Results of The Resurrection
In Acts chapter 3 Peter and John were on their way to the temple for afternoon prayers. As they’re about to enter the temple, a lame man lying at the gate calls out to them and asks them to put something in his cup. Peter and John both stop and fix their eyes on this man. And Peter said, “look at us.” Now when Peter said those words, I can almost see the hope reflected in the face of the beggar; these men were going to give him something.
Peter spoke again; “silver and gold have I none.” The beggar’s face fell; the little flicker of expectation in his heart was quickly snuffed out. But Peter wasn’t finished. He said, “what I have, I give to you; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth… rise up and walk.” And he reached out his hand, clasped the hand of the beggar and lifted him to his feet.
“Immediately [the lame man’s] feet and ankle bones were made strong.” He began walking and jumping and praising God. Of course! He was expecting a few coins to provide for his meager existence, and now he’s completely restored from his crippling condition! As he was walking and jumping there in the temple courts, he attracted attention.
They see this man, they recognize who he is, and they see he’s holding on to Peter and John. We How is it that he can walk? This is amazing. Well, you can count on Peter, now filled with the Holy Spirit, not to miss an opportunity to preach!
Here, we pick up the narrative for today’s teaching. This account in Acts chapter 3 gives us a clear picture of some of the results of the resurrection of Jesus. Every time we gather on the first day of the week, we remember the event that altered the course of history; world history, and our personal history.
So, listen carefully as I read Acts 3:12-21. That’s Acts chapter 3 beginning at verse 12.
In our text, observe with me three RESULTS of the resurrection of Jesus, and how those results impact your life today.
The First Result of the Resurrection is:
Restoration is Possible
Many times, in Scripture, God arranges divine appointments to provide teachable moments. In this healing of the lame man, we’re given a divine object lesson. What happened to this man, including his physical healing, was a clear demonstration of the resurrection power Peter and John possessed.
To the crowd that observed the lame man laying at the temple gate his condition was hopeless. He was crippled, he was a beggar, and in their minds, it would never change. Restoration was just not possible. But now, they’re confronted with the undeniable evidence – this man has been healed. Their established ways of thinking have been exploded! And these people say, “what’s going on here?”
How did Peter respond? He said, don’t look at us as though we’re so special; it’s not our personal power or holiness that made this man well. No, it’s the power of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the same Jesus you conspired to put to death, even though he was innocent. You denied Him in Pilate’s court and requested a murderer to be released in His place. And then he says of Jesus; “God has raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of that fact.”
Notice verse sixteen. “And His name through faith in His name has made this man strong, wh...
