A story of transformation

In the book of Acts chapter 3 there's a man. He's lame from birth. He sits outside the temple in Jerusalem every day begging.

Jesus has been around Jerusalem a fair bit the last few years. He's been healing people. He must have walked past this man. Passed him by. Did the man see him? Did Jesus see the man? Most people don't, or pretend not to anyway. But Jesus wasn't like that.

But Jesus isn't seen around Jerusalem anymore. He was crucified. There are rumours that he came back to life, that he has been seen by his followers. I wonder how much this man saw and heard. Did he recognise Jesus' friends as they entered the temple? Or did his empty belly and weary heart weigh him down too much? Anyway the man isn't even looking properly at them. Best not to expect too much.

But these men stop. They look at him. They tell him to look at them. They must have something to give, right?
'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I tell you,  walk!'

The man called Peter reaches out his hand. The lame man takes it. And he feels his legs, that have never walked, grow strong. Strong enough to stand. Strong enough to walk. Strong enough to jump! To dance! To leap around! What joy must have flooded this man's heart. And he turns that joy back into praise, for the God who has healed him, as he enters into the temple on his newly strong legs.

The crowd see. They see the man they have pretended not to see many times. They see the transformation and are astonished. Only Jesus has healed like this and he died.

Peter speaks bold and challenging words. Words that cut to the heart. Yes Jesus died, because you and I put him on that cross. But God raised him to life. Its time to respond to him.

And the miracle shouts that Jesus is alive. Jesus is still working.

I got home yesterday from leading a study on this passage and opened my emails. There was a story from
'Gospel for Asia.' A story of a man lame from birth. Not healed but being transformed anyway.

Jesus is still working.