The name of Jesus Christ

[Acts 4:1-12]

During the pilgrimage to the Islamic holy site, known as the "Devil's Stoning," a tragic incident occurred in which over 340 people lost their lives, and more than a thousand were injured.  What is the "Devil's Stoning"?  This annual religious event, called Hajj, brings Muslims from all over the world to the holiest Islamic site in Saudi Arabia, Mecca.  It involves a declaration of faith affirming the oneness of Allah, as well as five daily prayers, religious dues, fasting during Ramadan (Islamic calendar's ninth month), and other practices that Muslims are obliged to follow as long as their health and financial means allow.  The Hajj pilgrims, who have gathered in Mina, a plain near Mecca, for the past few days, engage in prayers and contemplation to prepare for the actual pilgrimage.  On the way back to Mecca on the 10th day, pilgrims perform a ritual where they throw seven pebbles at three pillars representing the devil in the Mina Valley.  They shout "Away with you, Satan" as they do so.  This ritual, considered the most perilous in the Mecca pilgrimage, often leads to physical clashes among pilgrims attempting to get as close as possible to the pillars.  Unfortunately, this has resulted in fatal stampedes in the past. In 2003, during this ritual, a tragic incident occurred, claiming 251 lives.  In 1990, a staggering 1,426 people lost their lives in a similar incident (Internet).  Only those who make the declaration of faith affirming the oneness of Allah can participate in the Mecca pilgrimage.  How many Muslims are there?  Islamic countries constitute 57 out of the 191 member states of the United Nations, with a population of nearly 1.1 billion out of a total global population of 6 billion (Internet).  With 1.2 billion Muslims, comprising 20% of the world's population, there are 2.7 missionaries for every million Muslims. Every day, 40,000 Muslims pass away without having heard the Gospel (Internet).

However, in today's Scripture, Acts 4:12, the Bible clearly states: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."  The Scriptures unequivocally declare that there is no other name given to humanity by which we can attain salvation.  Salvation can only be found through the name of Jesus Christ.  Today, I'd like to consider what this name, "Jesus Christ," means based on Acts 4:1-12.

First of all, the name of Jesus Christ is a name that gives hope.

Look at Acts 4:2 - "They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead."  What hope does the name of Jesus Christ give us?  It is the hope of resurrection.  In Acts 3, Peter and John encountered a man who was crippled from birth at the Beautiful Gate of the temple during the hour of prayer.  They healed him in the name of Jesus Christ and then addressed the gathered crowd in Solomon's Colonnade, proclaiming the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  What the apostles proclaimed was the resurrection of the dead in Jesus (Yoo).  The phrase "in Jesus" indicates that the resurrection of the dead has become an undeniable present reality because of the gloriously risen Jesus.  However, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees (4:1) came and arrested the apostles because they were upset that the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection of the dead in Jesus, so they detained them until the next day (vv. 2-3).  What we need to reflect on here is the persecution by religious leaders.  If we say that the audience listening to Peter's sermon in Acts 3 were Jewish people, the audience mentioned in today's passage, chapter 4, consisted of religious leaders, namely the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees.  The priests were the only ones legally authorized to teach the people in the temple, the captain of the temple guard was responsible for maintaining order and security in and around the temple, and as we already know, the Sadducees were the ones who denied the resurrection of the dead (Lk. 20:27).  The reason these religious leaders arrested Peter and John and put them in jail was because two things made them extremely uncomfortable and provoked their anger (Yoo): (1) The apostles, who had no authority to teach the people in the temple, were teaching God's people (vs. the priests and the captain of the temple guard), (2) They were proclaiming the resurrection of the dead in Jesus (vs. the Sadducees).  Even in the midst of persecution by religious leaders who denied the hope of resurrection, Peter proclaimed that the man who had been lame was healed and made well in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead (v. 10).  Here, the word "raised" prompts us to revisit Acts 3:7: "Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up."  In other words, by faith in the power of the resurrection, Peter, after telling the lame man to walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, took him by the right hand, helped him up, and he began to walk and jump.

The name "Jesus Christ" is a name that gives us the hope of resurrection.  Jesus, who was crucified and died, rose from the dead after just three days, and ascended into heaven.  The same power of resurrection that overcame death is also available to us who believe in Jesus.  Therefore, anyone who believes in Jesus receives the hope of resurrection in Him.

Second, the name of Jesus Christ is a name that brings healing.

Look at Acts 4:10 - "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."  Here in verse 10, Peter is responding to the question from the religious leaders in the Sanhedrin, "By what power or what name did you do this?" (v. 7)  In response to their question about "what name," Peter replied, "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" (v. 10).  A more literal translation is ‘by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, (namely) by this, this man stands before you healthy.’  Ultimately, in the Sanhedrin court, Peter declared that it was the authority of Jesus' name, in the midst of being filled with the Holy Spirit, that brought about this remarkable work of salvation (Yoo).

In the Book of Acts, "Jesus of Nazareth" is mentioned about 20 times.  Not just Jesus, but Jesus of Nazareth.  In Acts 2:21, they called on the name of Jesus of Nazareth to be saved, and in Acts 2:38, they were baptized in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  In Acts 3:6, they received healing in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  The incidents of healing in the name of Jesus of Nazareth occur six times in the Book of Acts.  Why "Jesus of Nazareth"?  If we look at the book written by Josephus, a historian of Jewish history, there were many people named Jesus among the Jews at the time of Jesus.  In his book, even among the leading Jewish figures, there were five people named "Jesus."  There was Jesus the Scribe, and there was also Jesus from Jerusalem.  There were even high priests with the name "Jesus."  It is understandable that in an era dominated by Greece and Rome, the fervor of the Jews hoping for their nation's salvation led them to give their children the name "Jesus," which means "salvation" (Internet).  Here, the name "Jesus Christ of Nazareth" brings what kind of healing?  It brings physical healing.  It refers to the healing of the lame man who was able to walk and jump (3:8).  If we look at Luke 9:1-2, we will see that Jesus gave the twelve disciples the authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases and sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.  At that time, Luke reported: "So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere" (Lk. 9:6).  What we need to pay attention to here is the close connection between the healing power and authority Jesus gave to the disciples and the proclamation of the gospel.  In other words, in Acts 4, Peter is using the power and authority that healed the crippled man, which was given by Jesus, as an opportunity to exert strength in proclaiming the gospel and expanding the kingdom of God.  The purpose of healing, then, is not an end in itself, but rather the proclamation of the gospel, the expansion of the kingdom of God.

Third and last, the name of Jesus Christ is a name that brings salvation.

Look at Acts 4:12 today: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." The translation in the Korean Revised Version Bible does not accurately convey the meaning. When we re-translate the Greek text, it reads, "There is no other person through whom salvation is possible; for there is no other name given to us humans under heaven by which we must absolutely be given salvation" (Yu Sang-seop).

We are currently living in an era of religious pluralism.  In this era, the truth that salvation can only be obtained through the name of Jesus Christ will undoubtedly be met with criticism by the people of this age.  They will criticize it as a self-righteous and arrogant doctrine, claiming that the proclamation in today's passage that salvation can only be obtained through the name of Jesus Christ is a doctrine filled with pride and arrogance (Yoo).  In this day and age, people say it doesn't matter whether you believe in Jesus or Muhammad, or even if you believe in Buddha.  It's okay to believe in any religion.  They believe that regardless of which religion you believe in, you can still attain salvation.  Professor Sang-seop Yoo says, ‘In the 21st century, Christianity will continue to face pressure from all directions in society to abandon the exclusivity of the truth of salvation.  If one simply gives up the claim that salvation can only be obtained in the name of Jesus, they will not face persecution.  However, if they firmly hold on to this claim, they will face all sorts of criticisms and persecution’ (Yoo).  However, the remarkable fact is that the gospel proclamation of obtaining salvation only through the name of Jesus Christ is bearing even greater fruit amidst persecution.  The work of salvation through believing in the gospel proclaimed in the name of Jesus Christ continues to unfold.  In Acts 4:4, when the apostles Peter and John proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ, the religious leaders disliked their proclamation (v. 2).  However, the Bible says that the number of men who believed after hearing the message was about five thousand.  How astonishing is this work of salvation?  In Acts 2, as a result of the gospel proclamation of the apostle Peter, about three thousand were added to their number through faith (2:41).  In today's passage in Acts 4, about five thousand people believed in Jesus.  Ultimately, the fruit of this gospel proclamation, which began with the work of salvation in the name of Jesus Christ for the crippled man who was healed in Acts 3 and in today's passage, is astounding.  When Peter commanded, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk," the cripped man not only received physical healing to walk and leap but also received spiritual healing, which is salvation.  We can see this by looking at Acts 3:8.  He not only walked and leaped but also praised God.  How could someone who didn't believe in Jesus praise God?  A more detailed confirming verse is Acts 3:16: "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong.  It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see."

The first pastor to be martyred in Korea was Pastor Thomas, a British man.  Born into a minister's family in Wales, Thomas came to Asia for missionary work at the age of 24.  He first heard about Korea while in China and prepared to preach the gospel to the Korean people.  When he heard that General Sherman was leaving for Korea, he boarded the ship.  Upon arriving at the Daedong River, he began proclaiming the gospel to the people by the seashore, sprinkling leaflets and shouting, "Jesus, Jesus."  Not knowing Korean, he simply proclaimed the gospel by calling out the name "Jesus."  Unfortunately, due to the anti-foreigner policy of the Daewongun, the ship came under attack by Korean soldiers.  After two weeks of fierce battles, the ship was set on fire, and people began to kill whoever they could reach.  Among these soldiers was a man named Chun-geun Park.  He was originally known as a ruthless person from a commoner's background.  When he looked up, he saw a foreigner kneeling by the Daedong River, weeping and praying.  It was Pastor Thomas.  As Chun-geun Park rushed forward, Thomas saw him and shouted loudly, "Jesus, Jesus."  His eyes were filled with God's love, and he wanted to share "Jesus" with the countless unfamiliar people in the Eastern land.  From his embrace, he took out the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Luke and gave them to the soldier.  However, Chun-geun Park, without accepting or rejecting them, drew his sword and struck Thomas's head forcefully.  Thomas's head rolled along the Daedong River, and at the age of 24, the young missionary had to shed his blood on foreign soil, leaving behind loving parents waiting in Wales.  However, something strange happened to Chun-geun Park afterward.  As the foreigner was dying, the sound of him repeatedly saying "Jesus, Jesus" began to ring in his ears.  The sound became so incessant that he couldn't sleep.  "Who is this Jesus that is preventing me from living?"  From then on, Chun-geun Park repented and believed in Jesus.  He received baptism and became a deacon.  Therefore, in the 1860s and 1870s, he became one of the first deacons in the Korean church.  Many pastors among his descendants were subsequently raised up (Internet).

Living today because of my resurrected Lord,

James Kim

(Thinking of the name of Jesus Christ, who brings salvation)