Peter and John, strong leaders in the church birthed on Pentecost, attended the local synagogue. They went for the hour of prayer which was “the ninth hour.” [3 p.m.]
As they entered from the Court of the Gentiles to the Beautiful Gate, they were face to face with a cripple begging for coins.
This same cripple could be found daily at this same spot. Peter said, as they paused in front of the beggar, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”[4:6]
As he took him by the hand, the cripple gained strength, rose up and walked. He was elated as he leaped and praised God while walking into the temple with Peter and John.
People gathered around them. Some began to recognize the man leaping and praising God as the lame beggar at the Beautiful Gate.
It was then that Peter responded to the people with a gospel sermon which included faith, the suffering Christ, repentance, and the resurrection.
This was unacceptable action in the synagogue.
As Peter preached, “the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them”and arrested them. They were extremely disturbed that the disciples were teaching and preaching in Jesus’ name and about the resurrection from the dead.
Peter and John were placed in jail for the night.
There was a large number of religious leaders in Jerusalem that next day. They included “their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest.”[5-6]
They wanted to know from the disciples how they did what they did! Peter, the extroverted and Holy Spirit-filled disciple, stood up and told them just why this beggar was now walking instead of sitting at the gate begging.
I want to share just a little of what is involved in their answer to Peter and John.
Here are their very words: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus”[13-14].
Their recognition of the men being “uneducated and untrained” meant they knew they were not trained and taught in the rabbinical schools. They were not supposed to have the power to do what they did.
But the statement which hits home to believers in their response to Peter and John is this statement: “And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”[v. 13]
They knew these disciples had been with Jesus. Their boldness wasn’t something that could be learned in a school setting. The kind of boldness they showed in the answer which they gave had to come from someone more powerful than themselves.
The question I have of myself and other professing believers is, am I with Jesus enough for people to recognize in my lifestyle that He is making a difference?
Here are four things that I believe being with Jesus on a daily and moment by moment basis will do for any Christian.
First of all, being with Jesus daily changes personal character. Character is described in the dictionary as “the qualities distinctive to an individual.” Before becoming a Christian, one’s mouth is generally an open grave. Unkindness spews forth, God is cursed by many of the words which flows out, actions are given over to ungodly conduct and we could detail many others.
Being with Jesus daily can change what you are personally to someone who honors the Lord through one’s lifestyle, language, and conduct.
Second, being with Jesus on a daily basis instills the spirit of love into the human soul. Hatred leads to war, it leads to marital violence, to violence in the public square, and in relationships where love should be shown to the public.
Third, being near Jesus on a daily basis produces boldness.
Peter and John could have been killed by the same hands which called for the death of Jesus. And they knew that could possibly happen. Yet, they boldly stood and proclaimed the Word of God.
Lastly, being with Jesus on a daily basis could introduce one to Heaven. It could make the sinner whole or it could change the appearance of the saint.
Let your light so shine that people around you will know that you have been with Jesus on a daily basis. Let’s do it together.
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E-mail Rev. Jackson at ojapaj@yahoo.com or visitwww.inspireandinfo.com.
