Easter 3: First Reading, Acts 3:1-21                                 

Acts 3:1-21

Between the resurrection of Jesus and the fledgling Christian community there was a transfer of the authority and power of the Son of God to the leaders He had chosen. I am glad there was for it spelled the sure and proper movement forward of the message of God’s Kingdom, no matter the weakness and failures of the messengers. Our reading today puts the power and compassion of Jesus on display through his agents Peter and John. A man lame from birth was begging at the temple and in the good providence of God, the servants of Jesus “just happened” to pass by. I have often wondered what it was that caused Peter to respond to the beggar’s pleas as he did. Did the voice of Jesus ring in his ears? Did his own compassion push him to trust that the Lord would show up if he stepped out in faith? Perhaps both. But Peter’s response was to gain the man’s attention and then point him to his true need and the One who could meet it. “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)!

The commotion began around Peter and John and the crowd gave attention to them that was misdirected. Peter did not let the wrong perceptions continue for long. For as the crowd was attributing the miraculous healing of the lame man to Jesus’ companions, Peter let the crowd know in no uncertain terms that it was their God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that had put His Son, the Lord Jesus front and center effecting the healing of the man who had never walked until now. 

One of our sister congregations nearby has the Mission Statement: “Pointing to Jesus.” I love that. And that is exactly what Peter had done. He had pointed the growing crowd to Jesus. But this was not the end of Peter’s truth-telling. He extolled the greatness of God’s Son before them all and then as quickly “reminded” them that it was they who had “denied the Holy and Righteous One,” and had “killed the Author of life.” The “pointing to” Jesus had expanded to getting “to the point” about what had transpired in their midst just a couple months before.

Often our witness to and about Jesus includes both. And should. It’s called “Law and Gospel” and pastors are not the only ones who get to unleash the truth about Jesus in that way. In this account it is a bit turned around, but the effect is the same. The need is evident, the obstacle is identified and the ONLY solution is offered with joy. Get the point?