One of the greatest proofs of the claims of Christianity is the unbelievable change in the courage of the disciples. Consider that, on the night of Jesus’ arrest, the disciples ran and scattered. They were not ready to stand and die with Jesus as they had claimed in the upper room at the last supper. But then consider how the disciples behaved just a month-and-a-half later.
Acts 4:5-12
5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Set the stage for this conversation in your mind if you really want to get it. The disciples, the men who had been hiding in the upper room, are pulled into a meeting of the Jewish rulers. Annas and Caiaphas, the two main Jewish rulers who had Jesus put to death, are right there leading this inquest. If ever the disciples should have been utterly scared speechless, it is now. They are facing the men who had Jesus beaten, who took him to Pilate, and who scoffed at the Savior on the cross.
With that kind of terror in mind, look at Peter’s response. There is no hint of fear in Peter. There is only boldness, only confidence. Peter speaks like a person taking a test who has been given the answer key.
What gives Peter all this confidence. I think it is the simple truth that Peter knows that Jesus has been raised from the dead. Peter points out the fact that, yes, you leaders crucified Jesus. But God raised him. Jesus is alive. And now that Peter knows Jesus is alive, he does not fear the Jews. He does not fear a trial. He does not fear death.
Peter has enough confidence, in fact, to make the glorious declaration in verse 12 that there is no other way to salvation other than Jesus. There is no other name under heaven whereby men can be saved. It is only the name of the risen Jesus, because of the finished work of Jesus, that can lead us to true salvation. The death and resurrection of Jesus has changed the world, and Peter and the other disciples are willing to stand strong.
How does a man who ran and hid on Good Friday suddenly stand so strong before the priests? The only way that this makes sense is if Jesus really is alive. But if Jesus really is alive, nothing else would make sense for them to do other than to honestly, boldly, gloriously proclaim the gospel.
Friends, Jesus is alive. Yes, he died. But God raised him from the dead. He walked out of the tomb and showed himself to the disciples and to crowds of hundreds. His resurrection appearance convinced the disciples to give up their lives for the sake of the gospel. And his resurrection is our hope too.
Because Jesus is alive, we can have confidence that his sacrifice was enough to pay for our sins. Because Jesus is alive, we can have confidence that all who have trusted in him have eternal life. Because Jesus is alive, we can have confidence to stand and share the gospel in a world that thinks we are nuts. Because Jesus is alive, we have eternal life, and that life is all we really need.
Pastor Travis Peterson 