Perfect Health through the Author of Life
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Acts 3:1-16
1. Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at that gate of the temple which is called Beautiful to ask alms of those who entered the temple. 3. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. 4. And Peter directed his gaze at him, with John, and said, "Look at us." 5. And he fixed his attention upon them, expecting to receive something from them. 6. But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7. And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8. And leaping up he stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10. and recognized him as the one who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11. While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's, astounded. 12. And 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 had made him walk? 13. The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15. and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16. And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
The Perfect health referred to in this last verse is, of course, literal for this beggar, but figurative for us—Peter is really referring to spiritual health. Perfect spiritual health is available only one way: faith in Jesus Christ. This lame man, well-known by all who came to pray is used to make a profound and unquestionable point. He was lame from birth and was healed in the name of Jesus Christ. My Bible Reader’s Companion indicates that a person’s name in that time was not only an identifier of who someone was, but of their character and their “total persona.” So healing “in the name of Jesus” really means “in the power of Jesus.”
I love how the beggar is told to look at them – and he complies – expecting to receive a few coins. Instead he receives so much more than he ever even imagined asking for or hoping for! That’s how Jesus longs to work in our lives too! He wants us to turn over who and what we are to Him and let our faith in Him be strengthened, deepened and put into action through the Holy Spirit.
Peter isn’t mincing any words here when he addresses the crowd. He doesn’t offer a polished, rehearsed “sermon.” He’s just saying it like it is—sharing His truth—and offering His truth to anyone who will listen and believe. That’s what we are to do as well. We don’t have to be articulate and scholarly to share the Good News! We only have to believe—and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. We will be given the words when we speak “in the power of Jesus.”
Peter offers “proof” that the Jesus he lived with and followed, and now preaches to everyone, is the fulfillment of the scriptures, the culmination of history, the hope for the future at the end of the world. He has no doubt about that! Healing the beggar offers physical, visual, “in your face” proof of what Jesus can do in someone’s life. Acts tells us that faith and trust in Jesus can afford us far more than silver and gold—more than any treasure this world can offer!
I hope you spend today preaching the gospel and spreading the Good News in the Power of Jesus.
Mary
