Introduction
It happens
to be one of the occupational hazards of being a pastor that people who believe
in god generally, bristle at my insistence that we can only be united
(reconciled) to God by and through Jesus Christ. I can’t tell you how many
conversations I’ve had over the years with people who claim to be quite
enlightened about many things including spiritual matters who insist that there
are many paths to God and that Jesus is only one such way. Perhaps you too have
encountered such a person. In some cases, perhaps most cases, these people are
woefully ignorant in spiritual matters. However, I believe there is something
deeper and more sinister at work in their lives. Rather than insist that they
are incorrect, I offer them a simple challenge: I will offer them the support
for my position that Jesus is the one and only way to God and they must
likewise offer the support for their position that there are many ways to God
including Jesus. The only stipulation in the challenge is that our respective positions
must be based on an authoritative set of principles outside ourselves. In other
words, it can’t be what “I think” is the truth. You can probably see the
obvious paradox if you are a believer but non-believers rarely recognize that
they are living in darkness until they see the bright light of truth. A person
can believe there are multiple ways to god or they can believe that Jesus is
the only way to God but it is not possible to believe that there are multiple
ways to god including Jesus. That is a lie according to the authority of the
Bible. This leaves the unbeliever who says they believe in god or “some sort of
higher power” (whatever that means), to either cleave to their position that
there are multiple ways to god now excluding
Jesus or they can accept that reconciliation with God is only possible through
Jesus and no one and nothing else according to the Bible. Unfortunately, most
of those who I have engaged with this challenge have opted for the former of
the two, at least for now. Nevertheless, they can no longer deceive themselves
into thinking that they have all their “bases covered” with their many-ways-to-god
theology that previously included Jesus. They must now consider that if Jesus
stands outside their all inclusive theological construct then it necessarily creates
the possibility of another way; the way that is Jesus only. This is usually the
point where those who engage me in this conversation become angry with me.
There is only one way to heaven and eternity with God; there’s no special
formula; there’s nothing we can do to get there; we must rely on the power of
one person and one person only and his name is Jesus. I refuse to equivocate on
this matter! Let’s look and see if the biblical record supports what critics
call my narrow and exclusivist perspective.
Biblical Text
Acts 4:8-20
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,
said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called
to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are
being asked how he was healed, 10then
know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ
of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this
man stands before you healed. 11Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which
has become the cornerstone.’ 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no
other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
13When they saw the courage of Peter and
John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished
and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could
see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing
they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin
and then conferred together. 16“What
are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem
knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing
from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no
longer to anyone in this name.”
18Then they called them in again and
commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John
replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the
judges! 20As
for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Context
We have to go back to the beginning of chapter three
to find the cause of the confrontation in our subject text. Peter and John are
in Jerusalem on their way to the temple in the middle of the afternoon. The
Beautiful Gate (aka Golden Gate) entrance to the temple courts was a popular
place for beggars to be positioned because of the high traffic flow in and out
of the temple courts—this day was no different. As Peter and John were about to
enter the temple courts they were confronted by a beggar who the text says was
crippled from birth. Peter addresses the man directly by telling him that he
doesn’t have silver or gold but is prepared to give the man something far more
valuable—Peter invokes “the name of Jesus” and heals the man! Holding fast to
Peter and John, the man enters the temple courts with them “walking, jumping
and praising God.” You can imagine the scene when the people inside the temple
recognized him walking and jumping around. It’s possible that some of these
people where those who carried him to his place at the temple gate. In any
event, the text says they were “astonished” when they saw him. In more popular
English vernacular, they “freaked out” when they saw him. This sets the stage
perfectly for Peter.
The people were filled with “wonder and amazement”
with this miraculous healing. However, although we don’t know exactly when this
takes place, the events of chapter two take place at the first Pentecost after
Jesus death and resurrection which was 50 days after Passover. What does it
matter? Well it wasn’t long before Jesus was arrested, tried and crucified that
he performed many miracles right in the temple (Matt 21:14-16). Yet these
people acted as though they had never witnessed anything so amazing. The people
are clearly captivated by the miracle performed by Peter yet Peter uses the
occasion to give credit specifically to Jesus. Peter reminds them that God
established Jesus as the “Righteous One” and the “Holy” but that they and their
leaders, in their ignorance, crucified Him. Nevertheless, Peter testifies to
the fact that he was a witness to Jesus’ resurrection and it was the resultant
faith in “the name of Jesus” that the crippled man was healed. Peter
acknowledges their ignorance in the matter and implores them, now that they
know the truth they must repent and turn from their sins and accept Jesus as
the one who was appointed as their savior. Peter goes on to tell them how Jesus
was the fulfillment of all the prophetic promises beginning with the promise to
Abraham that through his offspring all the peoples of the earth would be
blessed and when God sent Jesus, he first sent him to the Jews so that they
could be first to be blessed and reconciled to God through the forgiveness of
their sins.
While John and Peter were teaching the people, the
temple guards and the Sadducees showed up and were upset that they were
teaching about Jesus and the resurrection. The Sadducees did not believe in the
resurrection of the dead. Peter and John were detained and put in jail until
they could be questioned the next day. However, Peter’s purpose had been
accomplished as the text tells us that many who heard his message became
believers. The next day, Peter and John were brought before the religious
leaders for questioning. They were asked by what power or by what name they were
able to perform the miraculous healing at the temple the day before. The use of
the term: “the name of Jesus” or “by what name” sets the stage for the
climactic statement made by Peter in our subject text.
What’s In A Name
In our present day, parents usually give little
thought to the meaning of the names they give their children. Names or a derivation
thereof are often passed down from one generation to the next. Or perhaps a
name is chosen based on personal preference (that’s how we picked the names of
our children anyway). But in ancient Judaism, this wasn’t the case. Ideally, a
name represented a person’s personality. Names may also be prophetic in nature;
foretelling a person’s hoped-for destiny. A child’s name could also be a form
of prayer that the person bearing the name will live up to the potential
conveyed by the name. Let’s see how this works in relation to the name of
Jesus.
The name “Jesus” is the English
translation of the Greek name Iesous.
The ancient Hebrew translation is Yehoshua
which is translated back to English as “Joshua” (I know it’s weird that it
doesn’t translate back to “Jesus,” but that’s not really unusual. In fact, the
Greek Iesous is translated as
“Joshua” in Heb 4:8 so clearly the names are interchangeable at times). The
Hebrew translation, Yehoshua, is
derived from the same roots as the word signifying “Jehovah is salvation.” The
name “Jesus” is significant because it means “God our Savior.” In this sense,
the name of Jesus represents his personality; “Savior.” When the angel appeared
to Joseph, while Mary was pregnant with Jesus, the angel said that Mary was to
name the child Jesus because He would save his people from their sins (Matt
1:21). In this respect, Jesus’ name is prophetic as it foretells his
divine destiny. Consequently, Scripture tells us that, “at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil 2:10-11a).” Can you see the
personality trail? Let’s string the words and ideas from above together: Yehoshua = Jehovah + Savior = God our
Savior. Jesus = Yehoshua; Jesus = God our Savior. So, What’s In A Name? The fullness of God in “Jesus” (Col 1:19)!
Text Analysis
“Probably the most outstanding
feature of apostleship as it is portrayed in Acts is the involvement of the
Holy Spirit in apostolic ministry. The risen Jesus promised the apostles that
they would receive power and be his witnesses when the Holy Spirit came upon
them (Acts 1:5, 8). Having been filled with the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost,
they proceeded to give their witness to the resurrection.”[1]
In the setting of v. 8, Peter is addressing his message to the religious
leaders as though the religious leaders alone were guilty of Jesus’
condemnation and death. Of course, we know this isn’t true as we witness the
crowds generally calling for Jesus’ crucifixion in the Gospel accounts.
Nevertheless, the harshest criticism is always reserved for the religious
leaders because the heinous actions of the people began with the despicable
plot hatched by the religious leaders.
Peter begins in v. 9 by recalling
the events that led up to their detainment in that they showed kindness to a
crippled beggar by giving him the gift of healing. As usual, the religious
leaders failed or refused to see the deeper meaning behind the healing of this
simple beggar. Just as the miracles performed by Jesus authenticated who he
was, the miracles performed during the apostolic age and even to this day
attest to the presence of the Holy Spirit and the power of the name of Jesus.
Peter testifies to this effect by his statement if v. 10 as he credits the
healing miracle to the power of the name of Jesus; the very Jesus they
crucified, he reminds them, the one that is risen from the dead. “In the
records that the Acts of the Apostles gives us of the preaching of apostles
Peter and Paul, we find the death of Christ always has a place of central
importance. In this preaching the human responsibility for the death of Christ
is laid at the door of the Jews who handed him over to be crucified and of
Pilate who condemned him to death, but it also makes clear that it was in
fulfillment of the purpose of God in the Scriptures…His enemies did only what
God’s own ‘power and will had decided beforehand should happen.’”[2]
V. 11 is one of those prophetic
threads we see weaving its way through the Bible. Only now do we see the rich
tapestry produced by that thread. We first see these words in Psalm 118:22. The
Jews naturally saw themselves as that “cornerstone/capstone” that was rejected
representative of their designation as God’s chosen people yet oppressed
throughout their history by various military super-powers. However, Jesus
quickly added another dimension to their understanding when he described
himself as the “cornerstone/capstone” that would be rejected (Lk 20:17). “The cornerstone
was the most important stone in the building, used as the standard to make sure
that the other stones of the building were straight and level. Israel’s
leadership, like the builders looking for an appropriate cornerstone, would
toss Jesus aside because he didn’t seem to have the right qualifications. They
wanted a political king, not a spiritual one.”[3]
The fact that Peter was standing before the religious leaders brings these
words into sharp focus as Jesus, who they rejected, has become the cornerstone
of an eternal structure—the Church.
Most of us can identify something in
our lives that we would never equivocate about. I have many of them; the love
for my wife and kids comes immediately to mind. However, you may have others
that you would identify and in doing so you use words like: Never, always,
everything, nothing, etc. Those words represent a “line in the sand” that won’t
be crossed. The truth about a “line in the sand” is that it often becomes a
battle line as well. That’s what v. 12 represents in our subject text. Jesus is
the way of salvation and there is “No
Other” name that we can call on to save us. Period! For those of you who
are as convinced of this as I am, what would it take to get you to cross that
line in the sand? I’ll tell you what it would take for me; you’d have to kill
me and drag my dead body across the line! For those of you who think that is
harsh and exclusive, that is the force of the text in v. 12. You can pick at
the words, you can dig through their various meanings, or you can put them into
a larger theological context but the end result will always be the same. We are
saved by Jesus and no one and nothing else. “Jesus was not simply a useful
commodity given to men but a person who lived among them as the agent of God’s
salvation. The general meaning of the clause is clear: Jesus Christ is the only
source and ground of salvation available for mankind…If we are to be saved at
all, it must be in this way, for there is no other.”[4]
V. 13 begins a section of our
subject text that just makes me scratch my head. The religious leaders have all
the pieces of a puzzle that a child could assemble yet they are dumbfounded.
They acknowledge that Peter and John were with Jesus, they knew what Jesus
taught, they hear Peter and John teaching the same things; using the same
words, yet they are astonished because they are “unschooled!” Nevertheless, Peter
and John boldly confront those who are “schooled.” Don’t misunderstand the purpose
of this text. This text is often incorrectly used to justify the belief that
pastors must not be formally educated in order to lead a church; that is not
the meaning of this text. The force of the text is intended to illustrate that
that those who should have been the most qualified to recognize the Truth
instead had Him nailed to a cross?[5]
The religious leaders are truly befuddled. They recognize Peter and John as
being unschooled yet they are eyewitnesses to the miracle healing as confirmed
in v. 14. They just can’t seem to reconcile those two things. They never even
seem to consider Peter’s testimony that the miracle was performed in the name
of Jesus. It seems obvious that they completely ignored everything Peter said
to them.
In vv. 15-17 we get a peek into the
world and hearts of the religious leaders. In v. 15 they send Peter and John
out so that they can discuss the matter amongst themselves. Who knows, maybe
the message got through to some of them and perhaps those who understood Peter
and John’s message would be able to convince the others of the truth; or…maybe
not. There never seems to be even the slightest consideration by the council of
what Peter had to say. You would think that one of them would stand up and say,
“Hey! What if they’re right and we’re wrong?” Instead, vv. 16-17 tell us that
“The council was in a quandary. The apostles had performed an undeniable,
widely publicized miraculous sign. The masses were gravitating toward this new
sect. How could the religious leaders save face (in light of the obviously
healed man), discourage further teaching and healing in the name of Jesus, and
preserve the status quo? The solution was to order the apostles not to speak to
anyone in Jesus’ name again. It seems as though they thought that their power
and position could convince these men to be silent.”[6]
Let me ask you a question, if you
had the cure for cancer and someone told you to keep it to yourself, what would
you do? I know, it’s a dumb question. But that’s in essence what the religious
leaders tell Peter and John to do in v. 18. They tell them that they are free
to go but that they can no longer “speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”
The religious leaders have drawn their own line in the sand. What will the
disciples do? What would you do? “Suppression of the press, control of the
media, banning of books—the rulers always hope that there is some way to keep
this sort of thing quiet, some way to control the people’s access to
information. Unfortunately for the rulers, trying to keep spirit-filled
apostles quiet is like trying to hold back a breaking wave.”[7]
This was simple for Peter. He had previously given in to the fear of being
associated with Jesus—not just once but three times he denied knowing Jesus. Not
this time. He was an eyewitness to the
Truth! Even though Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah before he was
crucified, his denial of Jesus when Jesus was brought before the religious
leaders demonstrated that he lacked the necessary conviction of what he
previously said he believed about Jesus. So what changed? The empty tomb, an
encounter with the resurrected Christ, and being filled with the Holy
Spirit—that’s what changed! Vv. 19-20 convince us that Peter and John knew the
Truth and there was no way anyone would shut them up. There is a profound
theological principal at work in the encounter with the religious
leaders—simplicity. Let me show you: The crippled man was healed by the name of
Jesus—simple; there is no name other than Jesus that can save us—simple; it is
better to obey God than men—simple. This simplicity is common throughout all of
Scripture. Plumbing the theological depths of God is no different than plumbing
the depths of any person we love in order to know them better; more intimately.
However, as important as it may be to pursue a deep understanding of a person
with whom we are in a relationship with, we must never forget the simplicity of
that relationship. With respect to the simplicity of our relationship with
Jesus, the message is very simple, it is the kerygma passed down through the
ages: Jesus is God incarnate—simple; lived a sinless life—simple; died on a
cross as payment for our sins—simple; rose from the dead as the Conqueror of death—simple;
ascended to heaven as Lord of all—simple; will one day return to judge the
living and the dead—simple. We are saved when we believe this in our hearts and
confess it with our mouths (Rom 10:9). This was the simple truth that Peter,
John, the other Apostles and countless disciples confessed and continue to
confess to this day even at the expense of their lives. What’s In A Name? We are saved when we call on the name of Jesus—that’s
What’s In A Name!
Application
This week, our country experienced another
painful episode of terrorism. Of course many of you experience terrorism on a
regular basis in your country so you’re unfortunate veterans at this sort of
thing if that’s possible. However, when terrorism strikes us here in America,
people naturally search for answers; for solutions to prevent future evil. I am
always interested in reading and listening to the various reactions from people,
particularly Americans who are unaccustomed to terrorism, about what it will
take to stop such evil and violence. Since Muslims seem to again be behind this
latest act of terrorism, many of the reactions were ridiculous as one might
expect ranging from deporting all Muslims to hunting down Muslims and killing
them. These are obviously childish and foolish solutions and would ultimately
be ineffective. Thankfully, this is not the reaction of most thoughtful people.
However, the solution still seems to elude many people even as the answer may
be staring them right in the face. There is a power available to overcome the
darkest evil and transform even the hardest of hearts. Many people in the last
few days insist that the answer to combating evil in the world is love; all we
need is love (sorry for the unintended Beatles song reference I couldn’t help
myself). If we would just love one another then evil would cease to exist. Don’t
be deceived! This sentiment makes sense only in a vacuum and we don’t happen to
live in a vacuum! We live in a sinful, broken world where love is relative. For
example, Muslims generally love other Muslims and love the god and religious
system they have constructed. However, they hate just about everyone else that
doesn’t love what they love. You see, love that is rooted in a lie does not
have the power to transform humanity into something beautiful when it has been so
grotesquely disfigured by sin. In order for love to transform evil into
something beautiful, love must be rooted in truth. Once we accept that, then
and only then, can we be saved from much of the evils of sin. Cowards become
courageous; persecutors become advocates; those who seek retribution give way
to forgiveness; and those who once hated develop a never ending capacity to
love. It is only when humanity recognizes the power of transformation found in
the name of Jesus that evil will find its match. For there is no other name
under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12)! Love is
the answer, yes. But only love that is rooted in truth and the truth is that
Jesus is humanity’s only hope of redemption and reconciliation. Jesus is the
Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14:6). Love apart from Jesus is a lie and often
only perpetuates evil, but love rooted in Jesus can and will change the world.
Trust in the name of Jesus to transform and tell others about Jesus and the love
that so many hope can change the world will become a reality. What’s In A Name? Try calling on the
name of Jesus to save you and see what happens.
[1]
Ralph P. Martin & Peter H. Davids, eds., Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Developments,
(Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997), p. 79.
[2]
Walter A. Elwell, ed., Baker Theological
Dictionary of the Bible, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996), p. 157.
[3]
Bruce Barton, Philip Comfort, Grant Osborne, Linda K. Taylor, Dave Veerman, Life Application New Testament Commentary,
(Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), p. 486)
[4] C.
K. Barrett, The International Critical
Commentary, Acts, Vol. 1, (Edinburgh, Scotland: T&T Clark Ltd., 1994),
pp. 232-233.
[5] It
is true that there are many pastors in the world that are not formally educated
yet God has called them to be pastors. They are magnificent pastors who serve
God’s calling precisely the way God intends. However, most of those pastors do
not have a formal theological education because it is not available to them. This
is not justification for pastors not to pursue formal theological education if
it is available to them. There are places in the world where men and women
provide medical care without formal medical education. However, generally
speaking, when medical education is available, medical education is required.
This should be the principal in the case of pastors as well. Where theological
education is available, theological education should be required. If we insist
that the part of us that dies be cared for by the most educated medical
professionals, why don’t we insist that the part of us that lives forever be
cared for by the most educated theological professionals? Education, as
demonstrated in our subject text, does not guarantee qualification but it is
never a reason for disqualification. Conversely, lack of education does not
guarantee disqualification but it is never a reason for qualification.
[6]
Barton, et al., Life Application
Commentary, pp. 486-487.
[7]
William H. Willimon, Acts,
Interpretation—A Biblical Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, (Louisville,
KY: John Knox Press, 1988), p. 49.
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