The Message of a Miracle:
By Senior Pastor Dr. Bill Rains | March 2, 2025
In Acts chapter 4, we find Peter and John standing before the rulers, elders, and scribes in Jerusalem, questioned about a miracle that turned heads and stirred hearts. It’s a story that began with a lame man, healed by the power of Jesus Christ, and it’s a story that carries a timeless message for us today. As we dive into verses 5 through 12, I want to share three key truths from this passage: the means of the miracle, the mystery of the temple, and the message it leaves us with.
The Means of the Miracle: The Name of Jesus
The backdrop to this moment is a remarkable event. Just prior, in Acts 3, Peter and John encountered a man lame from birth, lying at the temple gate, begging for alms. He expected a coin or two, but what he received was far greater. Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” And with that, the man’s ankles received strength, and he leapt up, praising God. The community couldn’t ignore it—thousands came to faith because of this miracle.
But not everyone was pleased. The priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees were grieved. They arrested Peter and John, demanding, “By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?” Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, didn’t hesitate. He declared, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.”
The means of this miracle? Jesus Christ. It’s His name, His power, that brings healing and transformation. I’ve seen it in my own life—salvation itself is a miracle. To think that a sinner like me could be loved so deeply by God, offered eternal life through faith in Jesus, is nothing short of miraculous. And it’s not just salvation. I’ve heard stories—like the man enslaved to alcohol who found freedom when Jesus turned his liquor into groceries for his family. Jesus is in the miracle-working business, friends. If you want a life marked by the miraculous, come to Him.
The Mystery of the Temple: Building on the Right Foundation
The religious leaders questioning Peter and John were the guardians of the temple—priests, Sadducees, authorities. They were upset because this miracle drew attention away from them. But Peter pointed them to a greater temple, one they couldn’t see with their eyes or touch with their hands. He said of Jesus, “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.”
Here’s the mystery: Jesus is the true cornerstone. The leaders saw themselves as builders, but they rejected the very foundation God had laid. A cornerstone binds a building together, giving it stability and strength. Without it, everything crumbles. Jesus taught this in Matthew 7—the wise man builds his house on the rock, and it stands through the storms. The foolish man builds on sand, and when the winds blow, it falls.
I remember a childhood assignment to draw rain falling on a house. My crooked lines got a laugh, but the lesson stuck. We’re all builders, constructing our lives on something. Too many choose the shifting sands—quick, easy ways that collapse under pressure. But when you build on Christ—the rock, the cornerstone—you last. I’ve seen it in my ministry, in families who’ve weathered storms because their foundation was Jesus. Builders, turn your eyes to Him. Trust Him, and you’ll find yourself part of God’s true temple—His spiritual family, the church.
The Message of the Miracle: Salvation in Jesus Alone
Finally, Peter delivers the heart of this miracle’s message: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” This is the climax of the story. The lame man’s healing wasn’t just a physical act—it pointed to the greater miracle of salvation, available only through Jesus.
I think back to the day I gave my life to Christ. I walked down the aisle of that auditorium, leaving my wife Faye standing there, and knelt at the altar with Brother Spurlock. I got right with God, and then I sent him back for Faye, and later for my brothers and sisters. From that moment, we built our life on Jesus. I dedicated my boys to Him—Tim at six months old, Scott before he even came home from the hospital. I’ve watched them come to Christ, and I’ve got no regrets about building on that foundation.
But it wasn’t my dad’s example that brought me there—he rarely darkened the church door. It was my mom and my grandmas, women of faith who loved Jesus when the men in their lives wouldn’t. Ladies, you don’t need a man to raise kids who’ll live for God—just sell out to Jesus and build on Him. It takes time, like the six months I spent building a house by hand, but it’s worth it.
A Call to Build on Jesus
The message of this miracle is clear: Jesus is the only Savior. He loves you so much that He died for you—yes, even an old country boy like me, worth “not two hoots and a holler.” That love saved me, and it can save you. Don’t be ashamed to come to Him—He wasn’t ashamed to come to you.
So, builders, what are you building on? Storms will come—hardships in your family, your career, your life. Build on Jesus, on His word, on His church, and you’ll never regret it. As Peter said, there’s no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved. Let’s stand together and get right with God today.
