Jesus Christ, the Nazarene

"Peter said : I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have, I give it to you: In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, arise and walk." Act 3. 6

"And the next day their chiefs, and their elders, and their scribes gathered themselves together in Jerusalem.... They called and asked them : By what power, or by what name, have ye done this ? Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them : "It is by the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, that ye crucified." Acts 4: 5-10

A miracle happened. A sick infant born in his forties, seated at the door of the temple, has just been delivered from his infirmity (Acts 3: 2, 4. 22). Imagine the thousands of people who, for more than a generation, have seen him prostrate at the entrance to the sanctuary and asking for alms. "Filled with stupor", people come running when they learn that he walks and jumps by praising God in the temple. This is an opportunity for Peter to give a vibrant testimony to Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, whom God raised and glorified after the Jews crucified him; It is in fact by this name that man is in full health.

The Sadducees interrupt Peter and John and immediately imprison them. But their testimony has already borne its fruit; The number of those who believe reaches five thousand people.

The next day, a complete Sanhedrin interrogates the two apostles : "By what power or by what name did you do that ?" Peter confirms that it was in the name of "Jesus Christ the Nazarene" ; It is worth them the formal prohibition of "speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus". Peter and John, respectfully but firmly, then exclude all submission to such an order : "Judge whether it is right before God to listen to you rather than God" ; They are barely released, and once again announce "the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4: 23-31).

Since then, what about ? On the one hand, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today", always as powerful, "authorities and powers subject to him", always ready to give us the required boldness (Heb. 22). On the other hand, is Jesus Christ, in his person and his work, always the essential and priority subject of Christian preaching and testimony ? In the face of so many "different" gospels spread today (Galatians 1: 8), let us imitate Paul : "We preach Christ crucified, ... Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor 1 23, 24).

Source (To pleasing the Lord)