Peter and John in Acts 3 and 4 were full of courage. First there was the courage to act, to speak to the crippled man at the Gate Beautiful and in the power of Jesus, command him to walk. Then there was the courage to appear before the Jewish authorities and tell them not only was this done in the name and authority of Jesus, but that salvation is found in no one else. One of the primary marks of a true disciple is the courage to act and the courage to speak.
But courage is not the only mark. Another follows closely on its heels, and that is found in 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.” [NLT]
The second mark of a true follower of Christ is that they spend time with Jesus and it shows.
Maybe it was just that the rulers suddenly remembered seeing them when Jesus walked in their midst, but I think it was more than that. When Moses met God on the mountain and returned to the people, his face glowed with a radiance that testified to the fact that he had been with God.
I believe that there is radiance about those who “have been with Jesus.” It is a supernatural glow that testifies to time spent walking with the Master.
I want to be a courageous servant to my Master, but perhaps even more, I want those who see me to know that I “have been with Jesus.”
