The apostles were able to perform miracles of healing during the early years of the church. Today we find Peter healing a man who was born lame.
"One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer---at three in the afternoon." (Acts 3:1) Jesus was frequently found at the temple when in Jerusalem. The Jewish believers in Christ are still going up to the temple to worship in the months after the resurrection. They haven't yet built any churches with crosses on the top. They haven't yet been thrown out of the synagogues for preaching that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. They are going to worship where they have always gone to worship, and while they are there they hope to tell the good news of Christ to their fellow countrymen. Peter and John are about to be presented with just such an opportunity.
"Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts." (Acts 3:2) Luke wants us to understand that this man doesn't have a temporary injury to his legs. He didn't just happen to naturally recover on this particular day. He was born lame. He has never walked a step in his life. No physician on earth has ever been able to do anything to reverse his condition. No natural process has ever taken place to give strength to his legs. He was born lame and he's going to remain lame unless something miraculous happens.
The lame man has friends or family members willing to carry him to a gate at the temple every day. He has a good thing going there. He knows that people on their way to worship will feel ashamed of themselves if they pass by a poor crippled man without handing him at least a few coins. It's hard to worship the Lord with a nagging conscience, and that's what he's counting on, that people won't be able to enter the temple in good conscience unless they are charitable to him. He's living like this because he doesn't know any other way to conduct his life. He feels like he was born with the deck stacked against him and he has nothing to look forward to but an endless number of days of being carried to the temple to beg. But this is his lucky day. His life is about to be completely transformed by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money." (Acts 3:3) Does he know who these men are? Does he care? We have no idea whether he's aware that these are two of the disciples of Jesus, but I tend to doubt it. He's in the habit of calling out to everyone who passes by. He probably never looks anyone in the eyes because he's watching to see whether their hands are going to start reaching into pockets and purses.
Peter isn't going to let him get away with not looking him in the eyes. Peter isn't going to allow him to continue in his endless and hopeless daily cycle for the rest of his life. Peter isn't going to allow him to believe he has been healed by anyone but Jesus Christ, so he makes certain he has the man's full attention. "Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, 'Look at us!' So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them." (Acts 3:4)
Now Peter says what I think are some of the most beautiful words in the Bible. "Then Peter said, 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.'" (Acts 3:6) In yesterday's study we talked about giving, and sometimes we feel like we don't have much to give when it comes to money or talents, but there is one thing each of us who believes in Christ can give: we can give the gospel of Jesus to someone. There is no greater gift. We should help in whatever other ways we can, but there is nothing we can give anyone that compares to the power of the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
Peter's hand goes not into his pocket, but into the hand of the beggar. "Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." (Acts 3:7-10)
Jesus Christ has the power to change lives. When the people see this man leaping for joy, they say to each other, "This is the beggar who was born lame, the guy who sits at the gate and asks me for a dollar every time I come up to the temple. What has happened to him? How is he now able to walk?" I wonder how many people have looked at us since we were transformed by the power of Christ and said to each other, "Isn't this the girl who used to live in all sorts of immoral ways? Isn't this the guy who used about five curse words in every sentence he spoke? Isn't this the lady who used to be an alcoholic? Isn't this the young man who used to steal from people because he was hooked on drugs? Isn't this the young lady who was once so hopeless she thought about taking her own life? Isn't this the woman who used to think only of herself and looked down on everyone else? What has happened? What has changed these people? You say they have been changed by the Lord Jesus Christ, and we can see with our own eyes that a miraculous transformation has taken place. So if this change is real, Christ must be real, and Christ's power must be real. I need to know more about Him."
What Christ has done in us is miraculous. He has changed us from the inside out. People who knew us before we were saved can't deny the change in us any more than the people at the temple could deny that the lame man was made able to walk. We may not have the signs of the apostles---the ability to heal the sick or cast out demons or raise the dead---but we have the signs of a changed heart, soul, and mind. These are the tangible proofs that Christ is real and that His power is real. These are the things that will make others want to know more about Him. Let's be ready to share the gospel of the One who changed us.
Our worship song link for today is below.
The Greatest Of All Miracles
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