The Name Above All Names: Finding Power in the Risen Christ

Watch the whole service and sermon from Acts 3:11–26: “The Risen Jesus: Rejected by Men, Vindicated by God.” See how God uses miracles to exalt the risen Christ, how people still reject Him today, and why salvation and new life are found only by faith in the name of Jesus.

There's something profoundly humbling about witnessing a miracle. When the impossible becomes possible, when healing touches broken bodies, when transformation happens before our very eyes—our natural response is wonder and amazement. But what happens next reveals everything about where we place our faith.

In the early days of the church, a remarkable healing took place. A man who had been lame from birth was suddenly walking, jumping, and praising God. The crowds gathered, astonished at what they had witnessed. They stared at the messengers through whom this miracle came, searching their faces for answers. But these faithful servants did something revolutionary: they immediately redirected all attention away from themselves.

"Why are you amazed at this?" they asked. "Why do you stare at us as though we had made him walk by our own power or godliness?"

This moment teaches us a fundamental truth about God's work in our lives. When God moves powerfully—whether through miraculous healing, answered prayer, restored relationships, or transformed hearts—we face a choice. Will we subtly take credit, basking in the attention and admiration? Or will we point directly to Jesus Christ?

The reality is that we possess no power of our own. We have no inherent godliness or merit that earns us the privilege of being used by God. Every blessing we receive, every opportunity to serve, every moment when God works through us—these are pure grace. We are simply instruments, vessels through which the power of the risen Christ flows.

Today's spiritual landscape is cluttered with voices claiming personal power, with self-proclaimed healers and leaders who make it all about themselves. But true servants of Christ understand that their role is to decrease so that He might increase. Every testimony we share, every blessing we receive, every divine intervention we experience is an opportunity to glorify God and point others to Jesus.

The miracle wasn't random or disconnected from history. It was the work of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the covenant-keeping God who had been faithful to His people for generations. This is the same God who parted the Red Sea, who provided manna in the wilderness, who dwelt among His people.

And this faithful God had now glorified His servant, Jesus. But here's where the message becomes uncomfortable: this Jesus whom God glorified was the same Jesus that people rejected, denied, and handed over to be crucified. Even when Pilate wanted to release Him, the crowds chose a murderer instead.

Nothing has changed. People continue to reject Jesus Christ today. When we proclaim the gospel, we expose what's in human hearts. Some will receive the message with joy; others will turn away. This rejection doesn't diminish Christ's identity or power—it simply reveals the hardness of the human heart apart from God's grace.

The beauty of Christ's identity unfolds in five powerful titles:

1. The Servant: Jesus came as God's ambassador, the suffering servant prophesied by Isaiah. He didn't come to be served but to serve, ultimately giving His life as a ransom for many. His service wasn't selective or conditional. He loved and served everyone, even those who would betray Him. This challenges us deeply: Are we expecting to be served, or are we following Christ's example of humble service to others?
2. The Savior: The name Jesus literally means "Jehovah saves" or "the Lord is salvation." He came to deliver people from their sins. Ironically, the one who came to deliver was himself delivered to be crucified. But this was always the plan—redemption required sacrifice.
3. The Holy One: In a world stained by sin, Jesus lived without sin. He was separate, set apart, perfectly holy. Psalm 16:10 prophesied that God would not allow His faithful one to see decay. Jesus was the Holy One who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, providing the holiness we could never achieve on our own.
4. The Righteous One: Jesus was innocent, just, completely undeserving of death. Yet the righteous died for the unrighteous. The innocent took the place of the guilty. Through His righteousness, we are declared innocent before God. Because of Christ, God will never condemn believers for their sins—not because sin doesn't matter, but because Jesus already paid the price.
5. The Author of Life: Perhaps most powerfully, the crowds killed the very source of life itself. The Creator of life was put to death. Satan thought this was victory, but it was actually the pathway to our redemption. Death couldn't hold the Author of Life. On the third day, Jesus rose from the grave, demonstrating His power over death itself.

When God raised Jesus from the dead, He reversed the verdict of humanity. The resurrection was God's public declaration that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God. This isn't mythology or wishful thinking—it's historical fact witnessed by hundreds of people. The risen Christ walked the earth for forty days after His resurrection, appearing to His followers, eating with them, teaching them.

The resurrection changes everything. If Jesus had remained dead, He would be just another religious teacher, another failed revolutionary. But because He rose from the dead, we have hope. We have life. We have a Savior who conquered sin and death.

The healing that amazed the crowds happened through faith in the name of Jesus. Not faith in human ability, not faith in religious rituals, not faith plus works—but faith in His name alone. This is the bedrock of Christian faith: salvation comes through faith alone in Christ alone.

There is no other name by which we can be saved. No other name has power over sin and death. No other name offers eternal life. The name of Jesus stands above every other name.

This message demands a response. You cannot remain neutral about Jesus Christ. The question confronting every person who hears the gospel is simple yet profound: What will you do with the risen Christ?

Will you join the crowd in rejection, or will you trust in His name? Will you try to earn salvation through your own efforts, or will you receive the free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus?

The invitation stands open. Believe in His name, and you shall receive eternal life. The Author of Life is calling. The Righteous One offers His righteousness. The Holy One provides holiness. The Savior extends salvation.

What will you do with Him?

Through this message, God reminds us that every work He does is to exalt the risen Jesus—the holy, righteous Author of life whose name alone has the power to save—so how should we respond to Him today?

Peter reveals five titles for Jesus in verses 13-15: Servant, Jesus (Savior), Holy One, Righteous One, and Author of Life.

• Which of these titles is most meaningful to you right now, and why?
• How does understanding Jesus as the "suffering servant" (Isaiah 53) deepen your appreciation for His sacrifice?
• What does it mean practically that Jesus is the "Author of Life" in your daily living?

Choose one of the following to practice this week:

1. Redirect Glory: When someone compliments you or acknowledges something good in your life, intentionally redirect the conversation to thank God and share what He has done.
2. Serve Intentionally: Identify one person you find difficult to serve (perhaps someone different from you or someone you naturally avoid). Find a practical way to serve them this week with humility and love.
3. Share Your Testimony: Write out your testimony, focusing on what the risen Christ has done in your life. Share it with one person this week who needs to hear about Jesus.
4. Study the Suffering Servant: Read Isaiah 53 slowly and prayerfully. Meditate on what Jesus endured for you. Write a prayer of thanksgiving based on what you discover.

Ask God to:

• Give you opportunities to share the gospel
• Give you boldness to proclaim Jesus as Peter did
• Lead you to specific people who need to hear about the risen Christ
• Open the hearts that need healing or restoration

Pray for church members to have opportunities this week to proclaim the risen Jesus and to faithfully redirect all glory to God.