Who Is Crippled and How Can They Be Healed?

WHO IS CRIPPLED AND HOW CAN THEY BE HEALED? Acts 3 Ted Schroder, August 23, 2015

The Holy Spirit leads Peter and John to heal a man crippled from birth and to explain how. “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.” Who does the crippled man represent? What cripples you? What prevents you from being all that you need to be? Is it physical impairment? Is it emotional disablement? Is it the inability to heal some relationships or to risk entering into new relationships? Is it financial limitations? Are you paralyzed in body or spirit? How are you dependent on others? If we are honest all of us are crippled in one way or another. Who is close to you that is crippled and needs healing? Who are incapable of taking care of themselves? Who are dependent on others? What do we encounter in our daily lives that suffers from structural paralysis: institutions, agencies, political officials, government bureaucrats, public officials at the local, state and federal levels, legislators, administrators, justices. The apostles, men like us, human beings, are on their way to worship when they encounter the man crippled from birth. Who do you encounter at worship and how do you respond? He asked them for money. There is a deep-seated, widespread belief that money is the answer to most of life’s problems. But it is not so. We are told not “to put our hope in wealth which is so uncertain, but to put our hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment…. To be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:17,18). There is no doubt that money can make some things happen which can benefit those in need. But it cannot completely heal us for our needs are deeper than what money can buy. Money cannot buy love or hope or joy or meaning in life. “ Peter said, ‘Look at us!’” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.” What do we need to look at? What do we need to pay attention to if we want to be healed? He looked at the two apostles: Peter the Rock, and John the Beloved. They embodied the apostolic Word of Jesus. He gave them his attention and so must we. Peter wrote: “we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture cam about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:19-21). Everything Peter explains is drawn from the fulfillment of prophecy in the Old Testament: “this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold, through all the prophets …Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many have spoken, have foretold these days.” (Acts 3:18,24). If you want to receive complete healing you need to look at the Scriptures daily, to pay attention to the Word of the prophets and apostles in the Scriptures, for they contain the words of eternal life, the plan and purpose of God. Peter and John are poor. They do not have the financial resources to help this cripple. But they have something much more powerful. They are filled with the presence of Jesus and the power of the Spirit. They have received the power of the Spirit to witness to Jesus. So Peter can say, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” An economically poor person or church that is able to witness to Jesus in the power of the Spirit is actually a rich church.

“ It is sad that with the increase in riches, dependence on God and consequently spiritual power often become less…. Economic poverty is sometimes a gift, for it forces us to look to God for strength. It is said that the theologian Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) once called on Pope Innocent II when the latter was counting out a large sum of money. The Pope remarked, ‘You see, Thomas, the church can no longer say, “Silver and gold have I none.” Aquinas replied, ‘True, holy father, but neither can she now say, “Rise and walk.”’ (Ajith Fernando, The NIV Application Commentary, Acts, p.149)

We can seek healing from what cripples us by spending money on treatments, diversions to distract us, programs, and other expensive solutions. But what is needed all too often to make us strong is faith in the powerful name of Jesus. “It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given complete healing.” We need the times of refreshing that may come from the Lord so that we will be blessed. We need a hand up not a hand out. What is the main message and mission of the Church? Is the name of Jesus enough to heal us? What is in a name? Is it enough to pay attention to the Word of the Gospel? Is it enough to be filled with the presence of Jesus and the power of the Spirit? Can we minister in the name of Jesus to bring healing to those who are crippled in body, mind and spirit? Are we tempted to believe that because we do not have the right credentials, that we are not apostles, or that we are not clergy, or that we are not theologically educated, that we cannot pray for and minister to those in need? Peter and John were wet behind the ears from being filled with the Spirit. They responded to the crippled man as they were led by the Spirit. Why can we not be similarly led by the Spirit? The church is the temple of the Spirit. Each of us individually is a temple of the Spirit. We are all called to witness to the name of Jesus. What holds us back? What makes us hesitate? Why can’t we take people in need by the hand and help them up so that they will walk in the Spirit and praise God? What a difference it would make if we share with others what we have to give them – our faith in the name of Jesus, the author of life, the resurrection and the life. Through Abraham, the father of faith, and his offspring, all peoples on earth will be blessed. We can be a blessing to others. This is the promise that has been foretold.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear! It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds, and drive away our fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole, and calms the troubled breast; ‘tis manna to the hungry soul, and to the weary rest. (John Newton) (Ted’s blog may be found at www.tedschroder.com)