(Redeemer , 1/6/2013)
Acts 3:2-8; 13-23 : THE FIRST MIRACLE - The Gospel in The City
The gate is called “Beautiful”. And a beggar was lame from
birth and being carried to the temple gate. When he saw Peter and John, he
begged them for money. But Peter replied, “Look at us! Silver or gold I do not
have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
walk!” Then he instantly got strong and walked, and praised God.
This beggar felt the beauty of God, since he was lame. And he knew he was lame. But did he expect to walk again when he met
Peter and John? My guess is he only expected to receive a little sympathy from them
and give him some change. But when he received healing instead, he was praising
God. He was walking and jumping.
It is just like what C.S. Lewis said in his book,
“Imagine yourself a living house. [You ask God to make some repairs.] At first…he is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on…But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is he up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of…. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but HE is building a palace” (Mere Christianity, Ch. 9)
Often, even almost always think that the current live is quite alright, probably just need a little fix here and there when problems come. We try our best to fix what is bothering us at that moment. But as time goes by, some problem remains, and we don’t care much about it. Especially when sometimes it doesn’t bother us anymore, though it’s still there. It seems okay, and manageable to live with it. Some people say, “time will fix everything”, “Nothing is perfect.” But does it really go away by itself as time goes? Or is it just miracle that God did, and suddenly problem disappeared ,then “THANK GOD”? The later will seem to bring us more into confusion than understanding. However, it doesn’t mean that miracles that God did in our Lord Jesus Christ are not true. I believe those miracles really happened for God’s mercy and grace towards humankind, and God’s compassion toward his creations. And only those who know how broken we are, will be able to feel HIS beauty. It is only thru humility, realizing how sick we are, we can truly know how to praise God. We are a total broken being, and only thru God’s mercy alone that we have seen in Jesus Christ, from His miracles He performed, all the way to His dead, as Jesus was torn into pieces; His body was literally broken. That we, who believe in HIM, may live again through His brokenness. What does it mean? Something more to meditate.
“Imagine yourself a living house. [You ask God to make some repairs.] At first…he is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on…But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is he up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of…. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but HE is building a palace” (Mere Christianity, Ch. 9)
Often, even almost always think that the current live is quite alright, probably just need a little fix here and there when problems come. We try our best to fix what is bothering us at that moment. But as time goes by, some problem remains, and we don’t care much about it. Especially when sometimes it doesn’t bother us anymore, though it’s still there. It seems okay, and manageable to live with it. Some people say, “time will fix everything”, “Nothing is perfect.” But does it really go away by itself as time goes? Or is it just miracle that God did, and suddenly problem disappeared ,then “THANK GOD”? The later will seem to bring us more into confusion than understanding. However, it doesn’t mean that miracles that God did in our Lord Jesus Christ are not true. I believe those miracles really happened for God’s mercy and grace towards humankind, and God’s compassion toward his creations. And only those who know how broken we are, will be able to feel HIS beauty. It is only thru humility, realizing how sick we are, we can truly know how to praise God. We are a total broken being, and only thru God’s mercy alone that we have seen in Jesus Christ, from His miracles He performed, all the way to His dead, as Jesus was torn into pieces; His body was literally broken. That we, who believe in HIM, may live again through His brokenness. What does it mean? Something more to meditate.
Soli Deo Gloria.
