The Lame Walks

In the third chapter of the book of Acts we find the story of a wonderful miracle–a man lame from birth was healed and made able to walk. Acts 3:1-10 records the miracle itself, Acts 3:11-16 gives the explanation of the miracle, and Acts 17-26 gives the apostles’ exhortation to the people who witnessed this miracle to repent and be saved.

The story of Acts 3 illustrates the power of the gospel. Remember what Jesus said to the messengers sent to him by John the Baptist? In Matthew 11:4-5 we read, “Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.'” In other words, Jesus was telling these messengers, “Do you wonder what is happening? You should be reading the book of Isaiah! If you do, you will find that Isaiah prophesied just such a time as this–the time of the Messiah–during which the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will be raised, lepers will be cleansed and the lame will walk. I am the Messiah, and that time has come!”

This story of the healing of a congenital cripple is the story of my life and your life. It demonstrates that Jesus Christ is truly risen from the dead, that he ascended into the heavens, that he is seated at the right hand of God, that he is the Lord of all and Savior of his people, and that he has the power and authority to continue to perform miracles in history, especially the miracle of saving sinners. Jesus Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth, and so in Acts 3 we find this illustration of the type of miracle the apostles performed in the name of and by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Congenital Cripple

I want to make three points about this passage. First, let us look at the crippled man, who is a type of a sinner. On this day Peter and John went into the temple for prayer at the time of the evening sacrifice, which was about three in the afternoon. They had to go through the Court of the Gentiles and through the Court of Women to get to the Court of Israel, where they would join with other Jewish men for prayer.

On their way they went through the Gate Beautiful, which opened to the Court of Women. This beautiful gate was huge–fifty cubits high and forty cubits wide. Overlaid with Corinthian bronze, it was truly a work of art. It might have also been known as the Nicanor Gate, named after a wealthy Alexandrian Jew, Nicanor, who supposedly donated it. Here Peter and John encountered a congenital cripple who was begging for alms.

In ancient times, poor beggars often were found by rich people’s houses as well as by highways and anywhere else many people would pass. They were especially found near the temple gates, and this is still true today. I was in New Delhi, India, and in front of a church where I was going, there sat many beggars.

This beggar was forty years old and had been a cripple all his life. He was not like Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, who was crippled when he was five years of age, as we read in 2 Samuel 4:4. No, this beggar was crippled from his mother’s womb. No doubt the early years of his life brought great disappointment to his parents, but they loved him and brought him up according to whatever ability they had. Now this man was forty years old. Probably his parents had died and now he had to beg to support himself.

One thing we must also note about this beggar is that, unlike the cripple at the pool of Bethesda whom we read about in John 5, this beggar had friends. The text tells us that he was carried to this beautiful temple gate daily and placed there to beg alms.

Why do you think the beggar went to the temple gate? He knew that those coming to the temple to worship would probably be in a state of great mental piety and so they would be generous toward people like him. How could a person truly worship without showing mercy to a miserable beggar? How could someone resist tossing him a coin or two? Additionally, the beggar knew that giving alms was considered to be meritorious, especially to pious Jews. So he went daily to the temple gates and, as he thought they would, worshipers would toss small coins to him as they went into the temple to pray.

The Beggar As a Type of Sinner

On this particular day Jesus’ apostles, Peter and John, came to the temple for prayer at the same time that the beggar was being carried to the Beautiful temple gate. The beggar asked Peter and John for money but, unlike the others, they did not toss him a coin. Instead, the Bible tells us, the apostles looked straight at this man and Peter commanded him to look at them.

“Look at us!” Peter told the man. In other words, “Man, pay attention to us! Do not focus on money. Why? Your problem is much more serious than that. You are disabled from your mother’s womb.”

Let me tell you, this cripple is a type of every sinner. He is the perfect picture of every man who came from fallen Adam. Like this man, we are all born crippled. As children of fallen Adam, we all suffer from total depravity in the sense that sin has radically and fundamentally affected our thoughts, our wills and our affections.

We are in deep trouble! This is what the Bible means when it says we are born sinners. It means that by nature we are arrogant, proud and at enmity with God, which is the very heart of sin. As Professor John Murray said, sin means to be against God.

David writes about this in Psalm 51: 5, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” In Jeremiah 17:9 we read, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” Moses wrote in Genesis 6:5 that “every inclination of the thoughts of [man’s] heart was only evil all the time.” Jesus said several times that out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, sexual immorality, theft, murder, and so on.

We don’t have to do much to prove how sinful fallen human beings are. Just speak about Jesus Christ and his claims and see how the anger and hatred rises from human hearts against God. The problem of man is serious. Now, in this country we often hear the slogan, “It’s the economy, stupid!” We say that, thinking that only if we get enough money, all our problems will be solved. But the truth is, money cannot help man in the fundamental sense. In fact, psychology, philosophy, and technology cannot help man either. All of these can only superficially help us who are moral cripples. They can only give us a little good feeling like we might get from drugs. They are band-aid solutions which leave us congenital cripples without any cure. The tragedy is, no human being is able to even diagnose man’s problem, let alone cure it.

The Command to the Cripple

Let us, then, examine the command Peter gave to this congenital cripple. Only in this command do we find power, authority, hope, salvation and life.

“Look at us!” Peter commanded the crippled man. “Pay attention,” in other words, and I think it is a good idea for me to tell you also, “Pay attention! Pay attention, educated man, uneducated man, poor man, rich man. Pay attention, because I am declaring to you that which you need in the depth of your being. Pay attention!”

This cripple had a serious problem, but he was used to it. I am sure he didn’t even give much thought to his problem any more. We are the same. Have you read any articles about sin recently in the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal or Time magazine? Do we ever read about our great problem of sin, or have we grown accustomed to it? Like this beggar, do we even think about the possibility of getting well? Or do we like to be carried about and taken care of–superficially, of course–by those who cannot offer us a cure?

It is tragic that we, like this cripple, accept deformity and abnormality as normal. So Peter was saying, “What about the possibility of standing on your own two feet? Have you ever thought of walking and leaping and praising God? What about going into the temple yourself, instead of spending all these years outside–cut off, separated and unclean. What about going into the temple and singing and praising God yourself?”

The cripple did not think about these things. He thought that all he needed was money. We are the same today. No one is interested in understanding human depravity. All we need is a little more money, we think. A little more money! We can take care of everything with a little more money.

Will Money Help?

The tragedy is, a little more money will not take care of anything. So Peter, instead of giving the crippled man a coin, commanded him, “Look at us!” “Pay attention to us!” Peter was saying. “We are apostles of Jesus of Nazareth. Haven’t you paid any attention to anything that has happened recently here in Jerusalem? Didn’t you hear about this Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified, buried, but on the third day he was raised from the dead? We are witnesses of his resurrection! We saw him ascending into heaven and then he poured out his Holy Spirit upon us, clothing us with the power of God. We are Christ’s apostles, appointed to declare to all people the good news, the gospel of salvation. Mr. Cripple, Mr. Philosopher, Mr. Priest, Mr. Scientist, this Jesus Christ alone is the Savior of the world and he alone is able to solve your problem.”

Why won’t money help us? Because our problem is sin. We are blinded by it and do not know ourselves. We pretend that we do. We write books saying that we do, but we are ignorant. We do not know how to live and we do not know how to die. We do not know ourselves, and we certainly do not know God. First Corinthians 1:21 tells us, “The world through its wisdom did not know him.” We are ignorant.

Peter commanded the crippled man to look at him. Why? Because he needed to hear what they would say to him. When he listened to them, he would come to know Jesus of Nazareth, the one who died for our sins and was raised for our justification. When he looked at the apostles, he would see Jesus Christ and be saved by him–the Lord of the universe, the Head of the church, and the one who poured out his Holy Spirit upon these apostles. This Lord Jesus Christ purposed to save this crippled man in body and soul, and the Holy Spirit was leading the apostles to speak to him. So Peter said, “Look at us!” In other words, “Pay attention! Listen carefully. You need to think differently. Your need is not money.”

Like this cripple, we Christians also believe this heresy that a little more money will solve our problems. Suppose we want to send out some missionaries. All we need is what? Money. And so we develop programs to raise monies for these missionaries. I get letters like this all the time: “I want to go to such-and-such a place. Can you send me some money?” When we think like this, we are believing a lie.

What was this cripple’s true need? It was restoration to perfect health and, more importantly, restoration to God. But only Jesus Christ could help him, and so Peter told him, “Look at us!” Why? Peter and John were witnesses of Christ, and this man could not find out about him unless he looked at them.

What about us? Our true need is also restoration to God in all ways, physical and spiritual. Therefore, may God help us to spend our time in his word and may we become so familiar with it that we can give an answer to the hope that is within us when someone asks us. Then you can say, “Wife, look at me. Children, look at me.” Then, as parents, you can say, “Look at us! We have something infinitely greater than money. Look at us!”

I think we need to confess that we ourselves have believed this heresy that money is the solution to all problems and, therefore, we have brought up children who believe in money. But we need to think differently. Jesus of Nazareth is the Holy One, the Righteous One, the Author of Life, the Savior and Lord. Jesus Christ is the Creator of the whole universe who performed miracles and continues to perform miracles, including the greatest miracle of turning a sinner into a saint, turning a hostile man into a lover of God, and turning an arrogant man into a humble man who will kiss the feet of Jesus Christ, read God’s gospel, believe it, confess and declare it.

“Change your thinking about Jesus,” Peter was saying. “This Jesus of Nazareth is God, and as God he will perform miracles that will amaze you. He raised the dead Lazarus, who had been buried for four days. He gave sight to the blind, cured lepers, cast out demons and caused the lame to walk. Isn’t it time we thought about this Jesus?”

The Days of the Messiah

In Isaiah 35:1-6 we read about the glorious days of this Messiah, Jesus Christ. Isaiah said, “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.’ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.”

When Isaiah spoke these words, they were in the future, but now the days of the Messiah have come. Isaiah was speaking of the Messiah, the Christ of God, and that Christ is Jesus of Nazareth. Therefore, now is the day of salvation–the day in which the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame leap and the mute shout for joy. This is what Jesus told the messengers of John the Baptist, and it is still true today.

“Therefore,” Peter was saying to the crippled man, “Look at us! Pay attention to us! These are the days of the Messiah and we are his agents. All authority was given to him, and he, in turn, works through us as we obey his command to go into all the world, making disciples of all nations and teaching them to obey whatsoever things he commanded. Think differently, therefore! You must change your thinking from thinking about money to thinking about the Messiah. Your problem is not money.”

Money or Messiah?

We must think about God, not money. Professor, think about God. Psychologist, think about God. Liberal minister, think about God. Feminist, think about God. And then we must think about sin. We must think about sin and salvation, the wrath of God, life eternal, hell, and heaven. We must think about what happened in Jerusalem only a few weeks prior to this day. Think about the death of Jesus–that the one who was righteous and holy, the Prince of life, was crucified. And then, think about the meaning of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.

What did Peter say to the crippled man? “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you.” In other words, “Man, look at us and start thinking. I have no silver and gold, but what I have to give you is of inestimable value. I have the gospel, the good news. I have something that is out of this world.”

As Christians, we have treasure, meaning the gospel, albeit in earthen vessels, as we read in 2 Corinthians 4:7. We are given this deposit of gospel ministry in the power of the Spirit of the living God. In the world’s eyes we may be poor, as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 6:10, yet we make many rich, meaning rich toward God. How do we do that? Through sharing the gospel with people.

Peter, in essence, was saying to the crippled man, “Mr. Cripple, you are looking for money, but that is not what you need most. No one seeks what he needs most unless God changes his mind and heart. But God is pleased to give you what you have not sought. He is pleased to give you perfect health in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.”

Like the cripple, we may think money can save us, but let me tell you something about money. Judas got money, but he killed himself. Achan got money but he was killed because of it. Gehazi got money, but he also got leprosy for the rest of his life. Demas thirsted for money, and he abandoned the greater treasure of the gospel.

Money cannot save us. Today’s evangelicals are loaded with money. They are powerful and politically influential. But what does money do? What can political power do for your soul? What can money do for those who are morally crippled? It can do nothing.

Peter, then, was commanding this man, “Look at us! Listen to us! Such as I have give I unto you. We possess what you really need–God’s treasure of the gospel. That is the only thing that will give you life eternal.”

Rise Up and Walk!

Peter commanded the man to look at him, and then he gave another command: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” My third point is the command given to this congenital cripple to rise up, to come up, from the depth of his depravity, his misery, his uncleanness, his poverty and his slavery to sin. Come up and walk!

Now, if Peter had told this cripple, “Silver and gold have I none, but why don’t you be like us? Why don’t you just rise up and walk?” then he would have been speaking cruelly to this poor beggar. But Peter said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” It is Jesus Christ of Nazareth–his power and his authority–who makes the difference. It is not Peter or John or anyone else. Only Jesus Christ is the Lord of history. Only he performs miracles and saves sinners. This despised Jesus of Nazareth is Christ, God, Lord, and Savior, and there is no other.

Peter told the cripple to rise and walk by the power and authority of Jesus Christ, and the congenital cripple believed and got up. He was instantly regenerated and received faith to believe in Jesus of Nazareth.

The Miraculous Healing of the Crippled Man

In Acts 3:16 we read the explanation of this miracle. Peter said, “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that he has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.”

This man was regenerated instantly by the power of the Spirit of God and he was given faith through Jesus. Jesus Christ is the source and object of our faith. He regenerates us and gives us faith so that we can trust in him alone for our salvation.

Remember, this crippled man was not seeking salvation. He was looking for money–a little copper coin, perhaps, to be tossed in his direction. But God is able to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,” Paul writes in Ephesians 3:20, and God gave him something of infinitely greater worth–eternal life, salvation, and hope.

This man received perfect health of body and soul. The text tells us that Peter took him by the right hand, helping him up, and immediately the man’s feet and ankle bones were strengthened. For the first time in his life power came into this man’s body, making him strong and healthy.

This was a miracle! And if you do not believe in miracles, I feel sorry for you. Why? Because if you believe everything came into being by accident, then your own life has no meaning, no purpose, no significance. You are nothing, in other words. Not only that, you are blind and ignorant to think this way, the Bible says, because knowledge comes first by knowing God–the infinite, eternal, self-existing, self-sufficient, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God. It only makes sense that such a God can work directly and perform miracles whenever he wants, wherever he wants and for whom he wants.

The Joy of Salvation

The crippled man was healed immediately and the Bible tells us he leaped to his feet and stood. The soles of his feet were strengthened and he was able to stand for the first time in his life. That indicates health. But not only was he healthy, but he was vigorous. He began to walk. And not only was he vigorous, but he was exuberant, so he began to praise the God who healed him. He was worshiping–walking and leaping and praising God. What freedom, what joy, what exuberance, what enthusiasm he was experiencing!

One can imagine what some modern evangelicals would say to this man. “Sir, you are showing far too much joy. Be cool and calm and collected. Settle down!” But this man would not hear it. Nothing could prevent him from enjoying his salvation. He was being ushered into the great feast of God and for the first time in his life he was eating and drinking and praising God. Don’t tell him to calm down.

We must realize that the Christian life is a joyful life, a life of freedom in Christ. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). Christians have freedom from sin, guilt, the world, the law, the devil, and the wrath of God. It is an abundant life, a life in which rivers of living water flow out of us. It is a life of celebration and filling with the Holy Spirit, a life of speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, a life of making music in our hearts to the Lord. It is a life of always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Christian life is a life of refreshment. Before, you were thirsty enough to die, but all of a sudden you discover an oasis with abundant, crystal-clear water. What do you do? Forgetting all formalities, you jump in, and you begin to drink and drink and drink. Isn’t that what the crippled man was doing–walking and leaping and praising God? That is what the Christian life is. It is not just doctrine. We need doctrine, but doctrine without life is nothing.

We Must Celebrate Our Salvation

Do you remember the older brother of the prodigal son? What was his problem? He hated celebration. This man hated music, enthusiasm, feasting and dancing. Oh, he was very orthodox and formal, but he was also cold and dead. He did not want to go into the hall where the celebration was being held. He heard the music and the dancing but he stayed outside. In fact, the text tells us when he heard the celebration, he became angry and refused to go in. But it is the Father’s will that we who were crippled morally celebrate our salvation. How do we do that? By worshiping God, praising God, and thanking God for showing such infinite mercy to us.

Let us examine ourselves to see whether we are like the prodigal son or the older brother. In Luke 15:22-24 we read, “The father said to his servants, `Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” But in verse 25-28 we read, “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ The older brother became angry and refused to go in.” But in verse 32, the father said, “We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'” Are you like the older brother? Have you never praised God for your salvation? Or are you like the crippled man, who worshiped God with great exuberance and joy for the wonderful things God had done?

In 1738 Charles Wesley wrote, “Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night; thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed thee. Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine! Alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach th’eternal throne, and claim the crown through Christ, my own. Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?” Is this your song also? If so, may you always thank and praise our God for the glorious salvation he has given us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.