Good Morning Friends,
On the road to Emmaus the two disciples share a walking companion who was initially a stranger who asked them a series of questions to help them see more clearly about the work of God and then breaks bread with them. Then in the distribution, taking and eating, as if they remember the meal they shared in the upper room at Passover, this stranger is revealed to be the resurrected Jesus. So too in a different way Jesus shows up with Peter and John Mark as they go about their religious activities near the Temple and they are moved by the Spirit to heal a lame man. Here they discover the power of Jesus not only in His own ministry but also in the ministry of the Spirit manifested in their own lives after the Resurrection and Ascension. It is a gift of great value. What Do You Have To Share To God’s Glory On The Journey To Our Return To A New Normal?
Scripture: One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently 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 or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Acts 3:1-10 (NRSV)
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Luke 24:13-35 (NRSV)
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:15-16 (NRSV)
Message: There are a lot of things we can share to help others but typically it is not the miracle of healing, or is it? When Jesus saw physical ailments in others, I do not think he dismissed its reality, nor did he ever say that all disease is curable. For Jesus did not cure everyone. He accepted maladies as a fact but knew the undivided connection between things physical and spiritual. So too, we see this reality manifested in the lives of the disciples for the glory of God and I hope in our own. That in the text today Peter heals a man in Jesus’ name is noteworthy for it is linked in a way to the birth of what we call the Church Universal and is a power available to us when the Spirit is willing. But first, before we jump to any more conclusions, let us put this miracle in context. The communal life and fellowship of new believers in Christ is beginning. Something had just kicked off a couple days earlier on Pentecost. There was energy and excitement in the air. There had been the sound of a rushing wind, tongues of fire settling on the Apostles, and then they began speaking languages they had never learned. As a result, on that day about 3000 people from many countries repented of their sins and were baptized into Christ and the Holy Spirit. Now, it is just a couple days later. Peter and John are on their way to the Temple to pray. And then there is an encounter with a man who had been lame from birth. This man begs for alms. He wanted money from Peter and John. Peter tells him that he does not have any money but that he would give him something better and then heals this man in the name and Spirit of Jesus. This lame man had not asked to be healed. There is no evidence that he had faith in being healed. And in fact, he had not even asked about Jesus. All he wanted was a few coins to help him pay for a meal or two. But this man had an obvious need and Peter responded not because it was his initial intention but because he was moved by the Spirit. And what is interesting here is that this is one of the rare times in Scripture where Jesus or His disciples healed anyone who has not asked to be healed. Now, Jesus may have done this in His ministry, but this is a unique event, where an Apostle does it. Usually you had to want to be healed for this to happen. But not this time. It was not about Peter or even the man being healed…It was all about the Spirit at work, moving people into action much like what happened at Pentecost.
And So, here is the thing. This same Spirit that prompted Peter to act is the same Spirit that was moving people to believe at Pentecost and the very same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. And friends, this Spirit dwells in each of us and can prompt us as Peter to act as a mean of glorifying God if we are willing to share our experiences. At some point we figure out that events are not as random as we might believe. It is then, only as the events in our lives connect, do we discover the real pattern, the real purpose. Hopefully the light comes on so our time here for glorifying God is not wasted. The challenge of church and community, during periods of isolation is in learning to share and thereby better understand the rewards of being a Christian. Sure we are to monitor and follow the health guidelines and like the direction of flight attendants we are to put our own mask on first before helping anyone else. Let the light shine forth hope, love and joy. Share the love when the Spirit moves you in a way that honors the health of others. But we are to also but a non-anxious presence of our faith and show up in the lives of others, even when we can not do it face to face. We may need to avoid close physical contact with our friends for some time, but we can and must listen compassionately to find ways of capitalizing on the powerful desire of people to be helpful during a time of crisis.
Pray that Jesus’ resurrection is in us helping us to we take the long view and keep values alive, preserving joy even in an honest conversation about death. Pray
we realize that it is the nature of Jesus to bring things to life and healing when we share in meeting the needs of others. Pray therefor we not be afraid to pray for those who are anxious and in great need to bringing meaning in their life out of the challenges we face in worshipping a new way. Pray we engage a path of participation by bearing witness to the needs of others. Pray we take steps to renew our own energy and hope in the Spirit of God. Pray we learn from Jesus and the Spirit, to trust God for our health, and as a sign of trust, to not fear the past nor dread the future, but to think clearly and with wisdom. Pray we see spiritual energies flowing in our healthy relationships that manifest themselves as indications of God’s continuing work in the world. Pray we believe in the power of the Spirit to transform people. Pray we realize that we have the same Spirit inside each of us that Peter had inside of him when he healed in Jesus’ name. Pray we realize that God is not so much concerned about our ability or our inability but mostly about our availability. Pray we realize that we have something to share that is of great value and the more we share it the more we have of it. Pray we share the joy of life in abundance.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 