Acts 3-4:31

Another miracle begins this section of Acts: the healing of a lame beggar.  His obvious healing brings the crowds back to hear Peter and John, and they make a point of saying that it is God’s power, not theirs.  They also make it a point to say that the power comes from Jesus, raised and reigning.

The priests and Sanhedrin were ruled by the Sadducee sect at the time, a group that denied the possibility of a resurrection.  They were embarrassed by this new group and the following they were getting.  They could not deny the miracle performed, but they wanted nothing to do with a resurrected Christ.

Likewise, there are those today who do not mind being religious, as long as their religion remains a set of manageable personal beliefs.  But Christ, raised and reigning, demands our repentance and obedience.

LORD, give us the courage to believe and obey Jesus, raised and reigning.