Faith in Jesus’ Name
Opening Prayer
Loving Lord, You are with me: Father, Son, and Spirit, three in one. Be my strength and hope today.
Read Acts 3:11–26
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, 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? 13 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. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 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 completely healed him, as you can all see.
17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’
24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). Praise the Lord for his glory displayed in forgiveness, salvation, healing and restoration.
The crowd had gathered in the Temple courts for evening prayer and sacrifice. They had seen the crippled beggar lying in his customary place at the Gate Beautiful. No wonder they were astounded to see him walking, jumping and praising God! Many ran to see for themselves, staring agog at the disciples who appeared to be the source of this healing. Peter, with the man still clinging to him, quickly responded to their amazement and addressed the onlookers.
He asserted that this man was now perfectly healed through the power of the God of the patriarchs and by faith in the name of Jesus, whom his hearers had so recently disowned and crucified. Peter’s masterly response provided many convincing proofs of Jesus’ true identity, bringing into focus Old Testament promises which Jesus perfectly fulfilled and making their treatment of him all the more culpable. Jesus was: Isaiah’s “servant” (Isa. 52:13) who, despite terrible humiliation and suffering, was glorified by God (13); the Holy and Righteous One, whom they had rejected, preferring a murderer (14); the author and originator of life, whom they had killed, but in contrast God had raised (15); the prophet like Moses (Deut. 18:15) to whom they should listen (22); the Davidic ruler of an everlasting kingdom prophesied by Nathan (24; 2 Sam. 7:13); and the “offspring” of Abraham through whom all peoples on earth would be blessed (5; Gen. 12:2,3).
The crucifixion of Jesus was a travesty of justice, even though it was done in ignorance. The law had no provision for such sin. The only recourse was to repent and turn in faith to the one against whom they had so blatantly sinned! Then, amazingly, God would forgive, wipe out their sin and refresh their spirits as they waited for Messiah’s return to restore all creation.
Apply
How has repentance and turning to God brought “times of refreshing” (19) to you?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, I come to you in faith, trusting that your healing touch will bring peace and restoration to whatever troubling situations I face.
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