The Holy and Righteous One

Acts 3:13

The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he decided to release Him.

 

What a reaction! The crowd of people running toward Peter, John, and the lame man merged into one mass. Seizing the opportunity, Peter began to speak very plainly and very pointedly! His opening question was, Why do you stare at us as if it was our own power that healed the man? Peter then connected all the dots for them and let the blame fall where it would. The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he decided to release Him. Attesting to the lineage and veracity of Jesus, Peter stated that the God of Jesus was the same God of the Jews' ancestors. In fact, this same Jesus, the One that they delivered over and denied, was the One who worked through us this very day. I can only imagine their thoughts. 'How can this be? I saw him die? Will He even bother us from the grave? Will we ever be rid of Him?' 

 

To make matters worse, Peter clarified exactly what they had done. You denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of Life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. Imagine what these Jews were thinking. What Holy and Righteous One? Could it be that the One we have waited for for so long was the One that we refused to accept? Is the blame squarely on us? Are Peter and John actually witnesses to this horrendous debacle? And His name-by faith in His name-Has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of all. Make no mistake, it was not Peter and John, but it was Jesus working through! How glorious and how bold! Do I speak out unreservedly, even when I know it will not be received well? Certainly, Peter and John were not sugar-coating the issues. Do I try so hard to make the gospel so palatable that it has lost its power? Peter and John were useful vessels because they unwaveringly spoke the truth in the face of mounting opposition and because they knew intimately Jesus. They knew the power of His name!

 

Father,

Give me boldness to speak the gospel to those who do not know you. Show me how to be a vessel that You can use.

In Jesus name,

Amen