To be fully HUMAN — A Daily Reflection

 

They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is "the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

 

Peter was in a pretty sticky situation here.  He and John were facing one of the most powerful groups of men in existence, a group that had just recently been successful in crucifying Jesus… the Sanhedrin - the Supreme Court of Israel.  It was not unlikely that Peter could very shortly find himself nailed to a cross, too, with John hanging alongside him.  Peter could have gotten really defensive at this point, crab-walking to try to get out of a sticky situation.  He could have said, "Hey, guys, sorry we got carried away.  We’ll keep it down from now on if you’ll just let us go."  But he didn’t.  Peter knew that the best defense is a good offense, so he allowed the Holy Spirit to take over and spoke up boldly for Jesus.  Not only that, he put the group before him on the defensive, reminding them of the prophecies about Jesus and telling them that they were the very ones that scripture said would reject Jesus.  He brought to their attention the fact that they were the ones who had crucified Jesus.  And he told them that the very man they had crucified was the Messiah, the one and only Messiah… the only one in whom salvation could be found.  The effect?  Was Peter stoned to death right on the spot?  Was he crucified that very day?  No.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he backed the chief priests and the Sadducees against the wall and shut them up.  They couldn’t say anything!

 

That’s the whole key… through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Peter, on his own, could not have stood up to that crowd.  Remember, Peter was the one who denied Jesus three times while Jesus was on trial.  Peter on his own, brash and bold as he seemed to be, was really a wimp.  Peter on his own had not even had the nerve to admit that he knew Jesus.  And yet, just a few weeks later, Peter could boldly stand in front of the most powerful group of men in the Hebrew community and not only speak up for Jesus, but turn the tables and put that very group on trial for crucifying the Lord.  Peter was no longer on his own.  He had the power of the Holy Spirit living in him, strengthening him, speaking through him.

 

In every situation, great or small, you and I have the same power to call on that Peter did - the Holy Spirit.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be bold when we’d rather be weak.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can stand firm for Jesus when going along with the crowd would be a lot easier.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can recall scripture we didn’t realize we knew.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can witness when witnessing is the last thing we’d be able to do on our own. 

 

If you‘ve been operating on your own power, stop.  Call on power of God Almighty living within you.  Allow the Holy Spirit to turn your defense into a great offense for Jesus.