The Third Sunday of Easter, May 4, 2003
Acts 4:5-12 or Micah 4:1-5; Psalm 98 or 98:1-5; 1 John 1:1-2:2 or Acts 4:5-12; Luke 24:36b-48.
What an enormous surprise it must have been for the elders and scribes when they received the answer to their question: “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
The question was asked in a reference to a healing that Peter had preformed at one of the temple gates (Acts 3:1-11). A man “lame from birth” was collecting alms and Peter stopped and healed him. The response from the people was one of awe and amazement and the word spread. Peter seizes the opportunity to preach the good news, which leads to his arrest along with his companion John.
Now facing the authorities, the question of the origin of their power is posed and the answer could not have been worse from the perspective of the interrogators. Peter responds that what they have done is “by the name of Jesus of Nazareth” and then adds as if they didn’t know, “whom you crucified.”
The authorities thought they had disposed of the Jesus problem with his crucifixion, but it is now obvious that this is not going away. In fact, the power of Jesus has now spread to those who followed him and that power is, as Luke tells us, undeniable (3:16).
It would seem that the proof of the power of Jesus is not simply in the words proclaimed but rather also in the results of the ministry. The passage begs us to ask the question: How is the power of Jesus manifest to the world because of our ministry?
Words are important but often times the word is confirmed by the tangible results of our ministry. It is imperative that we allow the power of Jesus to be revealed through us as he seeks to make himself manifest to the world. While the miraculous can and still does happen, this power is much more likely to be seen in the everyday actions of how we treat those around us. Are we people who manifest the power of Jesus in our desire to create relationships of love and compassion with those God leads us to?
In his book, The Hidden Value of a Man, John Trent tells the story of Bob Mitchell, a dynamic speaker at a youth conference. His message to kids was that they needed to have a relationship with Jesus but his words were congruent with his actions. Part of Bob’s responsibilities was to coordinate his work with the meal schedule, requiring him to have daily conversations with the camp cook. The cook was an older woman who looked perpetually tired and under appreciated. Every time she came to Bob’s table to discuss the schedule, Bob would stand and insist that she take his seat. No one noticed this except one young man named Mark, who saw Jesus’ love lived out in the simple action. It was this that allowed him to take seriously the words of the speaker and make the decision to be a Christian.
May we be people whose lives are vehicles for the power of Jesus.
Look It Up
Acts 3. Read the beginning of the story about the man paralyzed from birth.
How does the healing enable the preaching ministry of Peter?
Think About It
How can my life be more reflective of the power of Jesus?
Next Sunday
The Fourth Sunday of Easter
Acts 4: (23-31) 32-37 or Ezekiel 34:1-10; Psalm 23 or 100; 1 John 3:1-8 or Acts 4: (23-31) 32-37; John 10:11-16.
