Acts 3

Intro

Carried

Peter and John going to the temple

meet the eyes of a man lame from birth at the gate

“Look at us” social order plays a role here but more than that, you wouldn’t address him without something to give to him

they have something to give but it is more valuable than any money

once again calling the idea of what healing and sickness mean in the culture, showing who they are coming from and what they are doing

Jesus is the one giving life here, just as it is in Jesus name that they baptize and Jesus whom they will proclaim

all of the devout see the man leaping who had never walked, more than simple

the man praises God from whom the blessing came

Questioned

as the crowds form at all of this they ask a simple question

the one who is likely the most common and who most often put his foot in his mouth is now the one who takes every opportunity to speak and strike at the heart of all that will listen

“why do you wonder at this?” as if to say, you should already understand as we should have

it was not us, almost speaking to the healed man as well

there was only one sermon to preach in the beginning and it was and still is the most important one

you killed the one whose only concern was to bring life

Jesus hung on the cross even though he did not deserve to and he did it so that

Called

now that you know do better

this is the one the prophets were speaking of

this is the one God has been working to bring to us

they cannot deny it and even after ascending he is clearly present

take the life that Jesus offers and quit denying life

Application

First- how long was Peter’s sermon to the people?

what is stopping you from sharing this same simple and important message?

it is more complicated most of the time in our context, as everyone has their own idea, but the truth still has power

Second- you and I cannot perform miracles, but we can spread the life and hope we have in Jesus

he continues to seek and save through us even though he sits at the right hand of God

do not deny people life and hope that God gives freely