The Name of Jesus

The Name of Jesus Christ is powerful. What does this passage about the healing of a man born lame teach about Jesus Christ and about how we are to treat His Name, and how we should trust, pray and act in His Name. There is no greater Name, and no greater purpose than that which is found in His Name.

Scripture

Acts 3:1-10 ESV  Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.  [2]  And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.  [3]  Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.  [4]  And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”  [5]  And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.  [6]  But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”  [7]  And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.  [8]  And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.  [9]  And all the people saw him walking and praising God,  [10]  and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Bible Study Questions

According to plan, witnessing by Words and Works

Acts is the record of Christ’s plan unfolding, a group of me witnessing to Him starting in Jerusalem. As the plan unfolds we see people devoted to the Word of God and then being amazed at His Work, being done through His disciples. Are we devoted to His Word starting where we are, and are we committed to see Him Work through us?

Acts 1:8 ESV  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 2:42-43 ESV  And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  [43]  And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

He was a man lame from birth

Who are you? Who does the world think you are, how do you and others define you? This lame man’s name is not mentioned all other details around the place, time and people involved are included, but we only know him as the one who was lame from birth. That all changes. What needs to change about your identity?

Acts 3:1-10 ESV  Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.  [2]  And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

Paying attention, make a connection

Peter and John are going to the Temple to praise God and witness to Jesus Christ His Son. On the way they have an opportunity to connect with someone in need. How often are we too busy doing something else to connect with those in need. It only needs a conversation.

Acts 3:3-5 ESV Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.  [4]  And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”  [5]  And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth

The Name of Jesus leaves no doubt as to who we should love, fear, trust and obey above all else. Jesus’ Name proves He is God. Jesus Name will be honoured above every other Name. How do we honour and fear His Name?

Acts 3:6 ESV  But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

Exodus 3:14 ESV  God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Matthew 1:21-23 ESV  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  [22]  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:  [23]  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Philippians 2:9-11 ESV  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,  [10]  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  [11]  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Isaiah 45:22-23 ESV  “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.  [23]  By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

Jesus is the perfect man

Critical to understanding the Name of Jesus is to understand that He willingly gave up everything to do His Fathers will and to save us. He chose to become a poor and despised human being in order to bring glory to God. He is the perfect man, in order for us to see that He is the perfect God.

John 1:46 ESV  Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Philippians 2:4-7 ESV  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  [5]  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  [6]  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  [7]  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

A New creation praises their creator

A man who can walk for the first time in his life could have chosen any of a host of things to do first with his new freedom and identity. What did this man chose to do first? What do we do with God’s grace and what do we prioritise?

Acts 3:7-8 ESV  And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.  [8]  And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.  

What had happened to Him

Who are you really? Are we defined by our family, by our achievements and failures, by our circumstances? Or are we defined by what Jesus did to us, for us and for the glory of God in our lives, and are we witnessing to that today?

Acts 3:9-10 ESV And all the people saw him walking and praising God,  [10]  and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.