The Living Christ

Acts 3:1-8, 12-16 - The Living Christ

What Peter and John did was remarkable and out-of-the-ordinary. Their actions tell us at least THREE realities:

(1) They believe that Christ has risen and is with them.

No one would invoke the name of a dead man and expect something to happen.

(2) They believe the works of Christ can continue because He is alive.

They have seen the miracles of Christ while they were with Him.

(3) They have faith in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Only Jesus Christ can change lives. Jesus has changed their lives.

We will consider these three aspects and learn from Peter and John today.

1. HAVE FAITH IN HIS PRESENCE

Jesus Christ is alive and not dead. Peter and John would not invoke the name of a dead man. It does not make sense.

• Both of them have been among the FIRST and CLOSEST disciples of Jesus.

• They knew that Jesus lived because they had seen the resurrected Christ.

• They have heard and seen Him before His death, and they have heard and seen Him after His resurrection.

• Jesus is truly the Son of God and their Saviour, who died for their sin on the cross, buried but rose again on the third day.

Looking at their unusual actions, we can safely say that Peter and John were led by the Spirit of God to bring about a miraculous healing to this man.

• It was not Peter’s power or his righteousness that this miracle happened. No man could do this except Jesus Christ.

• Peter and John did not go around looking for and healing all the sick and lame.

• They were on their way to the Temple to pray as was the Jewish custom, at three o’clock in the afternoon.

But this time, they passed the Beautiful Gate and saw a crippled beggar asking for money.

• Peter had nothing for him (in terms of alms). But yet he did have something that he could give him - Jesus Christ!

• Prompted by the Spirit of God, Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” (3:4). Both believed this to be the will of God.

Peter declared: “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (3:6)

• And took the man’s hand and raised him up. Immediately he was made whole.

The man stood up and walked. He entered the Temple with Peter and John, leaping and praising God!

• Imagine the transformation, for a man who was born crippled, never walked, and never entered the Temple (because the blind and lame are not allowed inside)…

• But NOW leaping and praising God in the house of God, giving glory to God.

• All the people were “filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him” (3:10).

All EXCEPT Peter and John! They saw it coming!

• By faith in the living Christ, Peter and John believed this could happen.

• They had seen enough of the miracles of Jesus to know that this was possible.

• They were led by His Spirit to meet the need of this man, not for alms but for his healing, and not just physically but spiritually.

• This man was led to faith in Jesus Christ and now giving praise to his God!

Peter and John knew the living Christ was with them and that explains their confidence and their actions.

• Jesus promised them in Matt 28:18-19 “18All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”

• “20…And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20)

Mark tells us in Mark 16:19-20 “19So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.”

• The Lord is with them and works with them to confirm the message of the Gospel with signs.

• Our life change is a testimony of the presence of the risen Christ!

2. HAVE FAITH IN HIS POWER

Since He is with us, we can expect to see His works in our lives.

• The miraculous healing of this man is an undeniable sign of Christ’s presence with them, because only the living Christ could have done this.

The people ran to Peter and John seeking an explanation - Acts 3:12-16

12And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?