The Healing of the Lame Beggar (Acts 3:1-10)

Acts 3:1-10

Introduction

We all know the life of the beggar. I am sure that even in your own country you have beggars. We automatically recognize baggers because most of the time we see them on the streets wearing dirty clothes, asking others for food or money etc. Whenever we go downtown, we see baggers bagging money especially when there is a traffic jam. I personally have experienced many times.

Some of the Baggers face significant challenges in their daily lives that include limited access to basic needs, social isolation, discrimination, less love, etc. Beggars they just rely on the help of others. Without other mercy, there's no hope.

According to research from the internet, Bharat Jain is an Indian who is the wealthiest beggar in the world and we can see him begging on the streets of Mumbai. Due to financial problems, he was unable to pursue formal education. He is a married man with a family that includes his wife, and two sons. Jain has a net worth of ₹7.5 crore which is equal to 75 million. His monthly earnings from the begging range is between 60 to 75 thousand rupees which is equal to 721 to 901 dollars. 

Today we are going to discuss how Peter and John healed the lame bagger and how his life was completely changed. I have three points to expound on this text.

1. Peter and John bear witness to a beggar

In our text today a lamb bagger is not a rich guy like Bharat Jain. But he is a lame man from birth and I’m sure that in those days there were no wheelchairs as we have today. I think that this lamb beggar was carried by his friends or family members. In Luke chapter 5 verse 18, it says that there was a paralytic man and his friends had heard about Jesus. And we know what happened in the story, his friends carried him up on a mat and lowered him down through the roof of the house so that they could see Jesus. what happens next? Jesus so their faith of those friends and He healed the man.

Coming back to our text, at about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Jewish people would gather together in the temple for prayer. At that time many Jewish people were in the temple to pray and sacrifice. So, Peter and John were going to the temple in the evening time.

At the Gate called “Beautiful Gate” Peter and John made a poor and dirty bagger man. He could not walk from his birth because he was born a lame man. So, the question is why does this lame bagger stay outside the temple? Maybe because it is the best spot to ask for money. Here is an example if you are going fishing or going to buy some clothes you need to go where there are a lot of fish or where you can buy good clothes. Right? So, likewise, the beautiful gate was the best spot for the lame man to ask for money. In order to survive, he sat in front of the temple and called out to those who passed by, “Please have pity on me and give me some alms so that I could survive. So, the question is why this lame bagger could not enter the temple like Peter and John? And we all know why Because according to Jewish law, they excluded him from entering and participating in the temple worship. We can see in Leviticus 21:18 says, “No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed.” So, It seems like even God has kept him out of his house.

That brings us to point 2

2. Healing of the lame bagger

At the hour of prayer, Peter and John went to the temple, which was customary for devout Jews. As they approached the Beautiful Gate, they encountered a man who had been lame since birth, being carried daily to beg for alms. As they were entering the gate, they saw a bagger bagging money at the gate. So, Peter and John stopped in front of the man, when they heard his voice. Peter, along with John, directed their attention towards him and said, "Look at us." Expecting to receive money, the man fixed his eyes and gazed at them. However, Peter responded with a powerful statement: I do not possess silver and gold. He has nothing that the world deems valuable to give the man. He has no money, nothing of silver and gold, to give away. And quite possibly Peter had no money with him because the apostles were not men who accumulated wealth, but lived by sharing what they had with other believers (Acts 2:44-45). Here, Peter pointed out that silver and gold could not help you to have eternal life. It is only temporal things, it goes away very soon and salvation is not found in money, but only in faith in Jesus Christ.

Yet, Peter does have a gift for the lame man, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk! At that moment, the man could stand and walk. He does not stand and walk but also, he jumps in praise and adoration of God. To everyone who believes in Him, the name of Jesus is a message of salvation. My brothers and sisters, it is the same power and the only name that brings eternal salvation to all who call upon his name. Remember, a person can be saved only in the name of Jesus.

That brings us to point 3

3. The beggar is the witness of the gospel

The lame beggar is a Jew. This man understands that this is a work of God.  He understands where power comes from, so he praises God. In Chapter 4, it is revealed that this healed man is in his forties (Acts 4:22). Maybe for the last ten, fifteen years, or more, he is been begging at the temple every day. He became very familiar with the temple. This man is familiar to most of Jerusalem, which is why this healing is going to stir up a lot of excitement because everybody sees that the famous lame beggar is now able to walk and sit. So, the question is does he beg them money again? Absolutely no! Even when the beggar has no idea what he will be eating or drinking, he does not need anything. He is free now, and his life isn't as it used to be.

The lame bagger entered the temple with Peter and John. He enters the house of God with joy. He was full of joy and jumping and praising God who gave him so rich in Jesus' name. He comes to worship and bear witness that Jesus is alive and that his healing power is real.

With Peter and John, the lame bagger entered the temple. He was very happy to go into God's house. He was excited, jumping, and proud of the God who gave him such riches in Jesus' name. Everyone in the temple was surprised. They wondered why this man could walk and jump, they had never seen he did this before. They just saw he was always begging at the temple gate. His actions were surprising to everyone.

My beloved brothers and sisters, we're no different from the lame bagger. It's common for us to experience bitterness, rage, and loneliness. But the root of this problem isn't our relationship, not our education, it's in our hearts. Our heart's the only thing keeping us from sin. We are far from God's house because of sin. Jesus has come here and offered to give us healing in his name. He comes for the freedom of sin that we need. The world seeks solutions in the temporal things of this world. But money and temporal things of this world are not the message of salvation that came out of Peter’s and John's mouths in our passage. Rise and walk in the name of Jesus of Nazareth was the message to the lame bagger at the beautiful gate. 

As a believer of Christ, what is our response to God's grace that we have received? We must testify to the power that is the healing power of salvation and freedom found in Jesus Christ, as a bagger. We, as children of God, must tell everyone that in Jesus Christ, they too can find true healing and abundant life.

Conclusion

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, we live in a world where still many people face fears and anxieties and are trapped in sins. Not only that but there are a lot of people who feel lonely, rejected, abused, etc. This miracle gives us a beautiful picture of our human condition. Like the beggar born into this world with crippling and unable to find relief and healing from his condition. So, also are the sinful people who are unable to find healing on their own. Though they may have wealth.

Our challenge today is to tell those people who feel confined that they can find true freedom and joy in Christ. our duty is to tell them to call upon Jesus' name so that they may be healed, accepted, forgiven, and restored to God.

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for your word. Father let us not seek solutions on the temporal things of this world but let us focus on you alone who is the healer and in Him alone we find salvation and freedom. May you bless every one here today. Father we love you and we thank you … In Jesus name, I pray….amen