Sermon 4-22-18

Overview

The Name Above Every Name

The angel's instruction to Joseph was deliberate and perfect: "You will name him Jesus" Matthew 1:21, for the name itself means "one who saves." Paul takes up this same theme, declaring that God "highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" Philippians 2:9-11. This name stands above every other because of what Christ accomplished on the cross and in His resurrection.

Reaction, Arrest, and Acceptance

In Acts 4, Peter's bold preaching after the healing of the lame man provokes a fourfold movement. First comes reaction: the priests and Sadducees are "much annoyed" because the apostles proclaim resurrection in Jesus' name Acts 4:1-2—a doctrine the Sadducees flatly denied. Annoyance becomes arrest Acts 4:3; legal proceedings could not be held at night, though the same authorities had no scruples about trying Jesus after dark. Yet alongside hostility comes acceptance: "many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand" Acts 4:4. Faith is always God's work—we scatter the seed; the Spirit grants the harvest.

Research and Response in the Name of Jesus

The Sanhedrin's investigation poses the central question: "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Acts 4:7. Standing in the well of the court—the very place Jesus had stood—Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answers without flinching: this man stands healed "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead" Acts 4:10. He then applies the parable of the rejected stone Matthew 21:33-46 directly to his judges: "This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone" Acts 4:11.

The Revelation: No Other Name

The climax is unflinching: "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 4:12. The name of Jesus remains scandalous in our day—often softened, edited, or omitted to spare offense. But to silence the second half of "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" John 14:6 is to silence the gospel itself. Salvation is found only in Christ crucified and risen—who bore God's wrath for sin and conquered the grave.

For you, beloved, this is comfort, not just doctrine. You have been claimed in the waters of baptism and clothed in the righteousness of Christ. God has made His decision about you, and He will not let go. On the day when the sheep are separated from the goats Matthew 25:31-33, the Lord will look at you and say, "My sheep"—because you are wrapped in the victory of Jesus. What a perfect name.

Transcript

You open your Bible, please, with me to the fourth chapter of the Book of Acts, as we continue our study in this great gift that God has given us this great book of Acts. 0s

In the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, the angel turns to Joseph and tells Joseph, 13s

You will name him Jesus. You will name him Jesus. 21s

When parents come to the decision of what to name a child, that can sometimes be a difficult decision. 29s

Sometimes various names can be lived with for a while, and then the selection comes down to one, 36s

and then that name is lived with a little bit until the final selection is made. 43s

But with Joseph and with Mary, there was no such quantity. 50s

The angel said, you will name him Jesus. 57s

What a perfect name. 66s

Because that name Jesus means one who saves, one who saves. 70s

In Philippians, the second chapter, Paul writes this, 79s

Therefore, God also highly exalted him and gave him the name. 82s

That is above every name. 88s

So that the name of Jesus, every need should bend in heaven and on earth, 90s

every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God, the Father, 95s

the name that's above every name. Why is it above every name? 103s

Because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross and being raised from the dead, 106s

there is no greater, no higher name than Jesus. 112s

As we study this morning, I want you to listen for references to name, 119s

because it's key to our understanding of this text for this morning. 127s

Let's recap, of course, where this is. 134s

There's been the healing of the man who was lame, that gave rise to a sermon, 137s

in which Peter pronounced the law, in which the Holy Spirit uses, 142s

when the law is proclaimed a convict of sin. 147s

Last week, we took a look at the continuation of the sermon, 150s

which was a call for repentance. 153s

Repentance in all of its fullness, sorrow and contrition, 156s

and also faith in the Lord Jesus. 161s

After this great sermon then is concluded, then comes the reaction, 166s

the reaction. 173s

Look with me, please, at verse 1 of chapter 4. 176s

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, 181s

the captain of the temple and the sadacies came to them. 185s

Here comes the reaction, much annoyed, 190s

because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus through his name, 195s

there is the resurrection of the dead. 203s

So the reaction then to Peter's sermon is annoyance. 208s

Why were they annoyed? 215s

Notice there's a reference here to the sadacies. 217s

The sadacies was a Jewish sect. 220s

They believed that there was no such thing as the resurrection of the dead. 223s

And so when the resurrection of the dead is being taught in the name of Jesus, 231s

that is the opposite of what it is, they believed. 238s

They hated Jesus. 244s

They despised Jesus. 248s

They were delighted when he wound up on the cross, 251s

because who's going to follow a dead Messiah? 255s

But now you've got the reports of this resurrection of Jesus, 260s

and the followers teaching that indeed there is a resurrection of the dead. 265s

The reaction gives rise to annoyance, 273s

but not just annoyance and arrest. 282s

Look at the very next verse. 287s

So they arrested them, put them in custody until the next day, 289s

for it was already evening. 294s

Remember every word of Scripture is precious. 296s

So why is there the reference here that they were put into custody 299s

until the next day and the fact that it was already evening? 303s

It's referenced there to remind that indeed in ancient day, 306s

it was against the law to have legal proceedings at night. 311s

So they're just held here until morning, just a little aside here. 316s

That didn't stop them, however, with Jesus did it. 322s

For his trial was when. 325s

His trial was at night. 328s

They so despised Jesus that they went ahead, 330s

breaking the law so that they could get him to the cross as soon as they could. 335s

The reaction, first it's annoyance, 343s

then it's the next step of, 347s

indeed there is frustration with this Jesus, 351s

annoyance, arrest, third acceptance. 355s

The next verse, first four. 361s

But many of those who heard the word 364s

believed and they numbered about 5,000. 367s

So if it's the annoyance, amiss the arrest, there is acceptance. 372s

This is a beautiful picture of grace, 377s

because remember, whenever someone comes to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 379s

that is always an act of God. 384s

There's like the image of the farmer who plants the seed. 387s

The farmer can't reach you to the soil and pull out the plant. 390s

Can't do that. 393s

Doesn't work that way, right? 394s

We are called to scatter the seed and the spirit, 396s

when and where it pleases the spirit, 400s

brings that person to faith. 402s

5,000 come to faith through the proclamation of the word. 405s

It is a beautiful expression of the grace of God. 411s

Amit's annoyance, amiss the arrest, is this beautiful picture of accept? 415s

The reaction leads to research. 426s

Next verse. 435s

The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes, 437s

assembled in Jerusalem with Anas, the high priest, 440s

K. F.S., John and Alexander, and all who were of the high priestly family. 442s

When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, 448s

they inquired by what power or by what here it comes. 451s

Name did you do this? 459s

This is the Sanhedrin. 467s

This was the Jewish Supreme Court. 469s

Let me give you an image here. 470s

When the Supreme Court would meet, they would meet in tears of rose, 472s

that would be on either side and the person being investigated, 477s

the person being tried stood in a well in between them. 480s

When the apostles here are standing before the Sanhedrin, 484s

the tears are on either side. 489s

They're standing in the well, there is no way that they could not have remembered 491s

that Jesus stood in the same exact place. 496s

It's not a trial now, but it's an investigation 501s

as they come before the Sanhedrin. 504s

The Sanhedrin is doing their research. 509s

And what is the question? 512s

By what power or by what name did you do this? 515s

What's this, the healing of the lame man? 521s

By what name did you do this? 524s

In ancient day, the Jewish exorcists would oftentimes invoke the name of King Solomon, 530s

or Abraham, or Isaac, or Jacob, as they were going about trying to do exorcisms with people 537s

to invoke the name of Jesus in association with a healing that is scandalous. 547s

It's scandalous. 564s

The reaction? 569s

Anoyons arrest acceptance. 572s

The reaction leads to research and the research leads to response. 575s

Look at first eight, please. 587s

Then, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, 589s

rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today, 597s

because if a good deed done to someone who sick and harassed how this man has been healed, 600s

let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, 607s

that this man is standing before you in good health, 611s

by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, 617s

whom God raised from the dead. 625s

Can you see the faces of the Sadducees just getting red when he drops that in? 630s

Can you see him in the well with the Sanhedrin on either side of him? 639s

And he just boldly proclaims, it is the name of Jesus and you crucified it. 647s

Reaction gives rise to research. 664s

Research gives rise to response. 668s

And it happened that healing in the name of Jesus. 675s

This is exactly what Peter said in Acts 3 chapter, 679s

where he turns to the layman. 682s

And he says, I have no silver or gold, but what I have, I give you, 683s

in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk. 688s

In the name means in connection with, then he goes on verse 11. 694s

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders. 704s

It has become the cornerstone. 711s

That's a portion of Scripture. 717s

It's not the only place where it pops up here. 719s

Keep your finger here. 721s

But would you turn please to Matthew 21, that's page 20. 723s

Matthew chapter 21. 727s

Because here's a parable of our Lord. 730s

So Peter draws on this portion of Scripture. 734s

Jesus also drew on it in the parable. 738s

Matthew chapter 21 verse 33. 740s

He says, listen to another parable. 743s

There was a landowner who prant planted a vineyard, 747s

but put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, built a watch tower. 749s

Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 754s

When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. 759s

But the tenants seized his slaves, beat one, killed another, stoned another. 765s

Again, he sent other slaves more than the first, and they treated them in the same way. 773s

Finally, he sent his son to them, saying, they will respect my son. 778s

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 782s

this is the heir, com, let us kill him, get his inheritance. 786s

So they seized him through him out of the vineyard and killed him. 791s

Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants? 797s

They said to him, he will put those wretches to a miserable death, 802s

and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time. 807s

Jesus said to them, have you never read in the scriptures? 815s

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, 821s

this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes. 828s

So in the parable, who is the son? 833s

It's Jesus, right? 839s

It's the rejection of the cornerstone. 841s

Back now into Acts, Peter is proclaiming, 844s

right after he says, the healing occurred in the name of Jesus Christ, 851s

you crucified him, God raised him from the dead, 855s

then he says, this Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, 858s

the builders, it has become the cornerstone. 865s

The Jews did not think that Jesus was worthy enough to be a stone in the church, 869s

much less the cornerstone of which holds the weight of the building. 876s

They have rejected the cornerstone. 883s

He stands in the well in front of the Supreme Court of the Jews, 885s

and he says, you crucified him, and you denied him. 892s

The reaction leads to research. 902s

The research leads to response, 907s

leads to, 921s

reminded of the funeral sermon and the service for Pastor Gerald Ford. 923s

Remember watching that service. 930s

If he's the end, stood up to read from Scripture, 933s

and he announced that he was going to be reading from the Gospel of John. 936s

He opens up the Gospel of John, and he starts to read, 942s

and he comes to the verse, 945s

and he says, Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the light, 949s

and the officiant closed the Bible, 955s

and they went on with the Him. 960s

What did He leave out? 966s

What did He leave out? 968s

If you see the officiant stopped right in the middle of the verse, 971s

there's no period there, there's a comma. 977s

He stopped right in the middle of the verse, 980s

and what he didn't include was what came next. 985s

No one comes to the Father except through me. 990s

The officiant stops why, 1004s

because the name of Jesus is still scandalous. 1011s

Why isn't that Satan's name? 1022s

It is not used as a swear word, 1027s

but Jesus Christ can be heard used as a swear word. 1030s

Because there's the attempt to minimize and demean the sacred 1038s

and holy name of Jesus Christ. 1043s

And when that officiant shut the book, 1050s

it was an attempt to avoid the scandal of the name of Jesus, 1054s

because if he would have read the very next verse, 1059s

it underscores the truth of that section of Scripture. 1063s

It underscores the truth that there is salvation only in the name of Jesus Christ, 1067s

that no one comes to the Father except through Jesus. 1074s

That means that every religion outside of Christianity 1077s

is simply falsehood and idolatry. 1082s

It means that the world does not pray to the same God, 1086s

because the Scripture says, 1091s

if you deny the Son, you don't have the Father. 1093s

With the worldwide audience, 1099s

the officiant closes the book 1103s

to avoid the scandal of saying that Jesus and Jesus alone 1108s

is the only way unto salvation. 1119s

What is the very next verse in our text? 1127s

After the reaction comes the research, 1133s

after the research comes the response, 1136s

and after the response comes the revelation. 1139s

Verse 12, 1145s

Peter says, 1147s

there is salvation in no one else. 1148s

For there's no other name under heaven given among mortals 1154s

by which we must be saved. 1159s

There is no other name. 1165s

He stands in the well, 1168s

surrounded by the Jewish Zen headren, 1171s

investigating him. 1175s

And he boldly declares 1176s

salvation only in the name of Jesus Christ, 1181s

the opposite of closing the book. 1187s

He proclaims the truth. 1193s

It is only in the name of Jesus Christ 1199s

that we are cloaked in the righteous garment in our baptism. 1202s

It is only through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ 1205s

on the cross that our sins are atoned for. 1209s

It is only through Jesus Christ, 1212s

the recipient of the wrath of God, 1214s

for sin. 1216s

It is only through the name of Jesus Christ, 1217s

the resurrected one that is raised out of the tomb 1220s

overcoming death. 1223s

It is only in the name of Jesus Christ 1224s

that there is salvation. 1228s

There is salvation in no one else 1230s

for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals 1233s

by which we must be saved. 1239s

And he stands in the well, 1247s

and he preaches. 1255s

The very thing 1258s

they wanted to do was to silence him 1262s

and all they did was give him another opportunity to preach 1269s

and preach. 1277s

He did. 1280s

The action they have raised to research, 1285s

research gives rise to response, 1288s

give rise to revelation. 1290s

And that is the word for you, 1300s

beloved this morning, 1302s

for you have been claimed in the waters of baptism. 1303s

You have been cloaked in the righteous garment 1307s

of the only way into salvation Jesus Christ. 1309s

God has made his decision about you 1314s

and your baptism and he is not letting go. 1316s

When you stand before God on judgment day 1319s

and the sheep are separated from the goats, 1322s

our Lord will turn and look at you and say, 1326s

my sheep, 1329s

because you have been wrapped in the victory 1331s

of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1335s

The angel said to Joseph, 1342s

you will name him Jesus. 1348s

What a perfect name. 1354s

Thank you. 1378s