“Peter Heals” Acts 3: 1-10

For the past four months, we have been studying together Bible Stories though the aid of the Narrative Lectionary. Some have been familiar to us. Some less so. But stories matter. Stories stick with us. 

I grew up learning certain Bible Stories through songs in Sunday School. In fact, I went on to teach those same songs in the same Sunday school classes years later. There were lots of songs, but I have to say that the ones that stuck the most weren’t those with the catchiest beat, but rather those that told a compelling story. Like the song that tells the story of Acts 3. Maybe you’ve heard it, Silver and Gold Have I None. Or maybe you don’t remember the title, but can pick up some of the words from memory. 

The song starts out: Peter and John went to pray: they met a lame man on the way.

He asked for alms and held out his palms, and this is what Peter did say. This particular narrative takes place after the power of the Holy Spirit has fell upon the disciples in the upper room and they have went out preaching, boldly, the Good News. At some point in time after that event, Peter and John are on the way to the temple to pray. It’s the middle of the afternoon. It’s hot and dusty, but there is a man who hasn’t been able to walk since he was born who is right outside of the Beautiful Gate of the temple. 

His friends would carry him there every day. People knew him. Sometimes people would drop him a few coins, since this was the only thing that he would have to live off of. Sometimes people would cast their eyes away and keep on walking, ignoring his cries. But this man’s entire existence was dependent upon being at that gate and being shown compassion by people, so that he would have enough money just to eat. 

The man saw Peter and John coming into the temple and he cried out for them to have mercy on him. In other words, help me live!

And Peter stopped and looked right at him. Looked at him. Even when others averted their eyes, Peter saw him. Saw him as a child of God. And commanded that the man look at him in return. 

I recently read a book entitled Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. The entire premise of the book is when we get it wrong. When we misjudge people because we think that we are a good judge of character. Because we don’t really know what we are looking for. 

But while we screw up our perception of other people, God does not. And when Peter looked at that unnamed man that day, he saw him. He really saw him. He saw him with the eyes and heart of our Savior. 

The man probably thought at this point he was going to be able to eat today. Maybe he would get enough money for a bit of bread. Or maybe he was embarrassed to have someone look at him that deeply, as if Peter was peering deep within him. Maybe he tried to cast his eyes down out of shame. But there is no way that he expected what came next. 

The song (and the story continues): "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” This man was asking for one thing, money so that he could live. Peter offered him something so much more so he could have new life. In fact, Peter didn’t even ask the man if he wanted to be healed, he just took his right hand and pulled him up! Remember this is a man whose friends had to carry him to the temple gate every day and now he is standing for the first time! He was healed in the name of Jesus!

But here’s the thing - it wasn’t just the man who was healed by the power of Jesus that day. In so many ways it was Peter as well. Do you remember just a few short weeks ago the story of Peter. Peter who when told that the disciples would leave Jesus, claimed that he never would. Peter who said he would die with Jesus, only to go on and deny him three times in one night. Now it is that Peter, boldly walking down the streets of Jerusalem, healing people in public by the power of Jesus Christ! What a change in his life as well! He, too, had new power and new life through Christ. 

And how that man’s life was changed. The most familiar part of the song is the ending and it goes like this: He went walking and jumping and praising God, walking and jumping and praising God. "In the name of Jesus Christ  of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” His joy at being healed was uncontainable! 

And people noticed. As people were walking by the temple it is almost as if they had to do a double-take. Whispering, isn’t the man who was lying her yesterday? How can he walk now? Up until this point in Acts all of the signs and wonders had happened away from the temple. Now they are beginning to happen in and around the temple. And the people were filled with wonder and amazement. 

Friends, in some ways it may be hard to put ourselves in the shoes of the man at the temple that day. But maybe in some ways we can identify. Have you ever came to God asking for one thing, only to be offered something completely different, but so much better? Have you ever had God completely come in and change your life?

Maybe it wasn’t making your legs strong so you could jump with joy, but maybe God healed a wound in your life. Or restored relationships. Or something else. What was that experience like for you? What joy did it bring into your life?

Or maybe, its hard for you to identify with the man, but can you see yourself in Peter. Thinking you would act one way, only to be ashamed when you acted another? Have you ever tried to hide from God, only to have God call you to go boldly and proclaim the Gospel in word and deed or sign? Has God ever healed you of your shame? Have you ever felt the power of Jesus change you from the inside out?

Church, our Lord and Savior is at work transforming lives all around us. And like Peter and John we are invited to be part of that healing work in the world. If only we see and respond to the opportunities we are given. Maybe the power of the spirit won’t call us to offer the same thing as Peter and John did that day, but can we stop and see people? Can we see people with the eyes of Christ and respond with his heart of compassion to their needs? What opportunities to proclaim the Gospel are right in front of us that we often overlook? And what one step can we take to help folks come to know the love and power of the Savior?

The truth is so much could have blocked Peter and John from responding that day. If they wouldn’t have seen the man. If they would have kept going. If they thought they didn’t have any money so they couldn’t offer him anything. If Peter would have let his own shame of the past block him from being in the present. But instead, they took the moment and responded. What is Jesus calling us to do by the power of his name and how will we respond? Amen.