Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 2592
“And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is by Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” Acts 3:16.
You see, dear Friends, that this notable miracle was worked by means of the name of Jesus. Twice it is mentioned. “His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong.” It will be well for us to look back to see what name it was which Peter had used in working this miracle of healing. Turn to the 6th verse. “Then Peter said…In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” He did not omit either of our Lord’s names, nor did he flinch from telling the Jews that it was the same Jesus whom they had despised and called the Nazarene, or the Man of Nazareth. It is always well to adapt our speech to those who are about us. You remember how Cobbett said that he used the English language. “I speak,” he said, “not only so that men can understand me if they will, but so that they cannot misunderstand me if they try to do so.” And I believe that it is a very wise way of speaking when you wish to convince men concerning an important Truth of God which you desire to convey to their very heart. Peter here seems to say, “They shall not think that I am speaking of another Jesus, or of another Christ—it shall be, ‘Jesus Christ.’ Neither shall they imagine that there may be another anointed Jesus, but it shall be, ‘Jesus Christ of Nazareth.’” And, afterwards, when he had used that name and the miracle had been worked, he went on still further to secure his purpose by making the most definite charges against his hearers, repeating them in detail, that they might know for sure that the Christ who had healed the lame man was the same Christ whom they had, with wicked hands, crucified and slain. It was important to convince them of this fact, that they might be brought to repentance concerning it, and then might be led to believe in that same Savior and find life and peace through Him!
I desire to speak just as plainly now and always, that God the Holy Spirit, who would have all His servants use great plainness of speech, may be pleased to bless what is said. My first remarks upon the text will be concerning a name of power and you will know the run of my thought when I tell you that I shall next speak upon a case in proof of the power of that name. And, thirdly—and a very important point this will be—I shall mention a necessity in reference to the use of that name if we desire to see the power of it.
I. First, then, here is A NAME OF POWER. We will meditate for a while upon that name and consider each particular part of it. It was by that name, whatever it was, that this lame man was made strong. It was by faith in that name that he received, “perfect soundness.”
The first name mentioned by Peter is, “Jesus.” Of all the names of our blessed Lord, this is the most charming to our ears. Well might the Duke of Argyll say, when Rutherford began to speak upon the name, Jesus, “Ring that bell again.” It has been so dear to Christians that they have tried to make something out of each syllable and even every letter of it— fancifully so, perhaps, but, still, thus clearly proving that the name was, indeed, as honey in their mouths, and as sweetest music in their ears.
Jesus signifies, Savior, and, for certain, He that was to save us had need of power. And we have cause to rejoice that our Jesus has all power in Heaven and in earth! If Joshua had power to bring the Israelites into the Promised Land and to drive out the Canaanites, much more power has our Lord Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, who will surely bring into the Heavenly Canaan all the chosen seed, driving before Him every enemy! He that is our Redeemer was also the Creator of everything that exists. “All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.” And He is also the Sustainer of all things. “By Him all things consist.” He is a Savior, and a great one! Long before His birth, Isaiah wrote, “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” In that name, Jesus, slumbers Omnipotence! The same power that made all worlds lies hidden in that name! The power that will raise the dead and make new heavens and a new earth, is in that name, saving this poor fallen world from all its degradation, cleansing the planet of all the mists that now surround it, and bidding it shine forth like all its sister stars, to the glory of God who made it! There is none like Jesus among all the sons of men—who among the mighty is like unto him, a Standard-Bearer among ten thousand and Himself the Altogether Lovely? That name of Jesus has infinite power in it, but we must not dwell on that name, alone, for Peter made use of others.
Next, consider the name which follows—“Christ.” “The Messiah” was probably the term which Peter used in speaking to these people and it was the title which they would most readily recognize. “The Christ” is our name for Jesus. The Sent One, the believing Hebrews called Him—the Anointed One, we delight to call Him now. We see at once what wonderful power dwells in Jesus when we connect Him with His mission from God. He was no amateur Savior, but He was commissioned of the Father and He received of the Father all that was necessary for the accomplishment of the work He was sent to perform. In the waters of Baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, like a dove, and abode upon Him. And afterwards, the Father said once and yet again, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”