In women’s Bible study this year we’re going through the book of Acts, the only book of history in the New Testament. I had the privilege of teaching Acts chapter 3, which begins with Peter, John, and a lame beggar at the temple at the hour of prayer.

The hour of prayer would have been a busy time at the temple. This man purposefully placed himself here at this time because it was the most opportune time. Sure, people probably didn’t look him in the eye, or maybe even look his way at all. They would just hear him calling out and toss a couple coins his way, because that’s what was expected of you when you were going to the temple to pray. A pious Jew couldn’t expect to be received before the Lord when he had just ignored a needy brother. So this man would hitch a ride daily to the temple, broke and broken, and return home each day a little less broke, but still just as broken.

Until this day. Because on this day, two men who had been with Jesus, Peter and John, were at the temple. But not knowing any different, the man did what he always did. He kept his eyes downcast, maybe out of respect, maybe so he didn’t have to see people’s looks of pity, and: “he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, ‘Look at us” (v. 3b-4). I have to imagine that this is one of those moments when the Holy Spirit gave Peter a nudge. Where Jesus whispered to him through his Spirit, “This one. Look at this one that everyone else has overlooked. Serve this one and see what I will do.”

And the man looked back at them, still expecting to get something tangible from them. “But Peter said, ‘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!’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong” (v. 6-7). Peter essentially said, “I’m not giving you what you asked for, I’m giving you what you need.” And notice how it is he gave this man the power to walk: “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” It is because of Jesus’ power and presence in Peter, through the Holy Spirit, that he could work this miracle.

Jesus came to bring restoration. You can read a similar miracle he did while he was here on earth in Luke 5 with the paralyzed man the friends lower through the roof. But he didn’t just come to bring physical restoration. Later in verse 21 we see how one day he’s coming back to restore all things. But at this moment, this act of physical restoration opened the door to spiritual restoration. In Leviticus 21:17, The Lord told Moses, “For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame…” You have to imagine that after 40+ years of being lame, being kept from the inner courts of the temple, this man was a little disillusioned with God. However now he was not only physically whole but spiritually accepted.

But spiritual restoration does not always lead to physical restoration in this world. Can miraculous healings still be performed? Sure, God is omnipotent. But this is not the norm for us today. So, what could restoration look like for us? We like to think restoration means perfection. My relationships are perfect, there’s no conflict. My health, physically and mentally is perfect, I don’t need medication or therapy. My family is perfect. My children are obedient and my in-laws respect our boundaries. But restoration is not about us. Perfection is coming, when Jesus returns and we all experience our own resurrections, but for now, it could be a relationship where you extend forgiveness to a person who doesn’t deserve it. It could be a mental health struggle that you surrender to Jesus and trust him in the process of working through. It could be a family member you have unresolved conflict with that you take a heart posture of humility before.

The key to restoration is not perfection but laying aside ourselves. Mitchell Chase says, “In union with him [Christ], sinners live now, though outwardly they are still wasting away.” What Jesus promises when we unite ourselves to him is inward restoration, even though outwardly our problems may still exist. And because of that inward restoration, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit that Ephesians 1 talks about, we can have peace even if we’re still in the midst of a tumultuous relationship or a mental health struggle, or a hard to forgive hurt.

While the man in this story received physical restoration in regard to his lameness, that doesn’t mean every other problem in his life was resolved. He was still poor. Now that he’s well, he’s probably going to have to find real work, and who knows what kind of skills he had. He’s lived his whole life, 40 years, one way, and that’s all changed. That’s bound to cause some conflict. But he’s on the path to complete restoration. Because Peter did not just give him the ability to walk but displayed the power of Jesus that led this man to belief. What was his response to the miracle? “And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” Isaiah 35:6, referring to the Messianic age, says, “then the lame man shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the dessert.” God’s promises of restoration are becoming a reality, and leaping in praise is the only right response. Again, Mitchell Chase says, “Physical restoration fuels the hope of resurrection. After all, if the blind will see and the deaf will hear and the mute will speak and the lame will leap, what will the dead do?”

This man had done nothing, couldn’t have done anything, to earn this healing. It was pure grace. And isn’t that how it is for all of us? Jesus extends his grace to all of us who are born poor, lame sinners. Praise God for that! Have the same excitement for God’s work in your life that this man did! When was the last time you were caught walking and leaping and praising God for your salvation? And not only that, but also take every opportunity to tell others about what He has done. When a relationship is restored because you forgive someone, it’s an open door to share the gospel. When you surrender your health and walk in the peace that is a fruit of the Spirit, it can be an open door to share the gospel. Because that was the purpose for this miracle. It served as a picture to introduce the preaching to come. See, now a crowd has gathered. “All the people saw his walking and praising God … and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” And so the stage is perfectly set, in the portico called Solomon’s, for Peter to begin his second sermon.

Click here for Part 2.