Thoughts for the Day

Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently 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 or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

At the end of Chapter 2 of the Acts of the Apostles we read these words: “Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles”. At the start of Chapter 3 we get the first sign, and we should remember that the word "sign" is a word used also for what we would call a 'miracle'. We see Peter and John entering the walled city of Jerusalem to pray in the Temple, something they would have done whenever they were in Jerusalem. Over the centuries many gates (see gates) have been built or destroyed, but the Golden Gate (or Gate of Mercy as it is sometimes called) led from the Mount of Olives and we can imagine that they would have seen the beggar frequently as they travelled from the nearby village of Bethany when they stayed with Jesus at the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary.

Peter commands the man to look at John and himself, and then there is an almost pregnant pause. We have seen before how important and powerful names are. In his sermon Peter declared that those who prayed in the name of the "Lord Jesus" would have their prayers answered. So in this the first miracle after Jesus left them, Peter says "In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, stand up and walk". He turns the word 'Nazareth' - which had been used by the Romans as a title of abuse and ridicule - into something wonderful. The name 'Jesus' means something like 'to save, or to liberate', and we should remember that Jesus himself had taught his disciples that anything they asked for in His name He would do! (John 14).

May we remember this when we pray today - ask in the name of the Lord Jesus and it will be answered - caution, it will be in His time and in His way!

Jesus, Lord and Saviour,
may we revere Your name,
knowing that it can free us
from all trouble and stress.
Encourage us to be respectful
of Your name and not to use it
casually or indiscriminately.
May it fill us with hope
and joy this day.
Amen.