Friday, March 02, 2007
Being Like Jesus
Peter had seen Jesus heal people countless times. At various points in the past, Peter had experienced God's healing power work through his life. He had seen miracles happened where he played a part in it. According to Acts 2:43, many signs and wonders were done by the apostles since the Spirit has fallen on the day of Pentecost.
But what took place in Acts 3 surpassed all of those moments. It was more than just the a simple healing of a lame man. It was a prophetic act meant to awaken the religious Jews. And it took place right in the heart of their misguided idolatry. On that day, Peter and John took over where Jesus left off.
Peter and John went up to the temple to pray. They met a crippled beggar at the Beautiful Gate. He was asking for alms from the worshippers as they entered the temple. This man asked for money just like he always did and got something far better.
Lame from birth, the beggar had no reason to believe he would ever be able walk. More than 40 years old, there was no way for the man to get out of his misery. Daily he sat near the temple, which in the Jewish understanding was the physical symbol of God's presence. But this lame man never knew God's power in his circumstances until he met true disciples. This was no ordinary day because he was going to meet two men who believed in an extraordinary God. These men knew God's power and had the faith to claim it for divine purposes.
Peter fixed his eyes on the man just as Jesus had done so many times with people in need. He asked the lame man to look on them. This is the same word that Jesus used when talking to Peter about his denial. It means to gaze upon with understanding. The beggar responded expecting a hand out. But Peter wanted him to look with eyes of faith expecting something more. He was calling this poor man to discern the greater gift waiting for him. This beggar was about to receive something beyond his wildest dreams.
Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:5-7 KJV)
Peter didn't have a lot of money. But he was rich in the Spirit and God's power. His ministry would never be about monthly or earthly resources. It would be about Jesus and His lordship over all the cares of this world.
Peter helped the man to his feet and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. The lame man was healed because of Peter's faith not his own. There are many hurting people who do not know enough to believe. They need people who will believe for them and left them up so that God's power can work in their circumstances. Peter activated this man's faith by first demonstrating his own.
The lame man not only walked, he leaped around the temple area praising God. Full of the Spirit and prayed up, Peter knew how to bring God's power to those in need. Peter had been affirmed by Jesus for moments just like that.
This miracle took place at a key entrance to the temple. The Beautiful gate of the temple had magnificent folding doors, fifty feet high and forty feet wide, covered with gold and Corinthian brass. As splendid as these doors were, they were void of the kind of power that human temples, made in the image of God possess.
More than just a healing, this was a message. It stopped the religious people in their tracks and forced them to ask some tough questions.
Everyone knew who the lame man was. What they couldn't explain is why he was walking. He held onto Peter and John while proclaiming what had happened to him. Crowds came running to see and were amazed. They began to marvel and looked at the two apostles. Maybe these were great men or prophets in the mold of Jesus. Peter knew the crowds. They were getting too wrapped up in the identity of Peter and John. It's just like men to think that a person is responsible for something that only God can do.
Peter asked, "Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?" (Acts 3:12 KJV). He pointed the crowd to Jesus as the source of life and power.
Peter explained why Jesus had to die and what his resurrection meant for them. This impromptu moment gave Peter the opportunity to preach his second public sermon. It covered Moses, the prophets and Jesus. He connected Jesus to their religious heritage.
Peter appealed to the prophets and the consciences of the hearers to convince them of the Messiahship of Jesus and the rebellion in their hearts. He then called them to repent. Peter said, "Repent, therefore, and turn, that your sins may be blotted out, and that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."
What the temple and its priests were not able to do, God did through Peter and John. These men had become living temples. God healed the lame man to prick the hearts of all the religious Jews.
Peter and John were walking in the spiritual reality that the temple was meant to represent in the physical world. More than just the healing of one man, this was the beginning of a holy revolution that would see the Jewish reality of God's presence turned on its head.
Being like Jesus became the focus of the true believer. Instead of marvel at the temple or any other religious thing, we are to marvel at the mystery of the Gospel - Christ in us the hope of glory.
But what took place in Acts 3 surpassed all of those moments. It was more than just the a simple healing of a lame man. It was a prophetic act meant to awaken the religious Jews. And it took place right in the heart of their misguided idolatry. On that day, Peter and John took over where Jesus left off.
Peter and John went up to the temple to pray. They met a crippled beggar at the Beautiful Gate. He was asking for alms from the worshippers as they entered the temple. This man asked for money just like he always did and got something far better.
Lame from birth, the beggar had no reason to believe he would ever be able walk. More than 40 years old, there was no way for the man to get out of his misery. Daily he sat near the temple, which in the Jewish understanding was the physical symbol of God's presence. But this lame man never knew God's power in his circumstances until he met true disciples. This was no ordinary day because he was going to meet two men who believed in an extraordinary God. These men knew God's power and had the faith to claim it for divine purposes.
Peter fixed his eyes on the man just as Jesus had done so many times with people in need. He asked the lame man to look on them. This is the same word that Jesus used when talking to Peter about his denial. It means to gaze upon with understanding. The beggar responded expecting a hand out. But Peter wanted him to look with eyes of faith expecting something more. He was calling this poor man to discern the greater gift waiting for him. This beggar was about to receive something beyond his wildest dreams.
Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:5-7 KJV)
Peter didn't have a lot of money. But he was rich in the Spirit and God's power. His ministry would never be about monthly or earthly resources. It would be about Jesus and His lordship over all the cares of this world.
Peter helped the man to his feet and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. The lame man was healed because of Peter's faith not his own. There are many hurting people who do not know enough to believe. They need people who will believe for them and left them up so that God's power can work in their circumstances. Peter activated this man's faith by first demonstrating his own.
The lame man not only walked, he leaped around the temple area praising God. Full of the Spirit and prayed up, Peter knew how to bring God's power to those in need. Peter had been affirmed by Jesus for moments just like that.
This miracle took place at a key entrance to the temple. The Beautiful gate of the temple had magnificent folding doors, fifty feet high and forty feet wide, covered with gold and Corinthian brass. As splendid as these doors were, they were void of the kind of power that human temples, made in the image of God possess.
More than just a healing, this was a message. It stopped the religious people in their tracks and forced them to ask some tough questions.
Everyone knew who the lame man was. What they couldn't explain is why he was walking. He held onto Peter and John while proclaiming what had happened to him. Crowds came running to see and were amazed. They began to marvel and looked at the two apostles. Maybe these were great men or prophets in the mold of Jesus. Peter knew the crowds. They were getting too wrapped up in the identity of Peter and John. It's just like men to think that a person is responsible for something that only God can do.
Peter asked, "Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?" (Acts 3:12 KJV). He pointed the crowd to Jesus as the source of life and power.
Peter explained why Jesus had to die and what his resurrection meant for them. This impromptu moment gave Peter the opportunity to preach his second public sermon. It covered Moses, the prophets and Jesus. He connected Jesus to their religious heritage.
Peter appealed to the prophets and the consciences of the hearers to convince them of the Messiahship of Jesus and the rebellion in their hearts. He then called them to repent. Peter said, "Repent, therefore, and turn, that your sins may be blotted out, and that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."
What the temple and its priests were not able to do, God did through Peter and John. These men had become living temples. God healed the lame man to prick the hearts of all the religious Jews.
Peter and John were walking in the spiritual reality that the temple was meant to represent in the physical world. More than just the healing of one man, this was the beginning of a holy revolution that would see the Jewish reality of God's presence turned on its head.
Being like Jesus became the focus of the true believer. Instead of marvel at the temple or any other religious thing, we are to marvel at the mystery of the Gospel - Christ in us the hope of glory.
