Been with Jesus

In Luke's account of beginning of the movement we usually call the church, Peter and John stood before the ruling council what had only a few months earlier sent Jesus to the Romans to be crucified.  They should have been shaking in their boots.  Peter had denied he even knew Jesus a few months ago.  John had been close by and had influence, but refused to speak up on Jesus behalf.  And yet now they are boldly proclaimed that they healed a man in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene.  The ruling council take a few minutes to talk about the situation and we read: 

Acts 4:13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 

When through the power of the Holy Spirit we have been with Jesus we can be bold!  Even when we are in circumstances that in the past would have completely taken us to a place of fear.  By God's power in us we can now be a bold witness of the Good News that Jesus brings to the world.  

When through the power of the Holy Spirit we have been with Jesus we can overcome our ordinary human appearance and ability.  Peter and John did not have the politically correct speech or Hebrew scriptural studies that were so important in those days in Jerusalem, but Jesus helped them overcome their ordinary up bringing.  We are most likely just ordinary people!  We probably don't impress others with our great wisdom or understanding and sometimes we allow that to hinder our use in the Kingdom.  Let the professional ministers, reverends & pastors do that work; we are not qualified.  But if we have been with Jesus - Jesus helps us overcome our ordinary lives and makes us extraordinary! 


Have you been with Jesus enough that people recognize Him in you?