What Now? (3)

An Unexpected Encounter

Acts 3:1–10 ESV

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Italian violinist Niccolo Paganini is thought by many to have been history’s greatest exponent of his art. As he swept through Europe in the early 1800’s his fame was something like that of Beatlemania! His skills were so great that it was whispered he gained his ability from a pact with the devil.

It is said that one evening Paganini was performing before a packed house. As he embarked on the final piece one of the strings on his violin snapped. Undeterred Paganini kept playing. A few moments later, a second string snapped. Again Paganini kept going, now reduced to playing a classical masterpiece on just two strings. And then the unbelievable – a third string snapped. Yet Paganini kept going, finishing the piece on just one string. So brilliant was his performance that the crowd rose to their feet to give him a standing ovation.

Yet Paganini was not finished. There was the encore to come. Raising his violin above his head Paganini called to the audience “Paganini, and one string!” With that the orchestra struck up and Paganini completed his encore on just one string.

Application: Paganini was playing a magnificent but eventually flawed violin that night. Yet even with three strings broken the master musician was able to extract beautiful music from it. You and I are like flawed instruments in the hand of God, yet no matter how flawed and broken, God is still able to weave beautiful, graceful things through us when we give ourselves to serving him and others.

Source: Information from Paganini website

The early believers in Jesus devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42).

This devotion to the things of God was lived out every day. They attended the temple together every day (Acts 2:46). The Lord was adding to their number those who were being saved every day (Acts 2:47).

God is present every day. Not just yesterday, not only tomorrow, but even today. Every day belongs to God.

As a reminder of this, times of prayer were built into the Jewish schedule of worship at the temple.

The temple itself is known as a place of sacrifice and offerings, but it was a house of prayer — that’s how Jesus described it.

Do you remember when Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling things there?

As he was driving out the merchants he quoted the Scriptures in Isaiah where, “It is written, ‘My house will be a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of robbers!” (Luke 19:45-46).

Prayer is important, and it remains an important daily practice of the early believers. Not only individually and in homes, but also together and in the temple.

As we explore this text today, there are 3 things that i would like to pay attention to.

First, The Broken Beggar:

We are introduced to a man who is lame — that means, he is crippled. He is disabled. He is unable to walk. This wasn’t a later development in his life, for the scriptures say he has been lame from birth (lit. “from his mother’s womb”). He wasn’t dropped as an infant. He didn’t suffer an accident as a child. This is no fault of his own! He was born this way — He was born…broken. This brokenness made for a very difficult and dependent life — dependent on the mercy of others to survive. For him, he was dependent on the mercy of the religious — of those who claim to worship the one, true living God. We are introduced to this man as he is being carried by others, and laid at the gate of the temple where he would ask alms of those entering the temple. Alms were gifts that were given to the needy. He was our homeless man with the cardboard sign asking for money, work or food. This was his identity. This was his life. This happened, verse two says, every day. The contrast of this man’s condition with the place where he was laid is vivid. The temple court could be accessed by multiple gates, but the scriptures tell us this broken man was laid at the gate that is called “Beautiful.” This was the main and largest gate, made of the most expensive bronze, located on the east, facing the sanctuary. As the sun rose in the morning just imagine how it would shine on this bronze gate and the east of the sanctuary. This sight would be especially beautiful.

So it is, the Psalmist says: Psalm 100:4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”

But not this man! He was laid at the gate, and could go no further. While others were inspired by Beauty, he was reminded that he was broken. This brokenness for him, was a barrier for worship. And not only was this man broken - he was also broke! (CCE). The only financial means he had was what he was given. He begged for help from those passing by. Begging in our culture is viewed as unpleasant. Begging in his culture was also viewed as unpleasant! Beggars had to beg boldly or stay poor. They could not be shy about their needs. So he asks Peter and John for help. Now, Peter and John had been going into the temple every day. It is possible (and even probable) that they had passed by this man before. He was well known by the people there. So what got their attention this time? This man would have been there long enough that even Jesus would have been at the temple while this man was there. And yet, we have no record of Jesus interacting with this man or healing him before now. So why now? We can’t answer questions about God’s timing. But we do trust that what God does in his timing, he does for a purpose. God has a purpose, even for brokenness. Perhaps it was for this very moment, that this man remained broken, so that he might be healed in Jesus’ name? Perhaps it was to show how hopeless this man’s condition was? If Jesus had passed him by on his visits to the temple, Jesus would have been his only hope. So his only hope was gone. His only hope had passed him by.......or did he? Our circumstances are every bit a part of our testimony. What we are experiencing now, be it trials or tribulations, are not evidence of God’s abandoning us, they are testimony builders for what God will do in His timing for his purposes. This is not an insignificant miracle. This healing and its aftermath take two full chapters in Acts. It causes quite a stir, and it ultimately leads to the first opposition the apostles will face in their ministry for Jesus. It is certainly no accident that it is associated with the hour of prayer, as a reminder that all ministry, healing, and waiting is dependent upon God. So what made Peter and John notice this man this time? The answer is that this man reached out to them on the basis of his need. He asked. He asked for help. What things do we not have because we have simply not asked?

First, we took a look at the broken begger. Next, look with me at The Bold Believers:

What made these two men so bold? Where did their boldness come from? They weren’t bold because they believed that they held the power to help this man. They were bold because they knew the only one that could help him. Peter directed the man to “Look at us.” This poor man fixed his attention on them, expecting them to give him some monetary gift. In other words, there was an expectation that grew from his felt need. His expectation was only on the earthly, it should have been on the extraordinary. This man, like many of us, could not see past his pain. He could not hope beyond his hurt. But God had something else in store for him. God, through Peter and John, was about to move in a miraculous way in this man’s life. And i believe he was unprepared to receive “this” blessing. I’m sure he felt prepared. I mean, he was found every day in the proper place to receive the blessing. He positioned himself to receive the blessing. His mouth cried for relief from his immediate suffering yet his heart cried for so much more. His heart cried for sympathy, his heart cried for compassion, his heart cried to be seen as more than a broken body begging for help. His heart cried for so much more than he realized. God heard the cries of his heart and acted through Peter to meet the real needs in his life. This man asked for help but needed healing. This beggar symbolizes the spiritual condition of humanity, born in a broken state unable to do anything to improve our circumstance. Peter and John represent the church, the body of believers. They represent us, and we have what humanity really needs. Humanity doesn’t need money or a huge house or the newest tech. What humanity does need is the saviour, Jesus Christ. How many could be bold like Peter and say, “I may not have much in this world but i’ll give you what i do have.” and not be afraid of what someone thinks or says about you?

Ok, we’ve looked at the broken beggar and the bold believers, last let’s focus on The Bewildered Bystanders:

Verse 9 says all the people saw him walking and praising God and they recognized him and verse 10 says the were filled with wonder and amazement. When we do what God has given us to do, those around us will be amazed. You may not see it immediately, you may never see it. You may never know the impact you have had on someone’s life until you reach glory. But, i guarantee someone is watching you. Someone is watching to see how you handle certain situations. Someone is watching to see if you lose your temper. Someone is watching to see if you take that drink or swallow that pill or hit that joint or go home with that girl. Someone is always watching, not because they want to judge you although sometimes it comes out in that way. They’re watching because they need something to believe in. They want to know if Christ is who he said he is. You are His ambassador, you represent the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. What message will you carry to humanity?