David Bahn – Reflections

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 4:1-12

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, ² greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

⁵ On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you 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 is standing before you well. ¹¹ This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. ¹² And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

God is clear. Through the prophet Isaiah he declares: “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols” (Isaiah 42:8). He makes it clear in the First Commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Jesus faced down Satan in keeping with this truth. When tempted by Satan, he responded, “You shall worship the LORD your God and him only shall you serve” (Matthew 4:10). 

So when Peter proclaims, “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12), he is making a claim for Jesus that is both exclusive as well as being extraordinary. It is obviously exclusive: no other name… But it is also extraordinary: Jesus must be God in the flesh if he is receiving this kind of glory and honor. God said it long before Jesus was born, “I, I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out” (Ezekiel 34:11).

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, fulfilled that promise. And now, because of his faithful life, his sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection he is properly called, “Lord and God” (cf. John 20:28; Philippians 2:11). Peter is reflecting that truth here when he says that there is salvation in no other name than Jesus. He is applying these profound realities:

• No one else died for the sins of the world.
• No one else totally defeated death and the devil.
• No one else has made the promise that whoever comes to him, he will never turn away (John 6:37).

No one else prayed that the cup would pass from him (that he would not have to die for the sins of the world), and have that request denied. Either God is a cruel, evil and sadistic God if there was another way than Jesus’ death, or there was no other way than Jesus’ death for our redemption and salvation.

Jesus prayed that God would glorify him with the glory he had before the world was created (John 17:5).

There is no other way, no other God, no other hope than Jesus. I hope I can learn what that means each day of my life here, and I look forward to experiencing it with God in the life of the world to come.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 4:1-12

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, ² greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

⁵ On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you 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 is standing before you well. ¹¹ This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. ¹² And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Jesus did it, and it got him killed. Well, actually it wasn’t his actions that got him killed. But he could have caved, said what Pilate and all the other religious leaders wanted him to say, and sidestepped his trial and conviction. But sometimes you simply must speak truth to power.

The truth in this case was that Jesus had died, but had been raised from the dead. He was now reigning at the right hand of God. He was still at work in the world, although he had gone on to the next, reigning at the right hand of God. The truth was and is that Jesus has the name that is above every name. At his name every knee will bow in heaven and on earth. One day every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

That truth was spoken by Peter to the powerful religious leaders of his day. I notice that it wasn’t just the high priest, but his family and a whole entourage of powerful men to whom Peter was speaking. I’d be intimidated. I’m not sure I could have stood up to these powerful men as did Peter. Sure, Peter was inclined to speak first and think later. But still…these are the power brokers of their day. They had lots of sway over the outcomes of this encounter. Yet Peter gives bold witness.

I don’t know if I’ll ever be confronted by such power, but I do know the truth. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. There is salvation in his name alone. His is the ultimate power and the purest truth.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 4:1-12

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, ² greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

⁵ On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you 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 is standing before you well. ¹¹ This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. ¹² And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

There is great comfort in the promise of God through the prophet Isaiah,

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
    and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
¹¹ so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” – Isaiah 55:10-11

God’s word has been powerful from the beginning. When God said, “Let there be light.” There was light. And God saw that the light was good (Genesis 1:3-4). Jesus displayed this same power when he healed the lame man, stilled the storm at sea, or spoke peace to the disciples. And now it continues through the ministry of Peter and the Apostles. It was in Jesus’ name that the man was healed.

So it should not surprise us when we read that even in the face of strong resistance and the vociferous opposition of the high priest and the Sadducees, some people believed the word. And the church grew to 5000 souls. Peter and the others were preaching and teaching about Jesus’  death and resurrection. This is the message of forgiveness and salvation. This is the message of the cross and the empty tomb.

Martin Luther wrote in his famous hymn, A Mighty Fortress, that one little word can defeat the devil. So whenever we experience opposition to the truth of God’s word, we must recall the truth of the Bible, the Good News of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. God has promised that through faith in Jesus we are justified, forgiven, holy and blameless.

This is the word those early Christians believed. It is the word we believe and for which we give glory to God and praise to his name.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 4:1-12

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, ² greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

⁵ On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you 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 is standing before you well. ¹¹ This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. ¹² And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Maybe you never struggle with doubt. It’s all clear and decided in your heart and mind. You have heard God’s word. You have learned about Jesus. You believe. Doubt is not an issue. For me and many, however, doubt creeps up on us at the oddest times. I’m praying and I wonder, “Does this really make a difference?” I’m thinking about creation – the millions of stars and galaxies, black holes, and the expanse of the universe – and I wonder, “How did God make all this?” Or worse, “Did God really make all this?”

A more thoughtful and reflective consideration of these doubts and I am happy to say that the doubts recede to the dark abode of Satan where they belong. I believe! Help my unbelief, O God!

Worse than those niggling doubts are the outright false teachings and heterodoxy that some propose. Whether it’s the idea that there is no resurrection (the Sadducees), or those who will allow religion but not Jesus, these are at play here.

Today it’s the preposterous idea that there are to be only 144,000 people in heaven, or a man named Joseph Smith looked into his hat and translated golden plates into the book of Mormon. Others hold to the idea that all religions lead to the same god: Jesus isn’t necessary at best, or at worst, a deceiver or a misguided prophet.

And now that Pride Month is over can we not just celebrate Humility Month? I think not. So many ways to disbelieve – all way beyond doubt. Against that Peter speaks boldly, reminding the people then and there and us today that Jesus died, rose from the dead, and is at work in people’s lives. “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (v. 11-12).

I do sometimes doubt. Many people choose their own reasons not to believe. But the fundamental reality of Jesus’ love, God’s grace, and the blessings of fellowship with the redeemed centers my heart and calms my soul. This I believe without a doubt.

Please pray these psalms with me on this Lord’s Day

Psalm 9:1-2

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
    I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
² I will be glad and exult in you;
    I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Psalm 39:1-5

I said, “I will guard my ways,
    that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,
    so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
² I was mute and silent;
    I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
³     My heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

⁴ “O Lord, make me know my end
    and what is the measure of my days;
    let me know how fleeting I am!
⁵ Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
    and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!

Psalm 69:30-34

I will praise the name of God with a song;
    I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
³¹ This will please the Lord more than an ox
    or a bull with horns and hoofs.
³² When the humble see it they will be glad;
    you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
³³ For the Lord hears the needy
    and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

³⁴ Let heaven and earth praise him,
    the seas and everything that moves in them.

Psalm 99:30-34

I will praise the name of God with a song;
    I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
³¹ This will please the Lord more than an ox
    or a bull with horns and hoofs.
³² When the humble see it they will be glad;
    you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
³³ For the Lord hears the needy
    and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

³⁴ Let heaven and earth praise him,
    the seas and everything that moves in them.

Psalm 129:1-3

The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!
    He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
² The Lord is great in Zion;
    he is exalted over all the peoples.
³ Let them praise your great and awesome name!
    Holy is he!

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016.
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 3:11-26

While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
“And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

When Jesus is dealing with his disciples, I can find myself in the story. Maybe I’m (doubting) Thomas. Could be (questioning) Philip. Maybe (brash) Peter. I might see myself as a Nicodemus character, or the one who cries, “I believe, help my unbelief!” This story presents a bit more of a challenge.

I don’t see myself in the crowd to whom Peter is preaching. It’s not obvious that I need to turn from my wicked ways. I’m certainly not perfect, but I devote myself to learning from Jesus, seeking his kingdom, and desiring his blessings. I truly do want to live under Christ in his kingdom and serve him eternally. But I don’t do that perfectly. And I truly do need to repent daily, for I sin daily.

Maybe I’m one of the bystanders, watching all this unfold, and wondering how Peter got to be so bold, dedicated, courageous, and faithful. I can look at those who really do need to find refreshment with God, having their sins washed away. I could be the lame man who has been healed and is clinging to Jesus with all his might.

We all fit in every page of the Bible in one way or another. It could be a sin to abandon, a promise to believe, a rededication to particular obedience, a joy to celebrate, a message to share, or a hope to cling to. But every story has a message for us that is shaped to point us to Jesus. We all need him, no matter where we find ourselves in his story of grace and truth.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 3:11-26

While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
“And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

A few years ago, when we were visiting our Germany family, the pastor of their church observed that most people don’t have a trust problem when it comes to faith, they have a surrender problem. He was suggesting that people are willing to trust God, they just don’t want to surrender to his reign and rule in their lives. They’ll trust God. They just don’t want to obey him. He’s worth believing in for salvation and forgiveness, he’s just not going to define their morals or behaviors.

On the one hand it sounds quite palpable. Leaning into God’s love but not aligning ourselves with his laws seems quite appealing. That’s nothing new. Bonhoeffer spoke about this in his classic, The Cost of Discipleship, calling it cheap grace. He defined “cheap grace” as “the preaching of forgiveness without calling for repentance, and a life that reflects God’s love and faithfulness, values, and purposes.

Peter says, here:

Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

As I read those words, I was reminded of that pastor’s comments. But a closer look points to a much deeper appreciation of what God wants for us all. And it’s far more rich and blessed than surrender. Good as that may be – after all, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father (cf. Philippians 2:9-11). God rules above all. He has the last word and has already spoken the first word, “Let there be light.”

But look where Peter goes with his call that we take heed! He points us to God’s initial promise to Abram. God initiated this gift and made the first promise. All that in spite of the wickedness of our ways. This reminds me of Martin Luther’s observation about Jesus being our Lord. He says that Jesus is our Lord, because he is our redeemer. He goes on to say that Jesus has redeemed us so that we may live under him in his kingdom and serve him in everlasting innocence, righteousness, and blessedness.

Surrender seems much less a biblical theme than faith, grace and truth. God wants hearts turned to him in faith and love much more than he wants to keep people groveling in dire angst and surrender. Let’s listen to him! Believe in him. Love and serve him. This is the way of true life.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 3:11-26

While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
“And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

“Hit ‘Refresh!’” If the website won’t load, you refresh it. Sometimes that works. You are able to see what you need to see and get the information you need. 

I just need a few minutes to sit in the pool, enjoy a cool drink, and refresh myself. Maybe you’ve said something like that.

But webpages and dips in the pool don’t always work. And even when they do, the results are not permanent.

True refreshment, however, comes from repentance and faith in Jesus. This is what Peter promises these people. “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,” he says to these people. Refreshment comes from sins’ banishment. It is possible for those who repent. It is experienced in the Lord’s presence.

Being refreshed is a fleeting thing. It comes and goes. There is always need for more. But we can thank God that in his presence we may be refreshed. He forgives those who repent and return to him. He removes our sins from us so that they do not hold sway over us. He gives times of refreshment this side of heaven as a foretaste of the perfect and eternal refreshment of the life of the world to come.

Whenever you experience any semblance of being refreshed, let that remind you of God’s love, promises, and the blessings of his presence in our lives.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 3:11-26

While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
“And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

Years ago I had a conversation with a good friend and faithful Lutheran. He mentioned that his friend said that we Lutherans talk more about Martin Luther than we do about Jesus. I hope that wasn’t an accurate assessment of our esteem of Jesus, or Martin Luther for that matter. Only Jesus saves. Luther points us to Jesus.

I notice here that Peter mentions Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as Moses in these few verses. The focus of Peter’s message is Jesus. His desire is to point people to Jesus. His message is about how these Old Testament heroes of the faith point us toward Jesus. Theirs is a legacy of faith that witnesses to Jesus’ fulfillment of all that God had spoken and promised from the earliest days of God’s revelation.

Each of these men of faith tell us a story. Abraham tells us the story of great faith. He went at God’s command to a land which he did not know and which God would show him. He was willing to offer his son as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah – when God intervened and provided a sacrifice. Abraham, “believed the LORD and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

Isaac was the son of the promise. The laughing boy (his name means he laughs) is the son God promised to old and past childbearing years Sarah and Abraham. He is the reminder that all things are possible with God.

Jacob is the deceiver whom God somehow God manages to use for his kingdom’s ends. His name was changed to Israel, for he fought with God, and was left with a limp. He is the father of the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel. God works through all kinds and sorts of people.

Moses recorded all these things. He rescued God’s people from Egypt and led them through the Red Sea. He received the 10 Commandments from God, as well as the design of the Tabernacle, and the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament. He led God’s people to the edge of the Promised Land.

These are all great men of faith. They are examples for us, and object lessons of God’s grace, providence, faithfulness, and love. And they all point us to Jesus. For Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of all that God intended for us to be. He is our salvation and life.

Just as these men have a legacy of faith that points to Jesus, I hope to leave a legacy of faith that points people to Jesus.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 3:11-26

While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
“And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

I’ve always had a tough time with television evangelists – especially those who tout their healing powers, pretend to know things about the lives of those who yearn for healing that no one could possibly know, and who make a point of touting their own name and personality. They make it a spectacle. They leverage the hype.

Then I read that Peter told the people not to be amazed at the sight of this once-lame man walking. He said they should not credit him for the healing. This was the work of God, not of pious men. He goes on to challenge the people there at the temple by crediting Jesus, the Holy and Righteous One whom they “disowned and asked for a murderer to be granted to [them], but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which [Peter and the Apostles] were witnesses.

Jesus gets the credit. That is as it should be for most of us. We’re all in for that. We believe in Jesus. We acknowledge that he suffered under Pontus Pilot, was crucified, died, and was buried. Then he rose from the dead. This is our faith and confession. We believe Jesus deserves all the credit. 

But we too easily get caught in the web of celebrity. Famous, successful, powerful, and gifted men and women distract us from the simple power and true authority of Jesus. We get excited when we learn that Jane Fonda, Alice Cooper, or any other notorious celebrity comes to faith. It’s as though their testimony outweighs the truth we hold dear.

Peter was an impetuous man. He was brash, bold, and outspoken. He acted first and thought later. Same with speaking. But in this case he is clear: He did not do this. Jesus did this. Our great hope is not well founded if it is in our favorite pastor, political candidate, or national leader. And while Peter is somewhat of a celebrity, at least at this moment, he realized that it was not all about him. He realizes too, that Jesus can easily be overlooked. This miracle was done to bring attention to Jesus the One who is the source of perfect health and hope.