Power Preaching, the Reward and the Cost

 
Imagine the setting of the scene at the temple in Acts 3, Peter and John perform a miraculous healing of a man lame from birth. Amazingly a man who has never walked is leaping and praising God.  This man was known to all—everyone had passed him lying outside the Temple gate daily as they came to worship.  Not only had he never walked, but according to the law he could not enter the Temple.  So, he was excluded from faith as well as from daily living! God’s restoration and healing plan included everything—natural and spiritual life! This astounding event draws a crowd, providing Peter the perfect opportunity to deliver a challenging gospel address.
Peter's speech begins with a call to the Israelites not to marvel at the miracle as if it were by the apostles' own power. Instead, he directs their attention to Jesus, the true source of the healing. This must always be our approach when operating in the gifts, like Peter is here, Jesus is always the source, and all displays of His power are opportunities to point to Him—give Him all the glory. Peter begins with a reference to Moses and ending with Moses, bringing the Jews back to their history that had long promised the Messiah who would bring healing, salvation and restoration. He emphasizes the central point: the power and authority of Jesus' name by recalling the many titles and references to Jesus in their scriptures, which we designate as the Old Testament.
A pivotal part of the discussion is the examination of faith in this narrative. A close reading of Acts 3 poses a thought-provoking question: whose faith activated this healing? The lame man had an expectation of receiving something, but he really did not know about the power of the risen Messiah, or that He was known as Jesus.  Peter and John however had witnessed Jesus' miraculous works previously and believed in His promises. Peter with faith took action and lifted the man up. As he was lifted up his legs were strengthened and healed.  He then miraculously knew how to walk and leap.  He also knew to praise God and not Peter or John for his miracle.
Peter’s message mentions the "Suffering Servant," which connects to Isaiah 53 and the prophecy that puzzled the Hebrews. They had expected a conquering King, but their Messiah was first the willing sacrifice and substitution for to bring them into eternal life, before He would ever become the conquering King. I am reminded of His exchange for Barabbas. The name Barabbas means 'son of the Father’ (in Hebrew bar means son and abba is father). This is a profound parallel to His exchange for us—offering restoration and salvation. His righteousness in exchange or payment for our sinful lives so that we can also become children of the Father through repentance and trust upon the accomplished work of Christ. Our part is to answer the call to action that follows knowing the truth. Repentance is not just acknowledgment but an active return, paralleled by the loving actions of the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23 and the Parable of the Shepherd in Luke 15:1-7. This process of restoration is like slowly rebuilding a house, piece by piece—but faith and action must go hand in hand to see our lives fully restored. Jesus offers, both personally and universally a restoration process. He will ultimately restore everything, but He first restores His Bride—one by one. Finally, as Peter states in Acts 3:21, He will accomplish the “restoration of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began". The fulfillment of this prophetic promise will bring us (and the earth) to the comprehensive renewal and completion of God's plan for creation and humanity, culminating in Christ's return. But, there are many challenges to face before that great day. Peter and John face one of these great challenges in the next chapter of Acts.  Powerful preaching that day brought 5,000 people into the Kingdom, but it also landed Peter and John in jail.  Are we willing to take the same risks of bold preaching that these apostles took?