I don’t know how you feel about it, but most people don’t enjoy confrontation. If that’s you, you know how it goes. Someone says something that causes some tension, and things turn serious. They say something that isn’t right maybe it’s about God, maybe about Jesus, maybe about “all religions being basically the same.”
As you sit there, hearing this thing about God, it’s kind of like watching the dark desert clouds build and feeling the pressure in the air. That’s how it feels in your chest and your mind is racing, and like the desert storm that is about to arrive, you can’t avoid the question: Do I say something… or do I just let it go?
I want to be quiet when I’m at a fun event graduation party, a family get-together and in a friendly spiritual conversation, someone casually says, “I think as long as you’re a good person, you’ll be fine.”
I don’t want to say anything when another student says, “Christianity is way too exclusive. There can’t be just one way.”
It’s easier to stay quiet, isn’t it? You don’t have to deal with the awkwardness. There is no pushback, no tension in the room
And our sinful nature loves that option. It would rather avoid the moment than risk the discomfort. And honestly, if Jesus were still in the grave, staying quiet would make perfect sense. But he’s not.
Today we see exactly how the empty tomb of Jesus changes a moment like that, because we get to see Peter as he found himself standing in the same kind of storm. Only this wasn’t a graduation party or a casual conversation. This was so much more intense. Peter and John had just healed a man who had been crippled his entire life. Everyone knew the guy, so they were amazed and gathered around Peter and John, who naturally spoke about Jesus and his rising from death.
Speaking Boldly About the Risen Jesus
That’s when the dark clouds rolled in. The religious leaders the same ones who had Jesus arrested and crucified swept in like an angry storm.
They didn’t like the message.
They didn’t like the name of Jesus being preached. They didn’t like the resurrection being proclaimed.
So they seized Peter and John, threw them in jail overnight, and brought them in the next day to stand before the Sanhedrin the highest Jewish court. We may have had to speak publicly as part of a class in school…or we may have had to sit before a few people to interview for a job…or maybe even a panel interview for our profession, but nothing like this, I’m certain. I’m going to share what happened to set up Peter’s response here, and just try to put yourself in their place in that room: The rulers, the elders, and the experts in the law assembled in Jerusalem with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the rest of the high priest’s family. After they made Peter and John stand in front of them, they began to question them: “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
At least 23 men, but likely more for this case, sat in a semi-circle in the Chamber of Hewn Stone with the high priest in the center in his richly ornamented robes. That the high priest’s family was there also? Maximum intimidation! And in case you think this seems like a bit much for the circumstance, remember that it wasn’t too long before this that this very group of men condemned Jesus and cornered the Roman governor, forcing him crucify Jesus for them.
There is no way to avoid the moment. No acting like you didn’t hear. No staying quiet. You can almost feel it, can’t you that kind of tension we talked about? Only now it’s cranked up to the highest level. This isn’t just awkward…this is dangerous.
Boy, if there was ever a moment to keep quiet… this was it. But that doesn’t happen. It was by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead…that this man stands before you healed. Gutsy. “You crucified him. God raised him.” There’s nothing vague or watered-down about that, is there?! That is clear, direct, Easter-centered truth. Peter says, You rejected God’s Savior… but God proved you wrong by raising him.
We talk a lot about Peter’s bold, impetuous personality, but the fact is, he wasn’t always like that. Remember not too long before this when he stood in the high priest’s courtyard while Jesus was taken into custody by these rulers the night before they killed him? Peter was a coward. What did he do outside by the fire? He lied, he looked away, he left weeping over his denial of Jesus. No, Peter wasn’t always brave.
So, it’s not just his personality that caused him to speak up so boldly and clearly now. Easter had changed him! Jesus rose. Peter saw him, spoke to him, was urged by him to go to tell people about his life, death, and resurrection! And the Holy Spirit, who pushed him to publicly proclaim Jesus on Pentecost, did the same here.
Since Jesus is alive, a Christian can speak boldly about Jesus being the only way to heaven even when it’s awkward…or worse. You’re not likely to stand before a court that can imprison you. But you probably do stand in conversations every week where truths about God, Jesus, the Bible are challenged, minimized, or misunderstood. The situations are different from person to person—and certainly different than what Peter experienced but the temptation is the same: to stay quiet.
But Easter moves us to speak, because since Jesus really rose from the dead… then what he says is true. Since he really lives… then people need to hear about him. Since he really conquered death… then silence isn’t love. So what do we do? We speak. Not arrogantly. Not harshly. But clearly.
“Jesus wasn’t just a teacher he’s actually the world’s only Savior.”
“He actually did rise from the dead.”
“He really is the one who forgives sins.”
“He really is the only way to heaven.”
Maybe there’s another lesson for us here too when we know that these men were not converted to faith in Jesus by Peter: You’re not called to win arguments, but you are called to speak the truth.
Stand Firmly on the Only Savior
You probably noticed that Peter didn’t stop there. He didn’t just declare the resurrection of Jesus and that it was by his power that the crippled man walked. Peter takes the next step, moving from the explanation of what happened with the man to declaring who Jesus is.
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. That’s a powerful image, likely understood better by those important men than by us. The “builders” those religious leaders rejected Jesus. They looked at him and said, Not him. But God said, He is the one. The cornerstone. The one who sets the whole church of God into place. Not a modern-day cornerstone like we have on the corner of the church behind the sign out front (you can check it out later).
Today, these are decorative, but sometimes also serve the purpose of holding important historical items inside them from the time the building was constructed. But cornerstones back then? Extremely important. They were the starting point. They set the lines for the building. That’s what Jesus is for his Church the most important, foundational block for the building of God’s Church.
Okay, we’ve tried to imagine being Peter and John in that room, but now try to put yourself in the place of those listening and judging the two disciples. Peter continues… and says one of the most offensive things you can hear: There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved. Peter had just told them that they were going to hell. Not because of what they did to Jesus, but because they had rejected him as the only way of salvation. Their path only led away from God and life with him. Easter conviction moved Peter to speak the tough truth in a dangerous situation.
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved. No one else. No other name. That’s exclusive. And our world doesn’t like that either.
Imagine someone trying to get across the Grand Canyon. They say, “I’ve got a bike. I’ll just build a ramp, and jump it.” Someone else says, “I’m pretty athletic, I’ll just get a running start and jump I believe in myself.” If they were serious, would it be hateful of you to say that flying across it is really the only way. If there’s just one way and certain death if a person tries the things they’re thinking of it’s loving to say something, right? Pretending there are other ways doesn’t help anyone. Neither does keeping quiet when those ways will lead a person off the spiritual cliff and to their eternal death.
This is where the world pushes back hard though, isn’t it?
“Are you saying all other religions are wrong?”
“Are you saying good people won’t get to heaven?”
“Are you saying Jesus is the only way?”
Yes. Not because we’re better. Not because we figured it out. But because someone cared enough to tell us that Jesus really rose from the dead, and the Holy Spirit gave us faith to believe what happened on Easter. If Jesus had stayed dead then maybe he’s just another teacher. But he didn’t. He lives.
His resurrection proves that he is who he claimed to be, and that he did what he said he would do. He is the Savior. But what a lot of people miss what the world doesn’t see is that this “exclusive” message of Christ died/Christ risen is actually the most inclusive message in the entire world!
That’s what you can share with people. Because it’s for everyone. Every woman. Every man. Every child. Your past doesn’t matter. Your failures don’t matter. There is one name and it is given for all There is one Savior and he came for all.
There’s an old phrase I don’t really hear anymore that I remember my dad saying: If I told a joke that wasn’t funny, he might say, “That’s as funny as a rubber crutch” Rubber crutches aren’t useful the crippled man they healed could have told you that!
If you don’t like the idea of there being one Savior, you invent alternatives, right?
Do more good things than bad things. Try my very best. Be a good person.
I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual. All spiritual paths lead to God.
Rubber crutches. Not useful.
Those things can’t hold a person up spiritually. When it comes to sin that needs to be paid for…and death…and standing before God when you die, they all collapse like rubber crutches. There is one thing one person who will hold you up. That’s Jesus.
We need to hear that Jesus will hold us up too though, don’t we? An honest assessment of our behavior when those moments come when the pressure builds, when the storm rolls in we don’t always do what Peter did, do we? We hesitate. We stay quiet. We tell ourselves,
“This isn’t the right time.” Or, “Someone else will say something.” Or, “It’s not worth the awkwardness.”
Sometimes we just don’t speak. And that’s not just personality that’s sin. It’s a failure to love. Silence, when the truth is needed, isn’t loving, is it? But that’s exactly why Easter matters for you too. Because the same Jesus Peter and John boldly preached is the Savior who forgives even that.
The risen Jesus is the only way to heaven and he is your way to heaven. The one who lived perfectly in your place. The one who spoke when he needed to speak. The one who went to the cross when it was time. The one who paid for every sin including the times you stayed quiet when you should have spoken. And then he rose.
You can leave here today knowing that all your sins are forgiven and that because he lives, you will live. Those truths change you. They don’t make you suddenly fearless, but you are no longer ruled by fear. So when that moment comes again that you should say something and it will you’ll stand there as someone saved and ready to speak. Because Jesus lives, and he is the only way to heaven. Amen.
Now the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.