Rise Up and Walk
Acts 3:1-10
I really wish I had been here last Sunday to hear what Scott had to say, because the Day of Pentecost is such an important day in Christian history. It was the day when the promised Holy Spirit came upon the 120 disciples in the upper room and gave birth to the Church. Peter, filled with the Spirit of God, preached his first sermon and over 3,000 people were saved and baptized. The foundation of basic church life was laid, and those early brothers and sisters devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread (which means they not only ate together often, if not daily, but they also celebrated the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
The fellowship they experienced in those early days was unlike anything they had ever experienced before. It went far beyond the simple socialization we experience every day with the people we come into contact with, because they were daily in the temple, being of one mind, sharing meals together from house to house and with gladness, sincerity of heart, and praising God, they sacrificially cared for the needs of one another. This unity of heart and spirit caused the early church to have Act 2:47 …favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
It was such an important time in Church history because the Lord was causing a sense of awe among the people through the signs and wonders that were taking place through the apostles. Signs and wonders like the one we read about in chapter 3.
Act 3:1-10 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. (2) And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; (3) who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. (4) And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." (5) So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. (6) 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, rise up and walk." (7) And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. (8) So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. (9) And all the people saw him walking and praising God. (10) Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Every time I read this account I’m reminded of the account where Jesus healed the man who had been born blind. I guess it’s because they’re so similar in that both men were born in their condition. They had never seen anything or walked anywhere in their entire life. Now, all the healings we read about in the Bible are wonderful and miraculous, but it just seems to me that there’s a difference between healing someone who lost something through sickness, disease, or injury than healing someone who was born without an ability. It’s giving them something they never had. Does that make sense to you?
And you know, I think that the other people who witnessed such things might have felt the same way. The healing of both the man who was born blind and this man who had never walked caused such a stir that not only did the crowds become amazed and excited about what happened, but it also caught the attention of the religious leaders. Do you remember how the religious leaders intensely questioned the once blind man and his parents? Well, this lame man’s cure also caused such a fuss among the people that the religious leaders got involved and in chapter 4 we read about how they questioned Peter and John and then threatened and commanded them to quit preaching about Jesus.
Our lame man today, came into this world without the ability to walk. I’m thinking that his parents had probably seen his twisted and maybe deformed little legs at his birth, and they knew that he’d never be able to run, walk, work, or play with the other children his whole life. They knew that the only way he’d be able to survive in this world would be through begging, and so, after he became old enough, they would carry him to the gate called Beautiful, which we also know as the Eastern gate, and they would set him down in this prime spot to beg for alms as people walked into or came out of the temple.
Now, there were many places throughout Jerusalem to beg, but right outside the temple, you could catch people as they were on their way into worship, well, I can’t think of any place better. This is where he’d be able to catch people who were in the process of mentally and spiritually preparing themselves to go in and worship God. It was customary for Jews everywhere to pray at least 3 times a day, and those Jews who were in or near Jerusalem would pray in the temple. So, during these times of prayer would be the perfect time and place to beg for alms.
Something else that’s interesting here is that Peter and John, without fear, were going to the temple to pray. It wasn’t that long ago when they were cowering behind locked doors in fear for their lives. But now, they’re not only walking into the temple with boldness during one of its busiest times of the day, but they also publicly, in the sight of all, healed someone and then took him into the temple with them. This is about the 9th hour of the day, which would be around 3 o’clock, which would also be the very hour that the Lord had died on the cross. It was the hour in which He would cry out “It is finished!” and then gave up the ghost.
Another thing that has puzzled me in the past is that we know from chapter 4 that this man was around 40 years old. We also know that his family brought him daily to this place right outside the temple to beg. Now, there’s no doubt in my mind that the Lord Jesus had walked through this gate many times Himself. So, why didn’t He heal this man? Surely, He had seen this beggar before. Why didn’t He heal him?
This used to bother me, but then one day the Lord reminded me once again of His healing of the man who was born blind. When the disciples asked Jesus, “Who sinned? This man or his parents?” the Lord’s response was Joh 9:3 …"Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. But that the works of God should be revealed in him!
You see, God doesn’t operate on our timetable. He does what He does according to His own will, His own plan, and His own pleasure, not ours. God has His own time for great events, and until that time comes, things are going to go on as they always do. But when the time according to His own predetermined plan does come, His program moves into gear, then things start happening! This beggar’s time came when Peter and John were walking by on this day at the hour of prayer, because the coming miracle of his healing would be a sign—a special sign miracle that would glorify God and send a message to the people of Israel and the religious leaders that the witness and testimony of His apostles was true, and the times of refreshing were upon them. (Acts 3:19)
This miracle of healing the man who was lame from birth could not be reasonably denied. It could not be easily dismissed, nor could it be humanly explained. He had been sitting in this same spot every day since he was probably 7, 8, or 9 years old. So, conceivably, he may have been in this place for 33 years or so. When Peter and John walked by, this man asked them for alms just like he had asked thousands and thousands of people before them, year after year, day after day. Many times, people walked right on by. Sometimes, people would toss a few coins into his cup or basket, but this time, the object of his begging stopped, fixed his eyes on him, and then said Act 3:4 …"Look at us."
Few had probably ever said anything to him before. Many of those who did might have had some sort of disparaging remark or insult dripping from their lips as they tossed him a coin or two. So, when Peter said in the way he did, “Look at us”, hearing something in his voice that he may not have heard before, he lifted his eyes and looked at Peter once again. Hope began to build, and he wondered if he would receive something from these two men.
Seeing that he had his full attention, Peter then said Act 3:6 …"Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And as Peter’s hand reached out to the man, the man began to feel something he had never felt before. A tingling sensation in his legs—strength entering atrophied muscles. As he took hold of Peter’s hand, his legs sprang to life and he leaped up and stood, then walked, and then jumped with joy!
Think about this. We know that people who have had broken bones or other injuries take time to heal and many times their injuries might be so bad that they have to spend weeks or months in rehab learning to stand on their own, and walking, well, that would take even more time. But this man was so completely healed that he needed no rehab at all! He didn’t have to learn how to walk like an infant does—his first step was a leap! And the text also tells us that he kept on walking and leaping and praising God as he clung to Peter and John and entered the temple with them! He was made so normal that even the knowledge and ability to use his legs was immediately given to him.
That is truly a miracle. His body was made whole, and he had balance, and he had the necessary motor skills. So, is it any wonder that all the people were amazed at what they were seeing? They were dumbfounded and were probably looking at the three of them with questioning eyes.
Act 3:9-10 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. (10) Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
There was an immediate effect on the people. They knew that something remarkable had occurred, that God was at work among them! They heard it. They saw it, and they knew it was done in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Now, people will ask, “What’s in a name?” Well let me tell you, there is power in the name of Jesus. There is healing in the name of Jesus. There is salvation in the name of Jesus. When Peter said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” He wasn’t speaking some magical formula or some secret and mystical incantation; He was acknowledging the fact that there was only one person in all creation who could help this man and he was telling this man to trust in the person of Jesus Christ and no one else.
You see, our name represents who we are and what we are. My name represents me, and everything I am. When someone speaks my name, they are thinking of me—hopefully in a good way. When I sign something, like a check or a contract, my signature represents me and no one else. So, when we call upon the name of Jesus, we are calling upon the Son of God and all that He is. We are telling people that this isn’t us. We’re not doing whatever it is that we’re asking for, but we are relying on someone who is bigger, greater, and far more powerful than we are. He is the one who is in control. He is the one that we are to have faith in. He is the power upon whom we are depending.
And this is exactly what the church is called to do—what every Christian is called to do. To be completely dependent upon Christ! Nothing else. When Peter said to the lame man, “Silver and gold have I none.” He was admitting his bankruptcy. His limited power to help this man or anyone else. Friends, we are not called to meet the material needs of this world. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t help people with their physical needs. As Christians, we are to love our neighbors and help them any way we can. And like the Good Samaritan, it is good when we help others and go above and beyond in our efforts. But the truth is, our call is to make disciples. To tell the world about Jesus. We are to open up the pathway to the life of God to the lost, and to make available to men what only God can do in the name of Jesus.
When the people heard what Peter said, and saw what happened next, they knew that God was at work, and they were prepared to listen to Peter’s explanation. That explanation takes up the rest of this chapter, and I’m not going to go into that now. But I will say that what we see here is a basic pattern for witnessing. You know, witnessing isn’t learning certain facts or memorizing certain techniques as if you were a magazine or encyclopedia salesman trying to get as many subscriptions as you can.
No. True witnessing always follows a pattern: (1) God works. He does something. He changes a life. He changes your life through the new birth. Then (2) that changed life goes out and tells others what God did. The person to whom it happened says what happened him or her. It’s as simple as that. That is what giving witness is. And then (3) as a result of your witness, God works again. Another changed life. Another explanation or witness given. And that is the cycle of witness that has been happening over and over again throughout the ages.
You don’t begin with the explanation, you begin where you began, with God’s work in you. Sometimes people will ask you about what happened to change you, but many times they won’t. You will need to break the ice, so to speak. You will need to get the ball rolling, but once that happens, then you tell them what God has done in your life. How He changed you, and that He can change them as well.
God is offering to heal men and women this very day. This could be physical healing like the lame man of our story, but it most definitely is the spiritual healing that is far more important. He wants to make men and women whole, mature, grown up. This is what the Church is all about. This is why we pray for the people on our prayer list. It’s why we call people to come down front for prayer, so the healing hand of Jesus Christ can be laid again and again upon our hearts and lives, making us whole as God intended us to be.
Are you like this lame man? Maybe you have been lying at the gate yourself, looking for help and you don’t expect any more than a friendly hand, or a little help to just to get by. But friend, God has so much more to give you. So much more, that if you would only hear that amazing name of Jesus. All that God has is wrapped up in that one name, and that name has been made available to you.
Brother, sister, this is the great word we have to declare today: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
I’m going to close in prayer now, and then we’ll begin our Lord’s Supper Service. Everyone is invited to participate in this, but before we begin, we’ll have a closing prayer and a song of invitation.
If you are here today and you have never trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, or if you’ve gotten away from the things of God for a while, but now you’d like to return and rededicate your life to Jesus, you are more than welcomed to come down front while we sing this song of invitation and make your public declaration of faith.
Or if you need prayer or need to spend time in prayer at the altar, you’re welcome to do that as well.
Would you stand with me as I pray?
