Acts 3:12-19, “The author of life, our Savior!”
Today’s given text is from Acts 3:12-19, from which we can learn who Jesus is. Do we know who Jesus is? Before going into detail, we are to note that today’s text follows the story of the healing of the lame man, which event had drawn the crowd’s attention and which, in turn, presented Peter an opportunity to proclaim the risen Christ. Do we remember the story about the lame man from birth who used to beg at the temple gate called “Beautiful”? After Peter and John experienced the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit upon them, they took notice of the lame man begging every day at the temple gate and healed him in the name of Jesus.
When the crowd saw this miracle and ran after Peter and John, Peter seized the opportunity to proclaim that the lame man was healed not by their “power” or “piety” but in the name of the risen Christ. In his preaching, we notice that from verse 13, Peter proclaimed that Jesus was the “servant of God” and “Holy and Righteous One” in verse 14, which were the names of the Messiah in the Jewish context, as we know the “suffering servant” prophesied in Isaiah 53 and “Righteous Branch” in Jeremiah 23:5, 33:15. In other words, Peter was preaching to them that Jesus was the promised Messiah. To this point, nothing is new to us since we already know that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the world.
Then, how about “the Author of life”? Do we know that Jesus is the “Author of life” who gives life? In verse 15, Peter stated that Jesus is the “Author of life,” meaning He is the creator and giver of life. Some people claim that Jesus was a created being, the first among the created beings; they say Jesus is the highest in rank among the angels who were created, the highest archangel. They have problems seeing Jesus as God. They claim that Jesus was created based on Colossians 1:15, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation (NIV).” In other versions, it is even translated as “firstborn of every creature (KJV).” But do we know that “first-born” here does not mean first-created? This error is due to a misunderstanding of the Greek word prototokos, translated into English as “first-born,” which does not mean being created. The original word has meanings that are either first in birth order or primary in importance or rank. The accurate translation of this verse is “He is the image of the invisible God, the pre-eminent one over all creation.” If we read Colossians 1:16, it will make even more sense. “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him.” This is the same theme we find in John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.He was with God in the beginning. Through him, all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made.” Isaiah 9:6-7, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. It would be blasphemy to call any created being an “Everlasting Father.” Jesus is not created but begotten of God. He is God!
That is why the name of Jesus, who was raised from the dead, has power. He is the author of life. He gives life to the dead and strength to the paralyzed limbs, healing the deaf, lame, mute, and blind physically and spiritually, as we see in the story of the lame man that Peter and John healed in the name of Jesus. In His name, there is salvation. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to humankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12) but the name of Jesus. God does not give His glory to no other but to His own begotten Son to be praised and worshipped as the redeemer of the world.
My prayer for us is to know and own the resurrection power of Jesus through having faith in Him, the Son of God, to live a victorious life. If we know God, if we truly know that God loves us unto death in the true sense of the word, we no longer have to live a defeated life. We no longer have the need to earn other people’s recognition or love by trying so much. We no longer need to be involved in everything, doing everything to feel good or to have a sense of self-worth. In Jesus, every thirst we have in life is quenched. Do we know there is power in the name of Jesus? Do we know God can heal us in every aspect of our lives that is not whole, that is not healthy, or that is not full? That does not mean that we will not have any problems in life. That means God is in the center of our lives, leading, guiding, and giving us peace and power to overcome troubles and billowy waves in life. Of course, miraculous deliverances from our sicknesses and addictions can be experienced in our Christian life, as some of us can testify.
If we do not know Jesus, we make fatal mistakes in our lives, such as choosing death over life. In the court of Pilate, Jesus, the Author of life, and Barabbas, the murderer, were presented. The Jewish people who were there cried out at the top of their lungs to release Barabbas over Jesus. Although it was Pilate’s will to release Jesus, they “rejected and handed over Jesus to be killed” in vs. 13. If we do not know Jesus for who he is, in our daily living, we might very well choose the world, which is death over Jesus the life. We make decisions every day: Jesus or job/money, worship or worldly pleasures, worship or family’s affairs, my own opinions over the word of God. Do we know Jesus? Do we make just and righteous decisions in accordance with the will of God? Does God confirm what you are saying and doing? I have been praying to know what to do as a shepherd, bring order to our church, or teach God’s order in church life. Sometimes, God surprises me by correcting my thoughts and opinions, which might be correct according to the Book of Discipline or the Church Manual. I am constantly learning about God, who is love, and that love should prevail over anything else when making decisions. If we do not know God, if we do not have a relationship with God and communicate with Him, we might make mistakes detrimental to our spiritual well-being, choosing death over life. How fearful that is!
The good news is that we can be forgiven, especially for sins we committed out of ignorance (vss. 17-19). We sinned; we harmed ourselves with our bad choices in life. We betrayed, killed, and rejected Jesus with our words and our actions in the past, but if we are repentant, we can be forgiven and start a new life in Jesus. Some people say God loves us no matter what we do or have done. But do we know that our God is also the God of justice? Only repentants can be forgiven and be the objects of God’s love ultimately. If anyone refuses to repent, that person cannot have God’s forgiveness. Judas Iscariot sinned; he betrayed and sold him for 30 pieces of silver. But because he did not repent, he couldn’t be forgiven. Peter denied Jesus the same, but he became the pillar of the church. The only difference between the two is that one refused to repent, and the other repented. Being repentant means turning around from one’s sinful ways and living according to God’s commands. Let us not be fooled by what the world says. We will be judged by the word of God when we stand before God. Amen!