After Pentecost, Peter and John went up to the Temple in Jerusalem at about three o’clock in the afternoon. They went to the Portico of Solomon, where the Lord Jesus once taught and healed the sick (John 5.1–4). They also prayed.
They entered through the gate called Beautiful, where a cripple from birth would come every day, hoping to receive help from the people. The man begged for money, but Peter and John looked at him directly and said, “Look at us.” The man looked at them expectantly, hoping to receive something from them.
Peter then said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but I will give you what I have: in the name of Jesus the Nazarene, walk!” He took the man by the right hand and helped him stand up. Instantly, the man began walking, jumping, and praising God. (Acts 3.1–8)
The people gathered around, and Peter seized the opportunity to share the Good News with them. He reminded them that they were children of prophets and the Covenant, a covenant God established with their ancestors. Consequently, they also were the recipients of the blessings bestowed upon the resurrected Jesus.
The words of Peter haven’t lost their divine power until today. They continue to convey the same Good News: that we carry the blessing of the resurrected Christ and bear His Name as Christians. We are anointed and receive our salvation through this name.
Through the power of this name, we have the ability to discern what is right and what is good. Yet even Jesus marveled that people still struggled to recognize the coming of God’s Kingdom. He proclaimed the coming of the kingdom of God. Naturally, his disciples and the people hearing this were eager to know when they would witness the actual arrival of this blessed kingdom. Where was the kingdom of God? People were engaged in their daily activities, buying and selling, getting married and dying, eating and drinking, stealing and killing, just like the days of Noah! (Matthew 24.37–39) Where was the kingdom of God in such things?
The answers Jesus provided always unveiled a unique characteristic of the kingdom. He declared, “I came to bring fire to this earth, and I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12:49). He repeatedly emphasized to the people, “Do you suppose I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!” (Luke 12.51). He pointed out to them how they were adept at interpreting the signs of the earth and sky. When they observed a cloud forming in the west, they knew rain was imminent, and it indeed arrived. How is it that you lack the ability to discern the arrival of the Kingdom of God? (Luke 12.54–56)
Baffled, Jesus asks us, “Why don’t you choose for yourselves what is upright?” (Luke 12.57) since you already possess my grace enough for you (2 Corinthians 12.9) why do you not choose the good? Our Lord is astonished at how quickly we abandon our call in the grace of God and turn away to other gospels (Galatians 1.6), setting aside God’s grace as worthless! (Galatians 2.21)
Why don’t we choose for ourselves what is good and upright?
