Everyone Needs a “Little Jesus”! (February 23, 2025)

Acts 3:1–9 ~ “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze 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 and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God,”

What a miserable life the crippled man must have had. We don’t know the extent of all this man’s life, other than he was lame from birth. We don’t know if someone was taking advantage of his situation to get the money that others may have gave for him to get food with. We don’t know what his home life was like. What we do know is that Peter and John walked into his life and offered something that no one could take away, although he could share. They gave him something even more than his healing. They gave him an opportunity to:

WALK

• How lightly we take our good health. This man had never felt the ground under his feet as we walked. Never felt the grass as he ran through the field.
• His parents never knew the joy of teaching him to walk or run as a child.
• God gave him the ability to leap and run into the temple rejoicing in the Lord.

WORK

• Being unable to walk, he was unable to work. But Peter and John gave him the opportunity to go get a job.
• Now he would no longer have to beg, but he could give to others who are in need.

WITNESS

• Upon being healed, the lame man went into the temple while an amazed crowd followed behind wondering at this miracle.
• Peter preached about Jesus and 5,000 men were added to the kingdom of God.
• When we spread the good news of Jesus, all will be drawn unto Him.

WORSHIP

• Because of this man’s condition, he was unable to enter the temple to worship; this was the Levitical law.
• All his life, he had been on the outside looking in. Now, for the first time, he was on the inside looking out.

The lame man received must more than just a physical healing. He was given a new lease on life. Do you need healing from your physical sickness, your spiritual hurts, your past, or your problems? Are you ready for a new lease on life? After receiving something that no one can take away, are you going to share HIM with someone?