SCRIPTURE: Acts 3:1-16
OBSERVATION:
Peter is not surprised that this man is healed. I would be… unless I had already experienced a greater miracle, i.e. Jesus resurrection! Compared to that, healing a cripple is not amazing!
Peter calls Jesus the author of life, yet says they killed Him (can the author of life be killed?), and that God raised Him (can’t the author of life restore their own life?). These are very bold, very odd words, revealing their strong confidence in Jesus as the resurrected messiah.
Peter does not hesitate to heal this man. But why did he not begin a ‘healing ministry’, set up a tent a heal the masses in Jesus’ name? Note that it was their faith in Jesus’ name, not the crippled man’s, who had no chance to respond in faith.
APPLICATION:
Do I have this kind of confidence in the resurrected Jesus, making me bold for Him? In reality I am hesitant, uncertain. I need a greater sense of the living Jesus with me, His power at work through me (see Colossians 1:28-29).
Jesus is the author of life, for everyone. Not just of biological life (bios) but of real, meaningful LIFE (zoe). Am I just existing (bios life) or am I truly living (life to the full, zoe LIFE, see John 10:10). This is the kind of life I sense in Peter and John.
Is this healing a pattern for all believers, that we should all be prepared to declare healing in Jesus’ name. Is it my lack of faith in Jesus’ name that makes me hesitant?
PRAYER:
Lord, my confidence in You feels weak, my experience of life seems shallow. Please help me to experience Your life and power in me, that I might live and give life to the full! Amen.