Acts 4:5-12
A pastor wanted to teach the children about salvation in the name of Jesus. He asked: “If I had a big garage sale, and gave my money to the church, would that get me into heaven?”
“NO!” the children answered.
“If I cleaned the church and gave candy to the children, was kind to animals and loved my family, would that get me into heaven?”
Again, they answered, “NO!”
“Well,” he continued, thinking they were ready to say Jesus, “then how can I get into heaven?”
A 5-year-old boy shouted: “YOU GOTTA BE DEAD!”
Today’s scripture places us in the company of a group of religious leaders who, by the time you read through chapter 5, are ready for Peter and John to be dead! At this point, there is an inquiry into a healing miracle that took place earlier. They had been put in jail because people were disturbed at their teaching and proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus – and even in jail, many believed.
Now this group of leaders – and notice how Luke names those in authority – ask: By what power or what name did you do this? And he boldly gives them the name of his power and authority: Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Jesus. There’s something about that name: it is the name by which we must be saved.
I found in a commentary this heading for Acts 4: The Controversy Begins. And it has been going on ever since. This claim about the Name continues to this day to astonish and infuriate, and lead to threats and persecution.
One could imagine that what we are now hearing as Cancel Culture was at work at the cross, and then here, in Acts 4, where the apostles are told not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name (v. 17). But they speak out of ignorance, said an early Church teacher, for they question what only God could do! They have no intention to believe, only to intimidate. Translation: “Cancel” them! However, the response from the apostles is clear: there is something about that name.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus There’s just something about that name! says the song. It smacks in the face of the new “secular” religion rising in the land that can list names, with no intention to believe in the name of Jesus, only intimidate. But don’t worry, these will all pass away, because there’s something about that Name.
What is that “something”? “Jesus” comes from the Hebrew word meaning, The Lord Saves. Peter also called him Christ, meaning Anointed One, from an insignificant town called Nazareth. The Anointed Lord Who Saves lived among us. They tried to cancel Him, but he rose above all their scheming, plots and insults, their threats and punishment, with all power and authority given His Name. That’s why there’s something about that Name.
There’s something about that name that heals, helps and gives courage in the face of threats and trouble. Rather than a name that so casually falls from the lips of unbelievers – and sometimes believers – when under stress, taken in vain, it should be respected and revered.
Bill and Gloria Gaither’s grandparents were dying, one by one. They were impressed by how often, even in their dying days, they spoke the name of Jesus with reverence and devotion. It was also about that time that Bill and Gloria became parents, not sure they were up to the responsibility. Then one night their child woke with a frightful fever. They began calling on the name of Jesus – and the fever went away.
It left them believing that, yes, there is something about that name. They wrote the words to our next song to express just how the name of Jesus brought a sense of peace in their panic, and a refreshment came over them, like coolness after the storm.
Seven times they have us say His Name – the biblical number for spiritual perfection. How many times has it rained and stormed in your life? 7 or 70 times 7, it doesn’t matter. Jesus’ salvation is the perfect fit for our lives. Yes, there is something about