Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. ‘Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’
-Acts 3:2-8;13-23 (NIV)
The miracle in Acts 3 is for the validation, vindication, and accreditation of the messenger!
‘I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me…
-John 5:36-37a (NIV)
Natural laws describe how nature normally behaves, but God, by definition, is able to force them to behave however He wants them to behave.
Miracle: God introducing a new causal input into the system, not suspending or destroying the natural order.
The Son is the image of the invisible God… For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
-Colossians 1:15a-16a,b;17 (NIV)
Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.
-Acts 3:2-3 (NIV)
Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
-Acts 3:6-10 (NIV)
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.
-Isaiah 35:5-6 (NIV)
This is a prophecy of what happens when Messiah comes.
When Peter saw this, he said to them: ‘Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus... By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
-Acts 3:12-13a, 16 (NIV)
What is the purpose of the miracle? To show that Messiah has indeed come.
Prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah spoke of a day when the blind would see, the lame would walk and the deaf will hear.
The Christian World view is not the only world view that must give an explanation for pain and suffering.
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
-Romans 5:12 (NIV)
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
-1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (NIV)
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned
-Romans 5:12 (NIV)
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
-Romans 5:15-17 (NIV)
We are all sinners. Sin causes death and disintegration.
People often say: “Miracles are the suspension of the natural order.” The Biblical miracles are actually the restoration of the natural order.
Jesus and the Apostle’s healings are the only natural things in an unnatural, demonized and wounded world.
For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
-Romans 5:17 (NIV)
What kind of hope does this really give us?
Hear him, ye deaf, his praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ; ye blind, behold your Savior come, and leap, ye lame, for joy.
-Charles Wesley, O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
The first miracle and the healing of this lame man points to something that will enable you to deal with your suffering now!
Pain and suffering must be dealt with in the context of God—not apart from Him.
Answering the question of pain and suffering philosophically will not really help us in our time of need.
Sometimes God allows what he hates to accomplish what He loves.
-Joni Eareckson Tada
I would rather be in this wheelchair knowing God than on my feet without Him.
-Joni Eareckson Tada
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
-1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NIV)
Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
-Acts 3:6-8 (NIV)
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’
-Mark 2:5 (NIV)
All the miracles Jesus performed were temporary fixes.
The lame man will be lame again, unable to walk. With Jesus, he will leap forever.
Miracles are a reminder of what is coming for those who speak the name of Jesus over their lives.
“I would rather be in this wheelchair knowing God than on my feet without Him.”
-Joni Erickson Tada
When you discover Jesus, your greatest need has been met—you are no longer separated from God—which means that any loss is temporary!
The coronavirus is very rapidly demolishing the illusion that we goodcan build perfection on earth… Perhaps we had hidden from this reality until coronavirus rampaged across the globe. Now we cannot ignore it, nor the big questions about life and death...Perhaps the Coronavirus may function as a huge loudspeaker, reminding us of the ultimate statistic: that one out of every one of us dies. If this induces us to look to the God we may have ignored for years, but who wore a crown of thorns in order to bring us back into relationship with Him into a new, unfractured world beyond death, then the coronavirus, in spite of the havoc it has wreaked, will have served a very healthy purpose.
-Dr. John Lennox, Where is God in a Coronavirus World?
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
-Acts 3:19 (NIV)
Miracles always make the miracle worker vulnerable. They place the one who does the miracle in jeopardy.
So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
-John 11:53 (NIV)
Jesus could not take Lazarus out of the grave without putting himself in.
You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.
-Acts 3:15 (NIV)
The greatest miracle the world has ever seen or witnessed is God becoming a man and making himself mortal.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
-Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
-James 5:16 (NIV)
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