Acts 3:6 says, “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.”
This phrase, “Jesus Christ of Nazareth,” was brought to my attention again when the preacher, last Sunday, used it in his message in a powerful way. Acts 3 also happens to be where I am in my daily Bible reading and prayer.
One winter, my cousin, Roger, and I—our birthdays are only three days apart—celebrated by going to a live performance of Johnny Cash. When he first came out on the stage he said, “Hello, my name is Johnny Cash!” The crowd clapped and yelled and the music began. He had made a name for himself. His name was exciting to some people, especially to those who had paid to get in to hear him.
Jesus had a humble beginning as He became a part of the human race. When the angel appeared to Mary (Luke 1:31), and told her that she would bear a son, he said, “Call his name Jesus.”
John, in his gospel, skipped the nativity account altogether, and in the very first sentence (John 1:1), calls Jesus, “the Word.” He declares that the “Word” is God. By verse 17, he calls Him “Jesus Christ.”
Mark also began his gospel, not with the nativity, but by calling attention to Jesus’ name. Mark 1:1 states, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;” By verse 9, he says that Jesus came from Nazareth.
After Peter commanded the lame man to rise up and walk, he took him by the right hand and lifted him up. The man received strength in his feet and ankle bones. He began leaping and walking and praising God. This caused the crowd to come running to Peter and John and the healed man. In verse 12 Peter said, “Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” Peter then went on to preach Jesus unto them.
Only a couple of months earlier, Peter had denied the name of Jesus at the fireside. Now he boldly proclaimed the name of Jesus because he had been baptized with God’s fire when the Holy Ghost came upon him at Pentecost. Jesus told His disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait (Luke 24:49), until they would be filled with power from on high. After this, Peter no longer feared what man could do to him. The power was not in him, but in the name of Jesus.
Why is it today that men can use the name of Jesus as a swear word and not drop dead on the spot? Exodus 20:7 says, “…for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” This can be forgiven by Jesus’ blood. Matthew 12:32 says, “And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”
We see in Romans 14:12, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Why stand someday before Jesus ashamed of cursing His name or denying Him as Peter did? Peter found not only forgiveness, but the commission to feed His sheep.
Take the name of Jesus with you. Demons have to flee at His name. We have power against the enemy in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
Amen!