“While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them, ‘Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.’“
Acts 3:11-16

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

Peter and John quickly found themselves surrounded by a crowd of excited, questioning people who were astounded by the healing of a man crippled from birth. No one could deny that this individual, formerly left at the gate immobile and destitute, was walking and jumping and praising God. What do you say when asked to explain a life so radically transformed?

Peter immediately and forthrightly gave glory to God. He began by clarifying that it was not anything in his power or godliness that had accomplished this miracle, but faith in God’s chosen servant Jesus.

There is something about identifying Jesus as God’s chosen One or Christ that attracts or repels us. Claiming Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, confronts a listener with two options. If Jesus is the Christ of God, then God has exalted Him and His words and work. Alternatively, one may claim that Jesus was just a good teacher who lived and died just like any other recognized religious figure or teacher. To agree with the former, we commit to bowing our lives before the One God has exalted—requiring everything of us as we follow Him. To go along with the latter is much easier—in the short term.

Peter confronted the people listening in Jerusalem by rehearsing the recent events, deliberately referring to Jesus as the Holy and Righteous One, the Messiah. Peter concluded by stating that he was a witness of the resurrected Jesus and that this man now walked because of faith in the name of Jesus.

Although we have not had the eyewitness experience of Peter, we affirm that Jesus is alive! We know this in part because our lives are being healed, saved, and changed day by day, in the name of Jesus.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • How is the identity of Jesus a central issue in our gospel conversations?
  • How can we affirm spiritual truths, such as the deity of Jesus or His ongoing work in our lives, with an attitude of humility?

 

Church Reading Plan: Ezekiel 21; Psalm 68