Miracle and Message
Notes
Transcript
Miracle and Message
Miracle and Message
.Acts 3:1-26
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.
And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”
And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.
But Peter said, “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!”
And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God,
and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
The Miracle
The Miracle
Temple- 9th hour—3pm (v.1)
Peter and John were going about their business
One thing we need to take away from this is that Peter and John, and most likely the rest of the disciples lived a normal life apart from God’s Empowerment to aid them in healings and casting out demons.
They weren’t just sitting around waiting for God to work.
They were living their lives and going about their business and in that God was Working.
.Matt. 28:19-20 “as you are going make disciples of all nations.
Their lives had been changed and impacted by Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but their routines (at least for the time being) remained the same.
They still went to the temple to worship. They were still around in their community. They were still tied to the Jewish Community they had lived their lives around.
They didn’t become monks or isolate themselves from others, rather they were among other people, because that is were God wants us to be. Around others so that we can bring him Glory.
This was one of the 3 times a day that the Jewish people would come up to the temple for prayer.
This specific time was one of the 2 daily sacrifices that took place in the temple.
There would be a great crowd for this ceremony, therefore people would be able to see the result of the event that would happen.
Because there were going to be a lot of people here, this was the prime time for a beggar to be present.
The More people the more likely hood that the beggars would receive a good amount of money.
One of the reasons is that:
Acts 1. Peter’s Healing a Lame Beggar (3:1–11)
The rabbis taught that there were three pillars for the Jewish faith—the Torah, worship, and the showing of kindness, or charity. Almsgiving was one of the main ways to show kindness and was thus considered a major expression of one’s devotion to God. With their minds set on worship, those who entered the temple for the evening sacrifice and prayer would be particularly disposed to practice their piety by generously giving alms to a lame beggar
We are then introduced to this nameless beggar.
He is lame from birth. We find out in 4:22 that he had been like this for over 40 years. Since he came out of his mother’s womb.
This is an important detail. It shows us that there is no way that he is faking an injury or ailment.
It is showing us that what is about to happen is truly a miracle.
He wasn’t some plant or a prop used by the apostles to gain notoriety.
He was known and seen at the gate Daily.
He wasn’t there on accident. It wasn’t a coincidence that he came at that time. He was divinely put there so that God could be glorified through his healing.
In fact, he didn’t and couldn’t get to the temple gate alone. He had to be brought there. He was carried there, presumably by friends and family. There were people who day in and day out carried this man to the Gate so that he would be able to have some sort of income.
He was a staple in the community, meaning that he was seen and known by all those present in the temple.
Notice where he is, He is laid at the Beautiful Gate. He is at the entrance to the Sanctuary.
This beautiful gate is described by Jewish Historian Josephus as being made of Corinthian Bronze and more beautiful and ornate than all the other gates that it “far exceeded in value those gates that were plated with silver and set in gold.”
This was some puny and ordinary gate that, this gate was beautiful and took at least 20 men to open and close.
That is where this beggar sat day in and day out watching people go worship God. Watching people travel long distances to partake in the beauty of worshipping God.
Broken, hopeless, and relying on the generosity of others, this man was in for a fantastic surprise.
There is something special about beggars and panhandlers, they always seem to know who is going to give them money.
They are always scanning the crowd looking for those who appear generous. Because they don’t want to waste any time.
He sees both Peter and John and they look like those type of people. Those type who are generous and ready to help out. They had a certain look or glow about them.
So he asks them for alms.
This isn’t a direct correlation, but it reminds me of being a at baseball game and hearing the vendors walk up and down the aisle yelling “popcorn, get your popcorn, here”
Then Peter does something incredible.
He tells the man to look at him. To focus on him. Stop looking around and focus on what is about to happen.
I’m not sure if you have ever been around beggars, but I will tell you that especially when they are well known or have been around for a while that people may drop money in their hat as they pass by, but they don’t look at them.
And they definitely don’t ask for their attention. It’s uncomfortable. It’s awkward.
But Peter tells this man to look at him.
He wants him to know that he sees him not as a prop or fixture. But he sees him as a person. A person in the need of God’s Grace. A person that is known by and loved by God.
He is a broken person who needs healing.
Peter and John had just gotten off of the high of seeing 3000 souls saved, but this one man is important. This one man is cared for. This one man is cherished.
It should remind us of Jesus’ parable about the one lost sheep. This was the one that Jesus was going after. This was the one that Jesus wanted to save. This was the one that needed God’s Grace.
So this man looks at Peter and John with expectation. Probably thinking, “I am about to cash in.” v.5
He is then immediately let down b/c Peter says that “I have no silver and gold”
I can only imagine what must be going through this beggar’s mind.
You come to me. You tell me to stop looking and asking for money and then you tell me that you’re broke.
Oh, but Peter has something more magnificent in mind.
The beggar thinks he wants money, but Peter sees through this perceived need to the true need. Healing.
There are things that are more precious than gold and silver.
So, in the name of Jesus, this man is healed. “Rise up and Walk”
Notice that this healing takes place through the power of the name of Jesus. Jesus is the name above every other name.
Peter couldn’t heal, John couldn’t heal, no individual could heal without the power of the name of Jesus.
Acts 1. Peter’s Healing a Lame Beggar (3:1–11)
To invoke the name of Jesus is to call upon his authority and power. In a real sense, then, Jesus through Peter continued his healing ministry.
Jesus never need to invoke a power outside himself to heal. Because is the power, he is the author of life, he is the one who came to restore and set right.
Peter and the other apostles could only do these mighty works through the power given to them by Jesus Christ. The Name of Jesus represented his power and authority over the brokenness of this world.
This man is healed and IMMEDIATELY he was up and walking, leaping and praising God.
There wasn’t any wobble in his step. It wasn’t like Bambi first learning to walk. He was immediately restored.
He was immediately made strong. He was immediately responding to God’s goodness throw praise.
He was probably loud and drawing attention to himself.
You ever been in a crowded area and someone starts leaping and shouting to God?
You can bet that it draws peoples attention.
He was doing this in the temple.
Know this, this man had never been allowed into the temple. He couldn’t have been brought into the temple.
According to Lev. 21:17-20 this man was barred from the temple. He was unable to enter into the temple to worship God and now he is leaping through the temple praising God for his miraculous healing.
It’s no accident that this lame man was leaping. This was a sign of the coming kingdom that God promised.
then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
So everyday for his adult life he watched men and women walk to the temple and worship God.
He watched as they would go about their day taking for granted the access they had, taking for granted the ability they had, going through the motions b/c they were supposed to.
Those who saw this man were filled with wonder and amazement, because they all recognized him. They all knew he was lame. They all knew he was helpless, but now they have seen his restoration and healing.
Something Miraculous and Marvelous happened at the Temple that day.
A man that had been lame since birth gained restoration and healing.
He was restored b/c God saw him. God saw his need and provided for him. God Loved him deeply and knew that this event would be used to bring more glory and praise to God Alone.
This miracle led Peter into a new opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus to those present.
While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.
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 have made him walk?
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.
And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’
And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.
You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’
God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
The Message
The man now healed clung to Peter and John. Not because he was weak or needed assistance walking, but because he was excited and didn’t want to let go of these men that brought healing to him.
They all ran to a place other than the temple, Solomon's Portico.
A crowd had gathered and Peter took this opportunity to explain the meaning of the miracle.
This miracle didn’t come from them alone. They weren’t powerful enough or pious enough to make something like this happen.
The miracle didn’t happen because of anything other than the name and power of Jesus Christ.
When the miraculous occurs it is always to point to Jesus.
No one is good enough, obedient enough, powerful enough to produce any miracles apart from the power and grace of God.
This is where so many false gospels get it wrong. If God wants to do a miracle it will always be because he wants to. Not because you prayed hard enough. Not because you were devoted enough. Not because you obedient enough.
Every miracle happens so that God will be glorified.
He says the “Same God that you are here worshipping today the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is glorifying Jesus through this miraculous sign.
His servant Jesus is the one who deserves all glory and praise not us. We simply obeyed and Jesus brought about the healing.
Peter in this mini-sermon will not quote OT scripture, but he does use OT language to communicate the message and promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
The first image that Peter uses is the image of God’s Servant.
This would point back to the Servant Songs in the prophet Isaiah.
Jesus didn’t come to rule with an Iron Fist. He came to serve his people.
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
He did demonstrate his authority through power and conquering people. He demonstrated his authority and power through washing feet and conquering sin through the ultimate service of giving his life up for us.
Peter then calls Jesus the Holy and Righteous One.
They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
Here Peter is equating Jesus with the Holy and Righteous one of God.
That this Jesus that you turned over to death is the God you claim to worship.
He has been glorified by God b/c he is Righteous and Holy. Something that you could never be.
Peter also calls Jesus the Author of Life.
There is one creator and sustainer. There is one who is the Author of Life and in your wickedness and ignorance you consigned him to death.
You meant to have him dead, but God raised him up. God demonstrated Jesus’ perfection and validity when he raised him from the dead.
And it is by this Jesus that this man was made strong.
It is by this Jesus that this man is restored.
It is by this Jesus that this man is healed.
It is by this Jesus that this has been done so that you may believe. That you may repent and have the spiritual healing that this Jesus extends to you.
If you repent and turn back to God your sins will be blotted out.
They will be wiped away. They will be forgiven.
All your sins. The sins committed out of ignorance and the sins of blatant rebellion.
You will be refreshed, restored, and renewed. You can come before Jesus be washed clean.
This is what the prophets of old talked about. This is the new heart and new covenant that was promised to the prophets means.
You can be made new. You can be washed clean. You can be made whole.
Jesus came that all peoples will be blessed. But he first came for his people the Israelites.
He is crying out that his people will be renewed and restored. That they will find hope, joy, love and peace in Jesus Christ.
The servant came to save the lost.
Conclusion
This is as true for us as it was for them.
Jesus came to save people. Jesus came to make a new people for himself. Jesus came because he wants you to know and love him.
If you aren’t a follower of Jesus he wants you to know that he sees you. He cares about you and he loves you.
He is calling you to a life of union with him. He wants you to repent of your sins and follow after him.
Recognize that you need him. That you need his forgiveness and that he is offering it to you.
If you are a follower of Jesus how should you respond to this text?
Care for those who are hurting around us.
Tell everyone about the good news of the gospel of Jesus.
even if they don’t think they want to hear it. They need to hear it.
Remember the name of the one who saved you.
Rely on him, praise him, love him, be devoted to him.
He has all authority and power and he has granted you access to that power as a faithful follower.
Hear what Pastor John Piper has to say about Jesus’ Authority:
All authority. He has authority over Satan and all demons, over all angels- good and evil- over the natural universe, natural objects and laws and forces: stars, galaxies, planets, meteorites; authority over all weather systems: winds, rains, lightning, thunder, hurricanes, tornadoes, monsoons, typhoons, cyclones; authority over all their effects: tidal waves, floods, fires; authority over all molecular and atomic reality: atoms, electrons, protons, neutrons, undiscovered subatomic particles, quantum physics, genetic structures, DNA, chromosomes; authority over all plants and animals great and small: whales and redwoods, giant squid and giant oaks, all fish, all wild beasts, all invisible animals and plants: bacteria, viruses, parasites, germs; authority over all the parts and functions of the human body: every beat of the heart, every breath of the diaphragm, every electrical jump across a million synapses in our brains; authority over all nations and governments: congresses and legislatures and presidents and kings and premiers and courts; authority over all armies and weapons and bombs and terrorists; authority over all industry and business and finance and currency; authority over all entertainment and amusement and leisure and media; over all education and research and science and discovery; authority over all crime and violence; over all families and neighborhoods; and over the church, and over every soul and every moment of every life that has been or ever will be lived