Soon, we will be traveling back to Southern France to spend time with friends and show the kids where they were born. We are going at a great time of the year to witness the fields of flowers that inspire centuries of artists. It is a region of immense beauty that has been cultivated for centuries. And that is the key. Southern France is beautiful in part because of the faithfulness of those who till the land to render it beautiful. 
This is nowhere more noticeable than in the region's most important crop, grapes. Large vineyard estates exist where workers have spent countless hours for years cutting, nurturing and tending to vines to cause them to produce the best fruit possible. The fact of the matter is that if you want a good harvest you have to be faithful in your work to create the right conditions for the effect.
For the past couple of days we have been looking at the story of a man healed by Peter and John in Acts 3. Their faithfulness effected great change in his life. Why did they stop and allow Jesus to change this man’s life on this
day? What was the purpose of this miracle? I think it is clear from the text
and from our knowledge of what temple worship was like. In order to understand the purpose of this
miracle, let’s now look at its effects.
The first effect is that the man walks.
The first and most
immediate effect of this miracle is that the man could now walk. We need to
understand that Jesus encounters this man where he is in need because he cares
about him. As we consider this miracle, and as we consider Christ’s involvement
in our daily lives, it should be comforting to us that Jesus cares about us
personally. The Lord cared about even the lowliest of the low as an individual.
We can be sure that he cares for us in the same manner. Rest assured that
Christ cares about the daily affairs of our lives and wants the best for us. He
actively works to meet our needs and to work around us and He does this simply
out of His love for us.
The second effect is that the man worships.
This second benefit of this
miracle is actually its most profound. The man sat outside the temple gates
begging for alms because it was a place where those who wanted to worship God
were passing as they entered into the temple. For years he watched the faithful
enter into the place of worship meeting the Lord without ever entering himself.
Due to his disability he was not permitted by law
to enter into the temple to worship. And the fact that since he had been
crippled from birth means that he has never
been able to worship inside the temple. He was cut off from meeting the Lord.
To be so close, but yet permanently far from the center of worship of God had to have created a feeling of destitution and infinite separation.
When Peter heals the man in the name of the Lord,
the man begins to do two things: (1) to walk, and (2) to praise God. Previously he had seen worshipers as they came
and went or even peered through the temple gates. Now he himself was a worshiper. After his healing, he cannot contain his excitement. He freely worships God. From this point on,
he will be able to go directly into the place of worship.
Jesus’ healing in this case is in order to draw the
man to Himself. Jesus intends the best for us, not just that we will be happy
and self-confident, but in order that we will come to Him. He works in our
lives so that He will be lifted up. The Lord’s involvement in our lives
provides the chance to come give Him the glory that it due Him. And His action on the cross took away all the
barriers to that worship. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection eliminated all obstacles to worship. Everyone is able to accept the new covenant of which
Christ is the mediator promised in Jeremiah 31:31 and testified to in Hebrews
9:15.
The third effect is that the man witnesses.
The most far reaching
effect of this miracle is how it provided a testimony of God’s power and His
presence. A crowd quickly gathers to see what has happened. They recognized
this man as the one who had sat next to the temple gate for years begging. Some
of the crowd may very well have been some of the men who had actually carried
him there that afternoon.
To hear that something has
happened and now he is walking around must have stirred curiosity and
excitement among the masses traveling to the temple. Immediately they ran to where Peter and John
and this man were standing. And his standing was a loud testimony to the power
of Jesus. Peter wastes no time in
beginning to share about the source of that power. He takes the crowd back to
the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and culminates in sharing about Jesus the
Messiah.
Here is where the ultimate
purpose of this miracle and of all miracles comes to fruition. A crowd of
thousands have been able to witness the power of God and now want to know more
about God. They want to know God and Peter shares with them how this is
possible. This encounter will lead to over 5000 people believing in Jesus (Acts 4:4).
Christ is definitely
interested in our daily lives and in drawing us to worship Him, but His desire
is to draw all men to Himself. As we allow Him to rule in our lives, He will
beckon others to himself through our witness. We can point His power and His
presence in our daily lives.
What will be the effect of your faithfulness today?
Just as Peter's faithfulness ultimately led to thousands believing in Jesus, we have the ability to effect great positive change through our faithfulness. But nothing will result if nothing is attempted. Today, seek out how you are going to demonstrating God's power and His message. And may He produce a great work through your faithfulness.
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