What You Need!

Man Unable to Walk

As Peter and John were going into the temple at the ninth hour (3:00) for a time of prayer they encountered a man that had been unable to walk since his birth. I do not want to go past this fact too fast. I want us to get a feeling of the life this man possibly lived.

First, we must observe the physical aspect of his condition. Since he couldn’t walk, he couldn’t go outside and run around with the other boys in his community. This would limit his ability to establish friendships. He could not work a job because jobs during this time required a person to have the ability to walk. He could not go into the temple to worship because it was presumed that his inability to walk was because God was judging him for sin. Basically his inability to walk inhibited him from establishing relationships, establishing self worth by working, and prohibiting him from worshipping God. The foundational aspects of being a man and living a quality of life were unattainable for him because of his inability to walk.

Second, emotionally he would have a tendency to be discouraged or even depressed. He probably saw himself as a person of very little worth. We see this in that Peter and John told him to “Look at us”. He probably did not look many people in the eye because of the shame his disability brought him. People would perceive he was a sinner being punished by God for a sin that he committed or his parents. We see this evidenced by another instance in John 9:1-2

John 9:1–2 (NASB95)

As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?”

You can imagine the emotional tole it would have on a person that believed that they were not worth anything because even God was angry with them. He was probably an emotional wreck.

Finally, Spiritually he was not able to worship in the temple and offer sacrifices for his sin. He could not know or experience the One true God because he was not able to enter the temple to worship. Lev. 21:17-23

Leviticus 21:17–23 NASB95

“Speak to Aaron, saying, ‘No man of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect shall approach to offer the food of his God. ‘For no one who has a defect shall approach: a blind man, or a lame man, or he who has a disfigured face, or any deformed limb, or a man who has a broken foot or broken hand, or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye or eczema or scabs or crushed testicles. ‘No man among the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a defect is to come near to offer the Lord’s offerings by fire; since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the food of his God. ‘He may eat the food of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy, only he shall not go in to the veil or come near the altar because he has a defect, so that he will not profane My sanctuaries. For I am the Lord who sanctifies them.’ ”

This man was not able to join in the daily prayers that everyone else had the privilege. He was dismissed as someone who God did not care about.

This man was reduced to nothing more than a beggar that had to depend on the charity of others for a means of survival. He had to be placed where someone would be willing to place him. I find it interesting that the gate that we find him is a gate called beautiful. His life was far from the gate he encountered Peter and John. His life was not beautiful.

Could there be someone here today that feels in part or in whole like this man did? Perhaps you struggle with confidence? Perhaps you struggle with discouragement or depression? perhaps you see yourself as nonredeemable because of your past? Maybe you allow others to define who you are or will be?

Many people today struggle as this man did in many ways. Some have physical limitations that prevent them from achieving what they think they should. Some get their self-worth by what others think about them. This is obvious by people gauging their worth by how many likes they get on social media. Some people have such a sinful past that everyone knows about that they believe that their is no way God could forgive them or love them. I have good news for you today if you struggle.

Unexpected Blessing

The man had been placed at the gate called beautiful to beg for alms. As Peter and John entered the temple they told the man to look at them. As he did he probably got excited thinking he was going to receive a monetary gift from them. This is all he was expecting. He could never expect what was going to happen next.

Peter told him that in the name of Jesus he was healed and to walk. This man had never walked a day in his life. He had not learned how, he did not have to go to therapy to learn, all he had to do is walk! This would require faith.

Peter took him by the hand and immediately his legs and ankles were strengthened and he began to walk. Through Jesus Peter gave this man life! This healing would radically change this mans’s life. All that this condition robbed him of was instantaneously removed and he was a new person with a wonderful future.

It was Christ who made this man whole. It is Christ who makes us whole and can make you whole. The deficiency that we all have is called sin. It prevents us from having healthy relationships, causes anxiety, stress, and depression, and separates us from God . Jesus has died for our sins and will bring the healing to our souls that is necessary to live the life He intended us to live. ABUNDANT LIFE! John 10:10

John 10:10 NASB95

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

This man not only stood up and walked, but he leaped and jumped. He was ecstatic that He was now able to walk. Overcome with joy he tested the newly healed legs.

True Blessing

One might think that the ability for this man to walk was the true blessing. It was indeed a blessing that was unexpected. However, lets see what he did with his healing. He entered the temple and was praising God.

This is possibly the first time he entered the temple. Because of his lameness he was not able to come into the presence of God. With his complete healing, he was now able to come into the presence of God . Apart from Christ, we cannot come into the presence of God. Through Christ we have access to the Father. John 14:6

John 14:6 NASB95

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Jesus removes our sin disease and gives us access to the Father. We can go to Him any time and for any reason. Christ has made us well through the shed blood on Calvary. Do you do this on a regular basis. We need to spend time with the Father. The price to do so was too great to waste.

Secondly, He praised the Lord. To be in the presence of the Lord evoked a spirit of praise. We too should have this spirit of praise. Ps. 100:4

Psalm 100:4 NASB95

Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

We can and should Bless His Holy name. Worship is a daily occurrence that we have the privilege of to bring our praise to the Lord.

Not only did this man worship, but his worship incited others to praise God. It is almost as if praise and worship is contagious. Lets spread worship to as many people as we can!