Talk about your saying good-bye to the old and ushering in the new. For that lame man, his encounter with Peter and John, as they headed to the temple to pray that afternoon, was a life changer (Acts 3). All he was hoping for was a few alms . . . same old, same old. But what he got was new legs . . . and a new life. And all this, through “the Name.”

“I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (Acts 3:6)

And walk he did . . . and leap . . . and dance . . . and skip around . . . and praise God. By faith in the name of Jesus, this guy’s life went from ho-hum to kingdom come (3:16). And as I read Peter’s address to those who witnessed the miracle, to those who were “filled with wonder and amazement” at what had happened, I couldn’t help but notice “the Name.”

It was in the name of Jesus that Peter commanded the lame man to walk. It was through faith in the name that the man rose up leaping and praising God . . . and Peter, as he addresses the crowd, uses at least 3 different names to describe “the Name.”

First, Peter says that “the God of our fathers, glorified His servant Jesus” (3:13). Servant Jesus . . . the one foretold of by the prophet, “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon Him . . . ” (Isa. 42:1). Though it was through “the Name” that God created all things, yet He would send Him as “His servant Jesus” . . .come not to be served, but to serve others and give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). He humbly submitted Himself to the will of God and faithfully executed the plan of redemption. Behold the Servant! What a name . . .

Next, Peter tells the crowd that they “denied the Holy and Righteous One” (3:14). Without spot or blemish . . . without sin . . . without anything in His nature that could be exploited by the weakness of flesh . . . His name is Holy and Righteous One. To have watched Jesus . . . to have seen Him reacting to situations . . . to have heard Him rebutting His accusers . . . to have witnessed Him responding to sinners . . . was to see holiness and righteousness in action. And it’s not that He “acted holy” or that He was “righteous” because of what He did . . . no, it’s that He embodied the divine attributes of holiness and perfect righteousness. The “gold” of heaven packaged in the “brown paper bag” of a servant. His glory masked but His nature unchanged.

Finally, Peter says, “You killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead.” (3:15). Check that out . . . killing the Author of life. He is the source of life . . . natural, spiritual, and eternal. He is the living God . . . He had power over His own life, no one taking it from Him, but Him willing laying it down and then three days later, taking it up again (John 10:18). The Author of resurrection . . . physically and spiritually. The One who came so that men and women might have life . . . and have it abundantly (John 10:10) . . . to the full . . . to the max!

And I think about all that is encompassed in that Name . . . and I think about the potential of faith in His name . . . and about a lame guy who didn’t expect much but who’s life was turned upside down by believing in the Name. I think also about sitting here on the cusp of a another year and wondering if I’m looking for just a few alms in 2011, the same old, same old . . . or whether I’m in wide-eyed anticipation of encountering the Name afresh in the New Year. Am I looking for “ho-hum, hum-drum”, a couple of coins of blessing in the cup will get me through . . . or am I anticipating “some new legs”, and some walking and leaping and praising God, as I continue to seek to the know the Name?

“But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your Name may exult in You.” (Ps. 5:11) Here’s to walking, and leaping, and praising God in 2011 . . . all because of the Name! Amen?