You know nothing seems more relevant to us than money when it comes to physical infirmities and calamities. Money is the great protector! The insurance companies do a great job of selling us on this point using ducks, geckos, mayhem and even cavemen to convince us. They would have us believe that money will take care of our greatest needs in times of sickness or disabilities or even death. Yet, I don’t know if there is anything more irrelevant than money when it comes to the health, disability or death of a loved one. Who among us would not give up everything we had to restore the health or life of a loved one? It is one of life’s greatest ironies -- or maybe it rises to the level of a paradox -- that nothing seems more relevant for life than money, and yet nothing is more irrelevant to life than money, for we would gladly exchange all of our money for the life and health of someone we loved!*
However, the Christian’s worldview takes into account that there is more to personhood or one’s life than physical fitness or existence. Each one of us is something that neither money, power, nor privilege can buy or reproduce. Namely, we are a living soul in whom God invested with His very image. However, since the Fall and because each of us has sinned, we have marred our likeness to God separating ourselves from Him. Nonetheless, in Christ, whether rich or poor materially, physically or socially, we can be the richest of the rich by His grace which he bestows on those who trust in Him beyond all physical experiences and/or limitations because of the revelation of His Son and His word (Romans 10:12; Acts 20:32)
Peter had nothing of a material nature to give the lame man; he had something far better. It is hard not to get caught up in saying “that the something far better” was the restoration of his health. After all, here is a forty year old man lame from his birth, totally dependent on others and largely marginalized by society so much so that we don’t even know his name! The people only referred to him in his healing as “one that was lame and begged for alms” (3:10). As far as we can tell, not even Peter knows his name, for he refers only to him as “him” (3:11), “this man” (3:16; 4:10) or “a crippled man” (4:9). In fact, it appears that not even Luke knows his name, for he only describes him as the “man on whom this sign of healing was “performed”(4:22). Yet, this one description by Luke is powerfully impregnated with significance, as we shall see.
So what could possibly be more needful for this lame beggar than his ability to walk? What could be more joyful than having that experience, which everyone around you took for granted, but you yourself have never even been able to try? How could you not be amazed by such a miracle! Yet it was NOT his physical healing per se but what it symbolized -- “the man on whom THIS SIGN was performed” (4:22) -- it was the sign/symbol which was the real “wow factor.” It is the “wow factor” for every human being, in every age since the Fall of man, whether we are physically whole or not, and it can’t be bought with silver or gold!
Listen to the full answer of Peter, “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!”(Acts 3:6). What is the wow factor? It is that name -- the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! This name is the substance of Luke’s narrative from chapter 3, verse 2, all the way through chapter 4 and verse 31. Look at the narrative; it is all about “the name” (3:2,16; 4:30), the “power” (4:7), “the means” (4:9). Listen to the disciples’ prayer, after the release of Peter and John, “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
What is significant about the name and to what was the sign of healing pointing? Let us take up the latter first, namely, “to what was the sign of healing pointing”? It is clear from this language that the physical healing was not the “end game” or destination of the miracle; it was merely a sign! Even the enemies of Peter and John were smart enough to realize that some “notable sign had been performed” (4:16). It was pointing to something else -- something greater than itself. What could possibly be greater than the healing of a forty year old lame man? The answer is simple: what God had accomplished through His servant Jesus Christ! Namely, the forgiveness of sins - the healing of our sin-sick soul and the restoration of our image to the likeness of God, who created and invested us with that very image!
As Peter speaks to those who were guilty of denying and/or crucifying Jesus Christ, he states unequivocally that neither he nor John by their own goodness or power made this man walk! (3:12-15) To the contrary, in every way it is by their faith in the name of Jesus Christ that this man stands before you whole (3:16). Peter continuing his sermon pointing out that this miracle of physical healing is the sure sign that by faith in name of Jesus Christ, God’s promises made through the prophets regarding the times of refreshing and restoration has begun for all men. It has specifically begun in the assurance of the forgiveness of sins for all those who have faith in this name, who repent and turn back to God through the Christ. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the promised servant sent by God, foretold by Moses and all the prophets, that He would come and turn each one of us away from our wickedness through faith in his name (3:17-26).
In further consideration of the significance of this sign and name, consider the defense Peter makes of healing the lame man before the rulers, elders, scribes, priests and the High Priest in Acts 4:5-11. Peter begins by laying out the facts: We are being interrogated by what means (name) we have done a good deed to a crippled man in that we “healed him” (vs. 9). In the next verse, Peter unequivocally and unabashedly declares that this crippled man is “standing” whole in their presence by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they had rejected and crucified, whom God raised from the dead (vs. 10). He continues his indictment of the Temple dignitaries for their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah by declaring that Jesus is the true cornerstone of God’s true temple (vs. 11). He concludes his sermon by saying that ONLY in this Jesus is salvation possible “for there is no other name under heaven given...by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Here is the point: The same word translated "healed" in verse 9, is the same word translated "saved" in verse 12. This is the significance of the sign of healing in that name, namely, it pointed to and gave assurance that the salvation for all men had come and was accomplished through the name, power or means of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
This is the healing in the name of Jesus that is relevant for all men today whether they are physically whole or not! They can be made spiritually whole and stand in the presence of God. The healing that comes by faith in His name is the forgiveness of our sins. Fully understood and received, it will lead one to praise God and leap for joy in heart and life, like a lame man from birth made whole! It is interesting to note that of all the healing of lame people we find in the Scriptures, this is the only case where a lame man who has been healed leaps! It is in Isaiah 35 that the prophet foretells of the Messianic kingdom (rule) saying, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy” (35:6). So once again, we are met with assurance from Scriptures that our God reigns and the forgiveness of sins is real (Acts 4:23-31). WOW!
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* Sadly, abortion is the one horrible, horrendous and ignominious exception in the West, particularly in the USA, where money is more valued than life. All under the guise of a woman’s right to choose.
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