In Acts 3 we read of Peter and John encountering a crippled beggar in Jerusalem. Peter, by the power of Jesus, healed the man. A crowd gathered and they started telling everyone about Jesus. Acts 4 begins with the Jewish leaders arresting Peter and John and bringing them before the leaders the next day to explain themselves. This is how Peter responded.

Acts 4:8–13 ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹ If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, ¹⁰ then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹ He is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ ¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” ¹³ When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

“They had been with Jesus.” That makes a difference. Or it should. Others should be able to tell there is something different about those who have been with Jesus.

I came across a story years ago of a little boy standing barefoot on a cold December day in New York City. He was looking through a plate glass window. A woman walked up to him and asked, “Why are you staring into that window so intently?” The boy said, “I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes.” The lady looked at him for a moment, then quietly took him by the hand. Together they walked into the shoe store. Inside, she asked the clerk to bring a half-dozen pairs of socks for the boy. Then she asked for a basin of water and a towel. The clerk brought them quickly. The woman took the little boy to the rear of the store, removed her gloves then knelt and began to wash his feet. She dried them with the towel just as the clerk appeared with the socks. The woman placed a pair of socks on the boy’s feet and selected a pair of shoes in his size. She bundled the remaining socks, and handed him the package. As they left the store the woman patted the boy on the head. “I hope you feel more comfortable now,” she smiled. She turned to go but, the wide-eyed little boy caught her by the hand. He looked up into her face and asked, “Are you God’s wife?”

Will your actions let others see that you have been with Jesus? He has come to us through His Word and Sacraments, giving us the assurance of His grace, mercy and forgiveness. We have been with Him and have Him with us. We should all be so conscious of Jesus being with us that people will see Him in our words and actions.

There is an old song that says, “I am covered over with a robe of righteousness that Jesus gives to me.”  If that is true, if I am covered with Jesus, then whenever someone looks at me they should see Him!

Lord, help me to live that way.