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“The movement of the body is a sort of voice of the soul”.1
Ambrose of Milan’s words are one way of expressing the connection between our physical movements and our inner selves. Sixteen hundred years on, Ambrose’ words still make sense. They’re a reminder that the way we move, whether consciously or unconsciously, can reflect what’s going on inside of us. Our emotions, our intentions, and our deeper-selves are on display simply by the movement of our body.
As we all know, if someone is standing tall with shoulders back and their head held high-it can indicate confidence. Gestures, such as open palms and arms uncrossed, can convey openness, honesty, and receptiveness. Whereas fidgeting, nail-biting, or tapping fingers can indicate nervousness, anxiety, impatience or discomfort. Even the way we embrace others says something, it can communicate affection, comfort, support. You see, the movement of the body can be a voice to what’s going on inside.
This morning/evening, as we come to Acts chapter 3, we see the miraculous movement of a body. One man’s body begins to move in ways that it had never moved before-the man who was lame, now leaps. And, as we’ll soon discover, this miraculous movement communicates something. It speaks about restoration. It speaks about the restoration that comes through turning to the ascended Lord Jesus in faith and repentance.
This morning/evening, that’s going to be so good for us to hear.
I don’t know about you, but deep down, I long for restoration. I’m sure it’s not just me. Whether you’re a follower of Jesus or not yet a follower of Jesus, there are aspects of our lives that we wish to mend, aren’t there? Aspects of our lives that we desire to see restored. We long for a renewal, for improvement, for rejuvenation. Our weary bodies, hearts, and minds long to be refreshed.
As we see one man’s body begin to move in ways that it had never moved before-we’ll hear about restoration that is ours both “now” and in “the future” in Jesus.
So far in his sequel to Theophilus, Luke has retold two defining moments for the church. First, the day of Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1), then the day of the Spirit’s outpouring (Acts 2). Following these chapters, Luke concluded with a picture of this new Spirit-filled community. Day after day, those who believed in Jesus, were meeting together in the temple courts and were filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. Here in Acts 3, Luke zooms in for Theophilus. He highlights one particular occasion at the temple where some of the apostles perform a sign.
1a. Outside the temple (v1-2)
At around three in the afternoon (the ninth hour), the city of Jerusalem was on the move. There was a hustle and bustle heading toward the temple. As was custom, the people of Israel were gathering together at the temple for the evening prayers, followed by a burnt offering (cf. Exodus 29:38-43; Numbers 28:3-4). Among the masses who were moving toward the temple was the apostle Peter and John. They too were going to the temple to pray (and no doubt to meet with the other believers). But as they were approaching the temple gates, they were met by a certain man.
This man was unnamed, known only for his disability.2 From his mother’s womb, this man was unable to stand on his own two feet.3 He was lame, he could not walk. For forty years, this man had experienced physical incompleteness, physical ruin. At the time, some might have said that he was “a useless man”4 or “half-a-man”5, good for nothing. Others, most likely thought that he was “a corrupt man”, that his outward physicality reflected his inward morality.6 If not either of these, then at least “a hopeless man”, with no real future.7 In the eyes of Jerusalem, this man was a “pathetic, impotent, and despicable creature”.8 He was a burdened man, and a burden to others. He was the man who was lame.
Just like every other day, this man was carried to the temple gate, called: “Beautiful”. Once he was laid at the gate, he’d begin to beg for money. As pious Israelites would enter and exit the temple courts each day (twice a day), this man would remain on the outside. He would remain on the outside-begging, begging, and begging some more. His life was outside the temple-on the margins and on the peripheral-begging for silver and gold. He was a ruined man.
1b. The miracle (v3-7)
But this man’s ordinary day was about to radically change.
When the man who was lame saw Peter and John about to enter the temple gate, he asked them for money. He begged: “Apostles, do you have any silver or gold?” “Do you have any money for a man like me?” “Just a coin, just a piece, whatever you’ve got”. As they heard his plea, Peter and John fixed their gaze upon the man. They looked straight at him, square in the eyes. They said, “Look at us!”. So, the man looked at them-expecting to get what he wanted, expecting to receive money, expecting to gain what he hoped for…
But then the man’s heart sinks… As Peter says: “Silver and gold I do not have… ” Peter doesn’t have what the man thought he needed… “I don’t have money” “I don’t have what you want” “I don’t have what you hope for”. Peter doesn’t have what the man thought he needed… The man’s heart sinks… … but… … then his whole body rises… Peter doesn’t have what the man thought he needed, no he has something better.9 “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk”. With that, this man gets “far more than he ever hoped for”.10
By using the phrase “in the name of Jesus”, Peter isn’t reciting a magical formula, like “abracadabra”. The phrase wasn’t a magical wand… no, it’s a statement of faith in the person behind the name.11 By saying “in the name of Jesus”, the Apostle Peter is telling the man to believe, to trust, to have faith… “To walk” in and through the power and authority of the exulted Lord Jesus. It’s a call to believe in the name of the Lord.
And as this man, trusts in the name of Jesus, he gets “far more than he ever hoped for”.12 Peter takes hold of the man’s right hand, and lifts him up. As he lifts him up, instantly the man’s feeble feet become strong. He stands! But he does more than just stand, he walks! The one who was once carried by others, now carries himself. The ruined man becomes a restored man.
1c. Inside the temple (v8-10)
Once, the man gets up, he walks into the temple. With Peter and John by his side, the man goes where he’d never gone before. As the man walks into the temple-he begins to jump, to leap, and to praise God! He enters God’s presence, jumping, leaping, praising God among. This is an astonishing sight. The lame now leaps. The paralysed now praises.13 The one who was always laid at the temple gate, walks into the temple courts. The one who was always outside is now inside.
Many point out that the lame man’s “jumping” or “leaping” in the temple courts (cf. Acts 3:8), echoes back to Isaiah 35:4-6:
“Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.” (Isaiah 35:4-6)
This is the beginning of God’s end time restoration.
When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. For they knew that he was “the one who used to sit begging at the temple gate”.
God gives this man more than he ever hoped for.14 God restores the ruined. The man’s body moves in ways that it had never moved before-the man who was lame, now leaps.
But what does this mean? What does this man’s movement say and mean? What’s the significance of this man’s new-found ability to jump and leap?
Well, just like last week, the Apostle Peter explains what all this means.
2a. How this happened: Jesus did it! (v11-16)
As the crowd witnesses this miracle, there seems to be some confusion. As they see the man (who was once lame) “clinging” to the apostles-holding onto them, ever so tightly-they get begin to wonder… “Did they do this?” “Are those Galileans behind this miracle?” “Was it their power that healed this man?” So, the crowds, come running toward the apostles. They surround them, staring and gazing, unable to take their eyes off them.
But when Peter sees this, he clears things up. “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you?” “Why do you stare at us?” “Why do you think that we did this miracle by our own power or piety?”. We didn’t do this! No, “… the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our Fathers has glorified his servant Jesus”.
Using a phrase from Exodus 3 and Isaiah 52, the Apostle Peter reminds the crowd that their God has exulted his suffering servant, Jesus.15 Their God, the God of their forefathers, has lifted up and exalted the one that they disowned and crucified. Awkward (to say the least). “You handed him over to be killed”… “You disowned him before Pilate”… “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked that a murderer be realised to you”… “You killed the author of life”… “but God raised him from the dead”. God exulted Jesus!
So, “Why do you stare at us?” “Why do you think that we did this miracle by our own power or piety?”. We didn’t do this! No, the name of Jesus-whom you crucified, but God exulted-did this. The name of Jesus did this. “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man was made strong” “It is Jesus’ name, and the faith that comes through him, that has completely healed” this man-“as [you] can all see”. Jesus did this!
2b. What this means: Repent! (v17-26)
After clearing up the confusion, Peter then tells the crowd what to do.
“Fellow Israelites” “I know that you acted in ignorance”. I know that you didn’t realise who Jesus was when you killed him, but “this was God’s plan”. This was God’s plan that “he had foretold through all the prophets”. So, it’s time to turn to God. I know that you acted in ignorance then, but now that you know-it’s time to repent!
With a string of reasons, Peter offers the crowd another chance for restoration with God.
Over and over again, the apostle Peter tries to convince his fellow Israelites. He tries to convince them to repent, to turn to God, to call upon the name of the Lord-to receive a spiritual restoration in Jesus.
2c. The response (v1-4)
As Peter addresses the crowd, there’s a mixed reaction. On the one hand, the religious leaders seize Peter and John and put them in jail until the next day. They can’t stand this message about Jesus’ resurrection! But… on the other hand… Luke records that “many who heard the message believed, so the number grew to five thousand”.
Following the healing of the man, Peter explains everything. He tells the crowd what this man’s new-found movement really means. It’s a picture, a foretaste, a foreshadowing-of the spiritual restoration in and through the ascended Christ, both now and in the future.17 The man’s physical restoration speaks of the spiritual restoration that comes as we trust in the name of Jesus Christ. And the man’s physical restoration is also a picture of our future restoration that we hope for in Christ’s return. The healing of the man who was lame anticipates “the now” and the “not yet” of God’s restoration in the exulted Christ. A restoration which is only available to the who repent by turning to God. In essence, Luke reminds Theophilus (and us) that the ascended Lord Jesus is “the only source of help and salvation” for the ruined.18
Across the years, the farming community that I grew up in experienced many droughts and dry seasons. The impact was usually devastating! Large cracks would slowly break up the ground. Stock would eat the grass until they hit the dust. Kangaroos would get slimmer and slimmer, slower and slower. Even the most beautiful trees would slowly change colour and die. The lush green would turn to a grey. But it wasn’t just the environment though, it was also the people. Farming families which had been on the land for generations were leaving. Local businesses would slowly shut down. Family relations would become more strained. Less jobs in town. Less energy. More and more farmers clocking off early, spending what they had on schooie at the bar. They were wounded, tired, depressed, helpless, and hopeless. But when it would rain, everything would be restored. Life would be injected back into the community. The cracks would fill. The feed would overflow. All the stock would fill, growing fatter and faster. Trees would sprout again, regain their colour. The grey would turn to green. The people would be filled with joy. They’d be jumping up and down, checking rain gauges, doing all sorts of yahooing!
As we reflect on Acts 3, that’s the kind of salvation that is ours in the exulted Christ. A restoration. A refreshing. A filling with joy and praise to God.
3a. Turn!
At one level, this is a call to turn-to turn to God.
Whether you’re a follower of Jesus or not yet a follower of Jesus, this is a call to live a life of repentance. By God’s grace, in the sight of God’s holiness and mercy in the gospel, we grieve our sin and we seek to turn from it. Every day, we go on the journey of repentance that leads to times of refreshing. By grace-we confess, we grieve, we commit to change, we rest in Christ and we walk in Christ. We see, own, and grieve the ways that we have loved poorly, hurt others, and disobeyed God. We ask for forgiveness, We press on. In God’s mercy, this repentance leads to refreshing. Repentance, refreshing. Repentance, refreshing. Repentance, refreshing. We turn to God.
I get it, this is hard. For some of us, we’re not even thinking about repentance. We’re just coasting from week to week, without much thought about our sin or the need for repentance. But the problem with that is that we can get hard hearts! For others of us, repentance can just sound too hard. But think about, why would we resist it? Why would we be slow to repent? Why would we be so slow to turn to God? When he offers such restoration and refreshing! So, we turn. We be a community that turns together.
3b. Leap!
On another level, this is a call to leap.
If you’re a follower of Jesus, we should move a little more like the man who was once lame. We should leap, we should praise, we should be full of joy. If God has so restored us… If God has so forgiven us… If God has promised to restore us fully, then we should leap. Just like the man, we should be “an enthusiastic and grateful member of the community of God”.19 We should be a community that leaps together. Leaping because by faith in the ascended Christ, God has blotted out our sins. Leaping because by faith in the ascended Christ, God has given us the Holy Spirit who is our refreshing from the Lord. Leaping because we await the restoration of all things by the return of the ascended Christ. Leaping because the servant, Jesus, gives us what we need to turn from our wickedness. There should be a little spring in our step! We leap together because of the restoration that God has given us in Christ-where the ruined and restored.
“The movement of the body is a sort of voice of the soul”.20
This morning/this evening, we’ve seen the miraculous movement of a body. One man’s body begins to move in ways that it had never moved before-the man who was lame, now leaps. This man’s movement speaks about the restoration that comes through turning to the ascended Lord Jesus.
Everybody in this room has a different need right now, many different needs. Everybody has a need for restoration, a need for refreshing, a need for the blotting out of sins. So together, let’s pray and ask God to help us turn to him and to leap for the glorious things that he’s done.
2 Kamba, Holistic Healing in Acts 3:1-10, 270.
3 Parsons, The Character of the Lame Man in Acts 3-4, 307.
4 Kamba, Holistic Healing in Acts 3:1-10, 270.
5 Parsons, The Character of the Lame Man in Acts 3-4, 303.
6 Parsons, The Character of the Lame Man in Acts 3-4, 312.
7 Kamba, Holistic Healing in Acts 3:1-10, 270.
8 Parsons, The Character of the Lame Man in Acts 3-4, 305.
9 Peterson, Acts of the Apostles, 168.
10 Peterson, Acts of the Apostles, 166.
12 Peterson, Acts of the Apostles, 166.
13 Parsons, The Character of the Lame Man in Acts 3-4, 307.
14 Peterson, Acts of the Apostles, 169.
15 Beale, The New Testament use of the Old Testament, 545.
16 BDAG, 344.
17 Calvin, Calvin’s Commentary on Acts, Paragraph 75609.
18 Peterson, Acts of the Apostles, 168.
19 Parsons, The Character of the Lame Man in Acts 3-4, 311.
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