Any change for a cup of tea guv? That’s pretty much the question Peter and John find themselves being asked as they are marching to church. What a relief they didn’t treat this beggar as a mere interruption - they would have missed an encounter with God that would be talked about for 1000’s of years.
The healing of the cripple in Acts 3:1-10 comes very shortly after the disciples had been filled with the Holy Spirit for the very first time. They were at the beginning of discovering the difference this personal power from on high was making to their lives. They had already seen the Spirit grow their movement by 3000 people in a single day. They had watched in amazement as that same Spirit transformed those 3000 in to a loving sharing community in the middle of a divided and sectarian city. And now the disciples discover another side to the Holy Spirits personality – miraculous power.
In a moment that must have kept Peter and John awake at the end of the day this career beggar is about to find himself out of a job, and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Peter impulsively yanks him up as the words leave his lips, “in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” – and from there the fairy tale begins.
I have been thinking about this story for the last week or so and it’s absolutely rich with things to teach us about the power of God, the need to be ready for divine encounters, and the confidence that comes with the authentic gift of faith. But I think that in a season where the world is so caught up with the story of recession, debt and financial lack, this story has something very simple to teach us about how sometimes a lack of finance is actually the door to the power of God. Maybe if Peter and John had had a couple of spare shekels in their pocket they would have dropped them in the bucket and walked past this cripple like they had a hundred times before. It was the lack of Silver and Gold that made them turn to an alternative supply line – the miraculous power of God.
So what can we learn from Peter and John that will help us meet impossible needs even when we feel like we have empty pockets.
Watch this space for part 2
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