No Other Name

4/1/2016

Step #1: Lectio / Read

After the crippled man had been cured,
while Peter and John were still speaking to the people,
the priests, the captain of the temple guard,
and the Sadducees confronted them,
disturbed that they were teaching the people
and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
They laid hands on Peter and John
and put them in custody until the next day,
since it was already evening.
But many of those who heard the word came to believe
and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes
were assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest,
Caiaphas, John, Alexander,
and all who were of the high-priestly class.
They brought them into their presence and questioned them,
“By what power or by what name have you done this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them,
“Leaders of the people and elders:
If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

Acts 4:1-12

Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

Why were Peter and John arrested at this moment? What's the big deal?

Back in the day, the Temple had many layers -- like an onion. Or an ogre. There were various "courts" and "gates," and different people were allowed into different areas. Peter and John were in the Court of the Gentiles, which was open to pretty much anyone from anywhere who wanted to check out the temple -- Jews, Romans, foreigners.

As we saw yesterday, it was here that Peter and John miraculously healed a crippled man. Everyone in this crowded Court of the Gentiles was amazed. So amazed that they started attributing this power to Peter and John. Peter and John saw the opportunity to tell them about Jesus.

Basically, Peter and John are in pretty much the most crowded area of the temple, with all sorts of different people from many different places. They had a huge audience, and they were making quite a scene because of this "Jesus" guy.

Enter the "captain of the temple guard." One of his main jobs was to keep order around the temple. You can imagine what a challenge Peter and John are making for him right now.

The captain of the temple guard also brought priests and Sadducees with him. The Sadducees and Pharisees often butted heads. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead, although not exactly in the way we do. The Sadducees rejected the idea of the resurrection. That's why they're "sad-you-see." ;) Anyway, they're annoyed because Peter and John are talking about Jesus, who apparently already rose from the dead and promises everyone who follows Him that He will one day raise them from the dead too.

Not to mention, the Romans were quite intolerant of public disorder. Don't want the violent and notorious Roman soldiers sweeping in to quiet things down, do we?

Peter and John are not making friends right now.

They were brought before the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of the Jews. There were 71 members of the Sanhedrin surrounding and accusing them. And think about this: this was the very court that condemned Jesus to death. The stakes were high.

But there's that name: "Jesus."

The name that gave Peter and John the power to cure the crippled man. The name in which they preached to a huge crowd of total strangers in the temple area. The name that gave them the boldness and audacity to make a big scene for the sake of their Savior. The name that gave them the courage to keep preaching to the very court that condemned their Lord.

Peter and John were convinced that Jesus was the "cornerstone." He was their cornerstone. Everything depended on Him. All their hope and trust was in Him. There was no other name that meant more to them than the name of Jesus.

They didn't just believe in His name. They didn't just speak His name. His name changed their lives, inside and out.

Does Jesus' name do that to you?

Step #3: Oratio / Pray

"He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved."

Is Jesus my cornerstone? Is all my hope and trust in Him? Does His name mean more to me than anything?
Or do I place my hope and trust in someone or something else? Is there anything in my life that takes priority over Jesus?
Do I believe and live as though I can only get to heaven by being in a relationship with Jesus Christ?
Does believing in the name of Jesus change my life? Or does this belief just stay in my head?

Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate

"Jesus, You are my cornerstone."

"No other name but Yours, Jesus."

"Jesus... Jesus... Jesus..."

For the rest of your day...

Live today for no other name than Jesus'. Let His name change the course of your day.

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Today's prayer was prepared by Dan Wolff.

CARPE VERBUM