May Others See Jesus in Us
“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed,
(The Acts of the Apostles 4: 13 NASB)
and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”
- How do we define success?
- What must we accomplish within our lives to sense that we have ‘Arrived’?
- Who must we know in order to get to the place we are destined to go?
- How will we ever be able to reach success during this earthly life?
- How will we know when we have ‘Arrived There’ at the place where we have reached the plane of success?
Questions come as seasons of life change, and in the place where I spend my working days, there are many individuals who desire success. They pay dearly for a university education, giving their funds, their time, their efforts, and their all to reach the graduation stage: to receive their degree and to be confirmed by the president. The confirmation readily makes these students—Graduates. It is a heady moment as one witnesses the ‘Confirming’ and the moving of the tassel from the right to the left of their graduation cap. One simple phrase and One solitary movement: The Students Graduate.
In the world’s eyes, they are successful because these students have determined to reach for their dreams, and loved ones watch as their grandchildren, children, siblings, nephews, nieces, spouses, and parents reach this plane of success. Inside each graduate, there resides a deep sense of accomplishment as well as a sense of trepidation, as some consider: ‘What now?’ For the last four years, they have studied, written countless papers, taken exams, presented speeches, and accomplished all assignments given to successfully reach this place of completion. What they do with their degree, with this accomplishment rests heavy on their shoulders. For so many, family sacrifices have been made to help them reach this milestone, and so the weight of ‘What now’ may lay heavier. It’s not been so long ago that one young student said he came to the university so that he could return to his home country, to his hometown, where he would be the solitary physician. He knew that his people need medical assistance, having seen it firsthand, and he determined to be the catalyst that would help make that important change.
As we read the account of the healing found in chapters three and four of The Acts of the Apostles, it’s easy to see that this man needed the healing of Jesus applied to the lame beggar. Since his birth, this man had been carried and placed at the temple, at “the hour of prayer,” hopeful that healing would come (3: 1a). Day after day, he had begged for coins to sustain himself, and one particular day, he saw Peter and John coming his way. Hopeful. Expectant. Eagerly—This man spoke his request, hopeful for silver or gold; never did he expect to receive the gift the apostles gave—HEALING.
“And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up;
(The Acts of the Apostles 3: 7-10 NASB)
and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
With a leap he stood upright and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking a leaping and praising God.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”
- The healing was undeniable for the crowd within the temple saw with their own eyes.
- The miracle was apparent for they had seen this same man begging at the gate for many years.
- The working of Peter was noticed for the people only needed to look at the man to see he could now walk.
- The source of the healing was heard by those who heard Peter exclaim: “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” (The Acts of the Apostles 3: 6b NASB)
“And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them,
(The Acts of the Apostles 4: 14-16 NASB)
they had nothing to say in reply.
But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men?
For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.”
The temple guard and the Sadducees were not happy, proving that there are some who will not be happy when the work of Jesus is accomplished. Fear grabbed at the hearts of the religious leaders, and they knew that something must be done to stop the apostles. It was undeniable that the beggar had been healed, just as it was recognizable by who’s authority this miracle had occurred.
The two apostles had walked with Jesus, been in His presence, saw Jesus crucified and raised to new life.
Peter and John walked in God’s Holy Spirit and performed this miracle : “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene.”
No one could refute what had occurred.
“But so that it will not spread any further among the people,
(The Acts of the Apostles 4: 17 NASB)
let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.”
- It must be apparent to the watching world that we have encountered the life-giving presence of Jesus.
- We must not hide the fact that we have been redeemed.
- We have been commissioned by the Lord Jesus Himself.
In a sense, believers have “walked the stage,” have “received their degrees,” and have “graduated” to accomplish great feats. Now we must go. Therefore:
- How do we define success? &
- What must we accomplish within our lives to sense that we have ‘Arrived’? &
- Who must we know in order to get to the place we are destined to go? &
- How will we ever be able to reach success and know when we have ‘Arrived There,’ the plane of success?
May we take our position in Christ seriously as we demonstrate to the world, so they will “recognize them [& us] as having been with Jesus.” (The Acts of the Apostles 4: 13b NASB)