The Miracle at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3)
This story is from the book of Acts Chapter 3, about Peter and John, two of Jesus’ disciples healed a lame man.. On their way to pray at the temple, they stumble across a lame man who spends every day begging at the temple gate. The gate is called the beautiful gate. They healed him with the power of the Holy Spirit and the man was able to stand up and walk. This man praises God’s name and believes in Jesus Christ.
1. God plans a divine appointment for his people
In this story, Peter and John go to the temple to pray at the ninth hour — the hour of prayer and evening sacrifice. They are being obedient by spending time praying. They don’t know what they are going to stumble across or experience at the temple. God has a divine appointment for Peter and John – which is to heal the lame man who is placed at the beautiful gate and begs for money every day. The beautiful gate is the eastern gate, the same gate Jesus entered on Palm Sunday. As followers of Jesus, we will have days with divine appointments that God has planned in advance. We need to be obedient to the guidance of the holy spirit so that we won’t miss His divine appointments as we go throughout our daily lives.
2. God knows what our most important needs are
Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, the lame man asked them for money. But Peter said:” I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”. The man is begging for money, But God knows that the lame man needs more than money. God’s Holy Spirit gives Peter wisdom and power to know how to respond to this lame man’s needs. This man has a physical need. His physical need is to be able to walk. But he also had a spiritual need that was much more important. He was a sinner and needed forgiveness of his sins so that he could have a good relationship with God. So through Peter, God healed him physically and spiritually, now the Holy Spirit lives in his heart. So this story tells sometimes what we think we need and what we really need are not the same. God knows what our most important needs are. Silver and Gold do not satisfy our soul, only God satisfies people’s longing and hungry soul.
3. We cannot do anything without the power of the Holy Spirit
Peter took the man by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. He leaped up, stood and began to walk. A miracle happened! He was able to stand up and walk. A miracle isn’t magic, it is something only God can do. God enabled Peter to perform a miracle. Only God could instantly give strength to the lame man’s ankles and feet.
What about Peter’s attitude? Peter knows his power was given by God. He did not take credit for this miracle. He addressed to the people:” Men of Isreal, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?” Peter said:” And his name – by faith in his name – has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus was given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.” . Just like the book of Zechariah 4:6b says “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.” Peter told the people he contributed nothing to making this man walk, it is God’s power, by faith in Jesus’ name.
4. Be thankful and bear witness for Jesus
What about this lame man’s attitude? After being healed, the lame man entered the temple with Peter and John, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. This man has a grateful heart for Jesus’ work in him, and he also witnesses for Jesus. The people saw him were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. So we need to have a thankful heart and let God uses us to be his witness.
5. Jesus is the Savior so we need to repent and turn to Him
Peter sees the opportunity to preach the gospel to the people. The Holy Spirit gives Peter power to speak to the people. Peter tells the crowd that Jesus is that Savior and that God’s own people (the Jews) had Him put to death on the cross. Peter explained that when the lame man believed that Jesus is the Savior, he was completely healed. Peter shows the crowd how they too can be spiritually healed and saved from their sins. He tells them to repent. Repent means to turn away from sin (disobeying God’s commands) and turning to God and accepting the Gift of Salvation that He has given through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
Dear heavenly father, Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you for forgiving our sins and give us eternal life through Jesus Christ. Thank you that you are always with us and have plans for us. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. We love you and we need you, this day and every day. We give you praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus’ precious name, we pray!