Journey Through Acts (Part 3) Series

The Journey: Following Jesus through Acts (3)

Scott Bayles, pastor

Scripture: Acts 3

Blooming Grove Christian Church: 7/9/2017

If you were with us the last couple weeks, you know we began a ten-week journey through the book of Acts. The very first followers of Jesus weren’t what you might expect. None of them had any seminary training. They didn’t belong to the religious elite or sit at the tables of governors and kings. They were common folk. Most of them had blue collars and calloused hands, and there’s no evidence that Jesus choose them because they were smarter or nicer than the guy next door. The one thing they had going for them was the willingness to take a step when Jesus said, “Follow me.”

The book of Acts chronicles their stories as they continue to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Last Sunday, we zeroed in on a snapshot of the early church just a few days old. What we discovered there in Acts 2 was a pattern and model for us to follow today. The first church was all about gathering together, gospel teaching, goodwill toward those in need, and glorifying God through prayer and praise. This four-fold focus provided the early church with guideposts to help them stay on course throughout their spiritual journey. And it can do the same for us.

As we reach the third chapter of the book of Acts, it begins with the compelling story of events surrounding a seemingly insignificant beggar outside the temple gates. Because this story fills the whole chapter and spills into the next. I’d like to break into three segments. The first part of this story centers on the healing.

• THE HEALING

The story begins as Peter and John head for the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. Luke writes:

“As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money” (Acts 3:2-3 NLT).

The gate was called Beautiful. The man sitting beside it probably wasn’t. He couldn’t walk. Instead he had to be carried to the Gate each morning. He passed his days coveting the coins of the worshippers entering Solomon’s court. The simple beggar saw the apostles, lifted his voice, and begged for money. They had none to give, but they still stopped. Luke says, “Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, ‘Look at us!’” (Acts 3:4 NLT).

Peter and John locked their eyes on him with such compassion. They issued no embarrassed glance, irritated shrug, or cynical dismissal but an honest look. The disabled man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” (Acts 3:6 NLT).

Then the thick, meaty hand of the fisherman reached for the frail, thin one of the beggar—a holy helping hand. Peter lifted him toward himself. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. Luke writes, “He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them” (Acts 3:7 NLT).

Can you picture it? An old man radiating joy, leaping into the air, and clicking his heals together. A beautiful moment at the Beautiful Gate. It makes me wonder though. What if Peter said, “Since I don’t have any silver or gold, I’ll just keep my mouth shut and avoid eye contact”? What if he thought, “This guy’s just a con-artist. He’s probably not even crippled”? Or what if Peter was just so caught up in getting where he was going that he didn’t even notice that guy?

Thankfully none of that happened. Rather, Peter extended an honest look and a helping hand—and it changed a man’s life. Couldn’t you and I do the same?

Sure you might not be able to heal broken bones or atrophied muscles, but neither could Peter. Peter didn’t heal the man. Jesus did. The question isn’t what can you do, but what can God do through you? There are harassed and helpless people all around us; it could be friend, a relative, a neighbor, even someone in the pew in front of you. I think more than anything God wants us to be a vessel for him to work through—to reach out to hurting people with a sincere heart and a strong hand. In so doing, God can work in their life through us.