"Tell" 5-18-25
Overview
A Disciple Tells
Continuing our series on discipleship, we come to a single, defining verb: a disciple tells. After Peter and John healed the man born lame at the gate of the temple, Peter preached Christ to the astonished crowd Acts 3:6. The reaction was mixed—some were "much annoyed," especially the Sadducees who rejected the resurrection, and the apostles were arrested Acts 4:1-3. Yet many believed: about five thousand Acts 4:4. Brought before the very Sanhedrin that had condemned Jesus, Peter, "filled with the Holy Spirit," didn't soften the message—he doubled down on the name: "this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead" Acts 4:8-10.
The Scandal of the Name
Then as now, the name of Jesus offends. We saw this recently when a public reading of John 14:1-6 was cut off mid-verse, omitting Jesus' words, "no one comes to the Father except through me." That edit reveals our cultural moment. Surveys say 78% of Americans call themselves "spiritual," half of them denying any religion at all, and 60% claim no need of the church because "God is within them." We live in a modern Mars Hill, surrounded by altars to unknown gods. But the unknown God is not unknown. As C.S. Lewis put it, either Jesus is Lord over all, or He is not Lord at all.
Why We Know We Are Right
How can Christians say with confidence that Christ is the only way? Because of Jesus Himself. No other religion offers a mediator. Every other system asks the sinner to climb; only the gospel proclaims that God has come down. "There is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all" 1 Timothy 2:5-6. "God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. "In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself" 2 Corinthians 5:19. The founders of every other faith remain in their graves; Christ is risen. And so Peter declares: "This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved" Acts 4:11-12.
Go and Tell
Christ's name has been placed upon you in baptism, His Word placed in your hands, His Spirit placed on your lips. The Great Commission Matthew 28:19-20 is not reserved for apostles—it is given to every disciple. Tell the law: we are sinners. Tell the gospel: we are saved by Christ alone. Confess with Paul, "If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" Romans 10:9. Ask your neighbor, your coworker, your friend: does this make sense? Would you like to be washed in the waters of baptism? The message will sometimes be received as scandalous—but it is also true, and it is the only word that saves. So this week, go and tell.
Transcript
If you would please open your Bibles to the Book of Acts chapter 4, if you're using a 3s
Pew edition of the Bible, this can be found on page 104 in the New Testament, or in the Book 10s
of Acts 4 chapter. 18s
We are continuing today in our series entitled Disciple Ship, the Art of 21s
Following. 29s
This has been a series in which we find how the Disciple follows Jesus, first the disciple 31s
is made and molded. 37s
A disciple certainly will stumble, but knows that he or she is forgiven and put back 40s
on course in God's Word. 48s
Last week we studied how a disciple imitates those who pursue after Christ, 51s
and a disciple is one who wants to be imitated as one who pursues and follows Christ. 60s
Today as we continue in our series on Disciple Ship, the subject can be summarized 69s
in one word that a disciple tells, a disciple tells. 77s
In Acts 3 chapter, there's an occasion where a man who was born lame, Peter and John 85s
come upon him. 94s
This man would be laid at the gate of the temple every single day where he would beg 95s
for money as people entered into the temple. 102s
He would ask them to give him alms, give him something to survive on. 105s
Everyone that entered into the temple knew who this man was and they knew that he had 110s
been lame from birth. 116s
And so as Peter and John come into the temple, they see this man and he asks them 119s
for money, he asks them to give to him. 125s
And in chapter 3 beginning in verse 6, we hear the response, where Peter said, I have no 130s
silver or gold, but what I have I give you. 136s
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk. 140s
And he took him by the right hand and raised him up and immediately his feet and ankles were 147s
made strong. 153s
Jumping up he stood and began to walk and he entered the temple with them walking and 155s
leaping and praising God. 162s
Can you imagine the scene? 165s
Imagine the scene. 167s
Everyone in the temple would have known this man to be lame and here he comes dancing, 169s
leaping, praising God, his feet and ankles strong, walking with John and Peter and this 176s
gave the opportunity to Peter, to preach. 185s
He preached what had taken place. 190s
He preached the healing scene with their own eyes of this man, the healing that had 192s
come in the name of Jesus Christ. 199s
And there was a reaction. 204s
There was a reaction to his sermon. 207s
This is where we pick up in our text today. 210s
Please look at chapter 4 verse 1. 213s
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple 217s
and the sagesis came to them. 223s
Much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there 226s
is the resurrection of the dead. 233s
The sagesis were really annoyed. 237s
They were annoyed. 239s
They did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. 240s
The sagesis taught and believed that when the body dies, the soul also dies. 244s
And so they were very annoyed by this preaching in the name of Jesus Christ and the resurrection 253s
being preached. 259s
Well, the annoyance that the sagesis had led to the arrest of Peter and John. 262s
Look with me, please, at verse 3. 268s
So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day for it was already evening. 269s
All legal proceedings had to be done at during the day. 278s
No legal proceedings could happen at night by the Jewish law, which is very interesting to 282s
note because when did the trial of Jesus take place at night? 290s
They were able to forget the law when it came to trying Jesus. 297s
But here they go ahead and they follow the law. 302s
And so they put John and Peter into prison because it was night. 306s
We continue in verse 4. 311s
But many of those who heard the word believed and they numbered about 5,000. 314s
So somewhere annoyed, some didn't like what they had to hear from Peter. 321s
But some believed and 5,000. 326s
5,000 believed witnessing the miracle hearing the word preached. 331s
5,000 believed. 340s
We continue. 341s
The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem with Anas the High Priest, 342s
Caiaphas, John, and Alexander and all who were of the High Priestly family. 349s
When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst they inquired by what power or by what 355s
name did you do this? 361s
So the Sanhedrin was the Jewish Supreme Court and the leaders, the Sanhedrists, 365s
would be in these tears looking down into the well where Peter and John would be facing these 371s
tears of, quote, justice, unquote. 380s
And they had to answer to the Sanhedrin, surely, surely the disciples that stood before the 383s
Sanhedrin here were thinking of when Christ himself stood in that very place, answering in that 390s
same manner to those tears of authority. 399s
They were arrested, they spoke before the Sanhedrin. 404s
The Sanhedrin inquires asking by what power or by what name did you do this? 408s
This was the healing of the lame man. 414s
They wanted to know because to use the name of Jesus to perform a healing, 420s
there would be scandalous. 427s
It would be absolutely utterly scandalous. 430s
In their eyes, Jesus was a blasphemer. 436s
He was one who put himself in the level or on the same level as God. 439s
They did not like Jesus, they did not believe in Jesus and the fact that these men were proclaiming 447s
the name of Jesus and performing a miraculous act in the name of Jesus. 455s
It was absolutely scandalous. 461s
Jesus was a man who was cursed by God. 464s
Jesus hung on a tree outside of the city. 467s
Jesus died the most grotesque horrible death. 471s
So to proclaim 478s
Jesus 481s
and a miracle in the name of Jesus, 483s
it put these men right in line with blasphemy. 489s
We continue in verse 8. 496s
Then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them, 498s
rulers of the people and elders, 503s
if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who is sick 506s
and are asked how this man has been healed, 511s
let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel 514s
that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, 519s
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 527s
They did not back down. 538s
In fact, they double down. 541s
They said his name again, though it was scandalous. 546s
They said it again and they said it because it was true. 551s
And this was not a truth that they came up with on their own. 559s
It wasn't something that they decided they would like to be true. 564s
We noticed here in chapter or in verse 8 where it's of the Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. 569s
It was God's word that was upon his lips. 577s
It was the name of God, the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ that was on his lips. 582s
It was the power of the name in which the layman was healed. 591s
But it was scandalous. 600s
It was scandalous. 603s
At the funeral of President Ford, 607s
there was a reading from the Gospel of John chapter 14. 610s
The preacher read, 615s
do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God, 617s
believe also in me. 620s
In my father's house, there are many dwelling places. 622s
If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 625s
And if I go and prepare a place for you, 631s
I will come again and will take you to myself so that where I am, there you may be also. 634s
And you know the way to the place where I am going. 641s
Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? 645s
Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life and the reading stopped. 650s
The reading stopped. 662s
The priest shut the book and left or walked away. 666s
He left out a very key component to the words of Christ in verse six. 672s
Here verse six in its entirety. 681s
Jesus said to them, I am the way and the truth and the life, 685s
no one comes to the father except through me. 691s
The priest at the funeral edited, God's word. 699s
And he did so because the name of Jesus is still scandalous today. 706s
The name of Jesus, the salvation that we have knowing that there is one way to the father, it is still scandalous. 716s
In Matthew 28th chapter, Jesus tells his disciples, he says go and make disciples and he says to do this 732s
by baptizing and by teaching or telling. We as disciples of Christ have been given the job, 743s
given the call to go and tell. Tell of what the Lord has done. Tell who Jesus is 754s
speaking the name of Jesus. Even when it's scandalous, even when it offends, 766s
the apostles did this. But the apostles knew what they were preaching. In Acts 16th chapter, 781s
they proclaimed believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household. 791s
In Romans 10th chapter, verse 9, we hear, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and 799s
leave in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. In 1st John chapter 5, 808s
verse 12, whoever has the Son has life, whoever does not have the Son does not have life. 817s
1st John chapter 2, verse 23, no one who denies the Son has the father, everyone who confesses 825s
the Son has the father also. The gospel of John chapter 3, verse 16, whoever believes in Jesus 835s
will not perish but will have eternal life. Many people, even within the church insist that Jesus is 847s
one way to the Father. That Jesus is but one of many ways that a person can be saved. 861s
But as C.S. Lewis said, either he that is Jesus, either he is Lord over all or he isn't Lord at all. 876s
But how do we know we're right? How do we know that we're right with the, with the mirriot of 897s
religions and religious thoughts? How do we know that we as Christians are right? 909s
In Scripture, we read where Paul went to the area of Agas. It was a place where judgments were made 924s
about new philosophies and thoughts and there were statues and altars and shrines that were dedicated to 932s
a whole host of various gods. It was said that there were more gods in Athens than there were men. 940s
So if you wanted a god, you could pick one and go with it. There was no shortage of little G. gods. 951s
The Greeks and others customarily though had a shrine, a shrine in which they paid homage to the 961s
unknown god. It was marked as the unknown god because they didn't want to offend an unknown deity. 969s
Remember, the little G. gods had some attitude and you had to appease them or you could offend them. 980s
And so they would put up a shrine for the unknown god because they didn't want to offend 989s
any deity that they had not already considered. And this is where Paul entered in and he found this. 995s
He found the altar to the unknown god. 78% of people in America say that they are 1005s
spiritual. 78% believe that they are spiritual. But what does spiritual even mean? 1019s
Half of those people, half of them immediately say, though they are spiritual, they are not religious. 1030s
And they want to make sure that there's a separation that they're not one of those religious 1041s
folk. But they are spiritual. In other words, they don't subscribe to any doctrines, 1047s
any theology, any beliefs that are rooted or sourced in anything other than themselves, 1058s
or what they think sounds like a good idea. 60% say they 1067s
need no church because they have God within them. At this to Hinduism, Buddhism, and the fastest 1077s
growing religion Islam, and it's apparent that we are a modern day, a Mars Hill, that we are in a 1088s
modern day of pick your deity and go. But the unknown god remains. And the unknown god is not 1096s
unknown. For Christians to maintain that Jesus is the only way to salvation means that the other 1113s
religions are wrong. As Christians, we want to love everyone and we should love everyone. 1124s
But that doesn't mean that everyone is right. How do we as Christians know that we are right? 1138s
When Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, the Son of God went to the cross. He bore our sin 1153s
upon himself. He became the one mediator between us and God. Romans chapter 5 says, God proves 1160s
his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Second Corinthians chapter 1173s
5, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, 1181s
and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 1 Timothy chapter 2, for there is one god. 1189s
There is also one mediator between God and humankind. Jesus Christ himself, 1198s
human, who gave himself a ransom for all. This was a tested at the right time. 1205s
No other religion offers a mediator. No other religion offers to you or to me what Christ 1214s
did for us. They are all based on works, righteousness. Every other religion is based on how 1227s
the person can climb the ladder and be good enough due enough to reach whatever that higher plane 1242s
may be. But as Christians we know that Christ did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. 1251s
That is, He bore our sin upon Himself. He died under the wrathful punishment of the Lord of 1264s
the Father for our sin and He rose again victorious. In the battle between the devil 1276s
and Christ, between heaven and hell, Christ did for you what you cannot do for yourself. 1291s
1 He was victorious. He was raised from the grave victorious over the power of death. 1305s
Victorious over your sin, my sin, and He gives to you the full forgiveness. 1316s
He gives to you the right to stand before God the Father for given righteous. 1323s
- Loved Christianity Christianity offers our mediator. No other religion has a mediator. Christianity 1337s
is based on our mediator, on the work of Christ. Only in the name of the one who bore our sin that 1360s
separates us only in the name of Jesus. Do we have forgiveness? Only in the name of Jesus. Do we have 1372s
who assures us that Christianity is right? Because it is all weighted and anchored in Christ, 1390s
Jesus Himself. The truth of Jesus, the truth of God's Word for us. The originator of every 1404s
other religion is dead. Yet every other religion still has to deal with Jesus. 1421s
- Either He is Lord over everything or He is not Lord at all. 1438s
So how do we know that Christianity is right? Because Jesus. Because Jesus. 1451s
Look with me, please, at verse 11 of our text today. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected 1465s
by you, the builders. It has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else. For there is 1473s
no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved. 1482s
Jesus has placed His name of righteousness upon each and every one of you. As you were called 1492s
by the waters or through the waters of baptism, you were sealed in the spirit. You were claimed 1499s
as God's own. You were made a disciple. You are molded by His Word certainly at a disciple's 1508s
stumbles, but as a disciple you know that you have the full forgiveness of Christ. A disciple 1518s
imitates those who pursue after Christ, a disciple prays that we are imitated as ones who also 1527s
pursue after Christ. In today we find and we add on that a disciple of Christ tells 1537s
of Jesus. His Word has been given to you. His Word has been placed in your hands through Holy 1550s
Scripture. His Word has been entered into your ears, steeped down into your heart, 1561s
swirled around in your very inner most being, and placed on your lips to go forth telling 1568s
all the good news of Jesus Christ. Share the law that we are sinners. Share the gospel that we 1577s
are saved by Christ and Christ alone. Share that the Holy Spirit works His gifts in and through us 1590s
for His glory and for His good purpose. Ask the hero, does this make sense? 1598s
Ask the hero, would you like to be cleansed through the waters of baptism? 1609s
As disciples of Christ, you are commissioned by Christ Himself to make disciples baptizing and teaching. 1617s
So go forth, go forth this week to tell tell tell 1633s