the weakness of the cross to show the power of an empty tomb.  God used the weakness of the scorn and abuse heaped on Jesus’ name to show the paradoxical humility and glory of that name to those who believe.  God used the weakness of a crippled man, forced to beg for his food, to prove the strength of His grace and mercy.  God used the weakness of human sickness and death to reveal that Jesus is the Lord of Life, Who has conquered them both.  God used the weakness of ordinary men who had no education, to baffle those who considered themselves the wisest and most important people in society.  God used the weakness of a small minority of believers—threatened, arrested, punished, simply for daring to speak the name of Jesus—to spread the gospel, to build Christ’s Church and to change the entire world!

The persecutors of Jesus’ day thought that they could kill the truth by killing Him.  God had other plans.  The persecutors of Jesus’ followers then and throughout the centuries have all asked that same question: What shall we do with them, these followers of Christ?  In more than 2,000 years, they STILL haven’t found the answer.  They are still trying the same old tactics: threats, intimidation, exclusion, violence…  And still, the Church continues to grow and grow and grow.

They couldn’t decide then, and they can’t decide now, ‘just how do we discourage and stop these Christians?  We can mistreat them, but we can’t defeat them.  They can’t be bought, they can’t be fought.  We can’t put out this flame; we can’t stomp out this name!

With all of the effort to destroy Christ and His followers, the Church of Christ (by which I mean the movement, not the institutions), should not exist.  But somehow, it does.  By everything we know, the name of Jesus should have been forgotten long ago.  His name should mean nothing today, to anyone. Instead, it means EVERYTHING to billions around the world.  That’s because the love of Christ is a living thing.  No matter how fast they rip off the leaves, the roots of this tree keep spreading.  It just keeps on budding and blossoming and producing more fruit, generation after generation—despite the fact that Christians pray for their persecutors in the name of Jesus, rather than hate their enemies and disobey His commands to love and forgive them.

For those who believe on Jesus’ name, God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.  If you are weak be glad, because God’s power rests on you.  It is good to be healthy and strong.  But, it is better to have the perfection of Christ.  It is good to be blessed with financial means in this world.  But it is better to be rich toward God and to inherit eternal Life from Jesus.  It is good to feel safe.  But it is far better to be defended by the God of the universe.

And mark this: when the purpose of the crippled man’s weakness was achieved, God made him whole, inside AND out.  When the purpose of Jesus’ pain and suffering was achieved by His death on the cross, God raised Him from the dead.  And He gave Him the name that is above every name, that at its mere mention EVERY knee WILL bow and EVERY tongue WILL confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God, the Father (Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:11).

Fellow Christians, when your cross has served God’s purpose in this life, you too, will be made completely whole.  May you be reminded today, of the wonder and power, of the preciousness of that name that is like no other name under heaven—the matchless name that God has given, to bring salvation to all who put their trust in Jesus Christ.  May it be for you again, a joyous privilege to be called by that name. May it forever remain the greatest honor of your life, to be called a Christian.  God grant it to you, IN THE NAME OF JESUS!  Amen.

Not a Christian?  Call on the name of Jesus now.  Believe that He suffered and died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Him from the dead on the third day, according to the scriptures.  Repent of your sin and receive Christ.  Ask him into your heart and He will come in.  Thank Him for the pardon He purchased for you with His own precious blood. Confess Him as your Lord and Savior. Start learning God’s word and talking to Jesus daily in prayer.  Find rest for your soul.  Know His infinite love. Experience perfect freedom. Follow Jesus. Serve Him. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)