Reflection on Acts 3

The scene opens with Peter & John going to the temple to pray at 3pm in the afternoon. On their way in they pass  a beggar who was lame from birth. How would these Spirit filled believers in Jesus respond? Would they pass by, as in the story of the Good Samaritan, having somewhere more important to be? Or would they hear this man out? Would they talk to Him? Would they pray for Him?

As Peter and John were about to enter the Temple, the man asked to received money. Peter looked the man straight in the face and asked for his full attention.  He continued “I have no silver & gold, but what I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

And right then and there, a messianic prophesy from the book of Isaiah was fulfilled:  “then shall the lame man leap like a deer” Isaiah 35:6

This man, who never experienced a day in his life of a fully functioning body, began ‘walking and leaping and praising God”!

Can you imagine what this must have been like? This man had tasted the effects of the fall from birth. His body was disabled. He could not walk. It was never meant to be this way. God created us to live forever with healthy bodies in communion with Him. Then darkness and deterioration entered in from one bite of fruit. 

This act of healing was miraculous and beautiful for many reasons. 1. It showed the power and authority of Jesus, 2. It displayed Jesus miraculous power working through His disciples. 3. It fulfilled a messianic prophesy and the effects of the fall being reversed! 4. It pointed forward to a day when Jesus would do away with all sickness and pain giving all who believe in Him resurrected bodies in the New Heavens and New Earth! 

Peter seized this opportunity to point the crowds that were gathering to the crucified and risen King. When they gathered around they were amazed at this miraculous healing. Peter redirected their eyes to the true Healer: Jesus. His sermon addressed their responsibility in Christ’s death, God’s providential plan in the death of His Son, God’s acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice seen in the resurrection, and the power of Jesus exalted in heaven to heal this lame man. 

Peter closed his message speaking on the NEED to repent in order to take part in the blessings of Christ (and the subsequent curse of destruction for all who reject Him [Acts 3:23]). The blessings from repentance are listed and worth meditating on ourselves:

1.       Repent…that your sins may be blotted out.

We are promised that are sins will be washed away and forgotten...as far as the east is from the west!

2.       Repent…..that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

We are promised the presence of the Lord to revive our souls!

3.       Repent….that he may send…Jesus….for restoring all things…

We are promised a perfect Saviour restoring all things in the New Heavens and New Earth.

The future is GLORIOUS for those who repent, turn from their sins and put their faith in Jesus life death and resurrection on their behalf. Let us worship the risen King for He alone is worthy!

This healing was not only beautiful in and of itself, but it was beautiful in what it pointed towards: the beauty of the New Creation where we will all receive new bodies that will never be disabled, sick or in pain! What a sweet hope we have to look forward to when Jesus restores all things!