Photo by Zoltan Tasi (unsplash.com)
“Sorry dude. I got nothin’. At least not cash. But I will give you what I do have…”
And with those words, Peter healed the lame man at the temple gate in Acts 3.
Ok so, maybe not with those exact words.
I would venture that a lot of you are familiar with the story of Peter and John going to the temple to pray, encounter a lame man and heal him. Peter then preaches to the crowds that run to see this miracle. And as a result, both he and John are arrested by the Jewish Council. They are brought before the Sanhedrin the next day and questioned, so they give their defense.
Astonishment
Acts 4:13 says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”
Astonished. The Sanhedrin were astonished that Peter and John were boldly speaking as educated, confident men…like they had gone through the advanced training of their rabbinic schools.
But they hadn’t.
However, that is not the part of the verse that I want you to see. The part I want you to see is that last part: “And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”
Who knows how much the apostles learned from spending three years with the Son of God.
They walked with him and talked with him…listened to his teaching. They knew Jesus. And in knowing the Son of God, and through the coming of the Holy Spirit, they were able to speak boldly and unashamedly. When the Sanhedrin saw that they were just common, everyday laymen – speaking uncommonly, they said, “these have been with Jesus.”
How long have you known?
Three years.
How long have you been with Jesus?
1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
Please note…Peter wrote those words.
You don’t have to go to Seminary. You don’t have to be a pastor…or a missionary.
Just spend time with Jesus.
Walk with him, and talk with him. Listen to him.
Know Jesus.
And in knowing the Son of God, really knowing him, knowing his Word, and remembering that the same Holy Spirit is in you, He will give you the boldness to be unashamed so that others will see.
So that others will say… “This one has been with Jesus.”
Just, know Jesus.
