What Now? (Week 12)

Jesus Still Heals

Acts 3:12–26 ESV

And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Elisabeth Jernigan is the beloved daughter of Betsy and Lennie Jernigan of North Carolina, USA. When she was just months old Elisabeth’s parents noticed her right eyelid weaken, then droop and the pupil become fixed. Her grandfather, a Harvard University trained surgeon was worried, and advised her parents to take Elisabeth to an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist sent them to a pediatrician and the pediatrician to a neurologist. Elisabeth was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Exploratory surgery removed part of the tumour from the nerve that controls the right eye, but it was too dangerous to try and take it all. Then the pathology report came back with the worst news of all. Elisabeth had an extremely rare malignant meningioma which had killed everyone who had ever had it. The prognosis was for continued growth of the tumour, paralysis and certain death.

Elisabeth’s parents, Betsy and Leonard started praying, their friends prayed, their church prayed. They prayed that Elisabeth might be healed, but also for the ability to accept her death if healing was not God’s will. Elisabeth’s surgeon grandfather didn’t have the faith to pray for healing, but he did pray for wisdom in selecting doctors, and the ability to get through the inevitable suffering.

Elisabeth’s condition deteriorated as expected. Fluid began accumulating on her brain, with the doctors repeatedly relieving it with a large needle. Elisabeth grew lethargic and nauseated. It was agreed that there be further surgery, to insert shunts that would drain the fluid.

Prior to the surgery the family gathered around Elisabeth while the priest from her grandparents church anointed Elisabeth with oil and prayed for her healing.  It was now the night before the scheduled surgery. A doctor arrived in Elisabeth’s room and removed so much thick, infected fluid from her brain that he asked that the operation be postponed for a couple of days. But 12 hours later when he returned he was baffled to find there was virtually no more fluid.

When the surgery went ahead the doctor’s decided to make a last ditch effort to remove the rest of the tumour. They would remove the section of nerve the cancer had invaded. This would leave Elisabeth blind in her right eye but would give her a slim hope of survival.  But when they went into Elisabeth’s brain they couldn’t find the lesion. They removed the nerve section as planned, but when the pathology tests on it came back they reported there were no cancer cells. Regular cat scans since then have revealed no evidence of a tumour.

Doctors describe what happened as “spontaneous resolution.” Elisabeth’s family call it a Miracle. In June 1995 Elisabeth turned 13. Elisabeth’s father Lennie, says “In the years ahead if you happen to see a young girl walking down the street with her right eye permanently closed, please don’t think that some tragedy has befallen her and extend your sympathy. Instead have cheerful thoughts, knowing that the Holy Spirit dwells in her, and our God is powerful, benevolent and magnificent.”

Source: Reported in Time magazine, April 10, 1995. Volume 145, No 15.

As we look at this portion of scripture, there are several things that stand out. The healed man was known as a lame man, he was known as a beggar but now all that was changed. This created an uproar in Jerusalem. What a beautiful picture of what God can do with a surrendered life. He used to be one way and now he is a different way.

Peter makes it clear that the healing came from the Lord and not by his power or goodness. Peter assumes none of the credit but instead points to Jesus.

As he begins to address the crowd, he uses the phrase “men of Israel” and moments later says “the God of our fathers”. He is building a bridge with the hearers. He is letting them know that he is a devout Jew just as they are. He is establishing a commonality with those listening so that the message will be heard. We will learn later what that message really is.

Just as Peter had built a bridge, now he sets it on fire it seems. He calls out there sin in that they denied the messiah and handed him over to Pilate. He also calls Jesus “the Holy One”. That is a phrase used over 40 times in the Old Testament and it almost exclusively refers to the God of creation. Peter is connecting Jesus with the Father in a way that his listeners would understand. And in verse 15, he lowers the boom on them. He blatantly says “and you killed the Author of Life”. Here is one of those interesting facts you’ll come across as you study the Word of God. Throughout history, the Jewish people have looked at as the group responsible for the death of Christ. But lets look at this for a moment. It was the Jewish crowd that demanded Barabbas, a murderer, be released. It was the Jewish leaders that delivered Jesus to Pilate to kill. However, the Romans had a hand in it as well. It was the Jews and the Gentiles that were responsible for the death of Jesus. Therefore, He would bring salvation to Jew and Gentile alike.

In verse 16, we find these words-by faith in His name-but I wonder how many of us understand this phrase? Do we know what “in Jesus’ name” actually means? It’s not just a cool way to end your prayer. This means that you are operating under the power and authority of Jesus Christ. It literally means you are acting on His behalf.

Verse 17 Peter is telling these Jewish men that he understands they acted out of ignorance as he calls them brothers. He is identifying with them. He is telling them that he is in the same boat as they are, and that will make more sense in a couple of minutes. Peter tells them that he knows they acted out of ignorance but urges them to repent. Ignorance does not mean innocent. Ignorance is no excuse. We all need to repent. Repent doesn’t just mean to express sincere regret or remorse. It literally means to turn around or turn 180 degrees. Repentance is a word of hope. You thought wrongly about Jesus and now you think rightly about Him.

Peter concludes this sermon by listing 4 benefits of living a repentant life. They are:

1) That your sins would be blotted out. This is an interesting phrase. In the ancient world, the ink that was used had no acid content so it didn’t set in the paper or parchment or papyrus. It just sat on the paper. A damp cloth could be used to wipe all the ink from the page Because the ink never was set in. When we know this fact, it gives new meaning to this phrase. This is what God did for us. He wiped all the things listed against us away.

2) That times of refreshing may come. Sometimes we just need to be refreshed by the Lord. When things seem to be getting out of control, think back on the day of your salvation. Allow the Lord to use that to refresh and renew you.

3) That we would be spared the promised judgement. In verse 22, Peter reminds us of something Moses said, that God would raise up a prophet and every soul that does not listen to him would be destroyed. Jesus was that prophet. By listening to Him, we can avoid certain destruction.

4) That Jesus was sent to bless you and turn you from your wickedness. If we listen to Him and turn from our wickedness, we will be blessed.