The Gift of Healing
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Key Verse: “Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Selected Scripture: |
TODAY’S LESSON FOCUSES on an experience shortly after the Day of Pentecost involving the Apostles Peter and John. They were preparing to go into the Temple in Jerusalem at the hour of prayer. As they approached the Temple, they noticed a lame man lying at the gate begging for alms. The scriptural account states, “A certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple.” (Acts 3:2) When Peter and John came to the man, they asked him to look upon them. (vs. 4) Verse 5 says he did so, expecting to receive alms of money, food, or other physical need, as they passed by on their way into the Temple.
Peter’s response, as recorded in the Key Verse, was not at all what the lame man expected. After all, he might have supposed, what more could be done for him other than a token gift of silver or gold. Yet, as Peter stated, there was something far more wonderful that could be done for this lame man, the miracle of being able to walk, which he had never before done in his life. “He [Peter] took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.” (vss. 7,8) Not only was he able to walk, but so dramatic and complete was the healing that he leaped up to his feet from his former lying position on the ground, and walked and leaped with Peter and John into the Temple. What a scene this must have been! The fact that the account states he was ‘praising God’ also gives indication that he had exercised faith in the power of God’s Holy Spirit as being the source of his healing.
Word of this miracle of healing immediately began to be made known to the many others gathered there at the Temple, and when they saw with their own eyes what had happened, and witnessed the man walking and leaping, who had never before in his life taken even one step, “they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And … all the people ran together unto them [Peter and John] in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.”—vss. 10,11
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, did not let this opportunity pass by. Having the attention of the people, he immediately began to speak, giving an outline of God’s plan of salvation. He began by disclaiming any credit to himself or John, stating, “Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?” (vs. 12, New International Version) Peter went on to recount that it was the same God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who had provided his son Jesus as their Redeemer and had now glorified him, despite the fact that they [Israel in general] had rejected him and “killed the Prince of life,” yet “God hath raised [him] from the dead.” (vs. 15) Peter concludes by stating it was “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.”—vs. 16, NIV