1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer- at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Chirst of Nazareth, walk." 7 Takin him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
What an amazing miracle it is! As Jesus' disciples,I hope we have that kind of strong power to change a person. People in trouble might want you to lend some money or to give a help to keep up their lives. But they don't ask you what they really need because they don't know they need it. Peace and freedom God gives us by forgiving our sins. That's what we should give them. Changing what someone believes in is really a miracle because it's too hard, maybe hardest. We need to be that powerful.
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3 comments:
thanks sungeun for such a moving reflection. i agree with you that people are often disappointed with christianity because they do not understand what it offers them. peter tells the man plainly, "silver and gold i do not have, but what i have i give you". christianity has never promised to give financial prosperity or worldy goods. people are disappointed because christianity does not seem to meet our felt needs--(loneliness, money, or success etc) instead it meets our greatest and most urgent need--peace with God and the forgiveness of sins.
i'm always so moved by the reaction of the man who was healed--"he was walking and jumping and praising God"--so filled with joy, so unabashedly thankful and unashamedly worshipping God for the miracle that had been done for him.
thanks sungeun :)
when i read this passage, the first thought that came to my mind is how our society is so driven to believe that money can solve all our problems. i'm sure the crippled man did not go to ask john and peter for money expecting to possibly be able to walk again instead. the man specifically asked for money first instead of prayer for healing. to think, he asks for money but instead receives complete strength in his legs...
this is such an amazing miracle, and i felt so grateful to have read that the man began to praise God. He knew God was the one who made this miracle happen. it was also amazing to read the faith and connection Peter had with God. He knew and believed God was capable of anything and didn't hesitate to say what he said..
if we only had this type of faith in our God..
Hi Sung Eun!!!!
I was so touch by this passage because they gave the man something so precious than gold or silver. They gave him Jesus Christ. I know it sounds really cheesy but I can't help it. I found myself smiling reading the cripple man's reaction after the miracle was performed and thought that this should be the reaction that anyone touched by Christ in their lives should have. But I realized that, well for me, I don't worship him every time God has provided everything for me, whether it's big or small, significant or not.
Thanks Sung Eun!!! How are you?
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