David Bahn – Reflections

All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. ¹⁰ When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! ¹¹ They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

¹² Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? ¹³ For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. ¹⁴ You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. ¹⁵ You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

¹⁶ “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes. – Acts 3:9-16

I recently participated in a visioning and focus group process in behalf of Concordia University Texas. This school is beautifully located on a 389-acre tract in Northwest Austin, four miles east of Lake Travis. The university dedicated approximately 250 acres of its campus as a nature and wildlife preserve as part of a conservation easement with Travis County. It is a stunningly unique campus, occupying what was once a significant location for Schlumberger Oil Services Company.

More important to me, however, is the mission of Concordia, “Developing Christian Leaders.” During the presentations today we heard a question that they want all their students to consider: Where are you going and who is going with you? That’s a great question on so many levels.

It helps, first of all to know where you are going in life. Are you heading toward a worthy pursuit? Are you in the lane to which God has assigned you? Are you pursuing dreams and goals in line with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you on a good path?

The second question is also very important for it reveals an often-overlooked reality, and offers an often-neglected reminder. We don’t go it alone in life – at least not if we’re going the way God designed us to live. In the very beginning – even before the fall into sin – God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” That applies especially to marriage. But it is echoed in the practice of Jesus when it comes to living on purpose (mission). He sent his disciples two-by-two. A friend can help us when we fall, or better yet a friend can help us avoid pitfalls and dangers along the way. Who is going with you as you go? 

Yet another aspect of this question has to do with a purposeful attitude toward life that says, I’m not only not going alone, I’m going with someone who is with me in the journey as a partner in mission. In other words not only are we not to go alone, we are to go purposefully together. Encouraging each other, helping each other. Perhaps teaching at times, and at other times learning. Sometimes holding another up. Sometimes having our heads held above water.

When the people discover the now-healed beggar they discover him clinging tightly to Peter and John. He was surely thankful to them for his healing. But he clung to them no doubt for his safety as well. I’m not certain he knew where he was going. But he wasn’t going anywhere at this time without Peter and John.

Where are you going? Who is going with you as you go? 

All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. ¹⁰ When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! ¹¹ They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

¹² Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? ¹³ For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. ¹⁴ You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. ¹⁵ You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

¹⁶ “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes. – Acts 3:9-16

When was the last time you’ve been amazed? Was it a stunning performance on America’s Got Talent? Was it the incredible blast of Jose Altuve into the third level of seats at Minute Maid Park? Was it your granddaughter’s ability to read – even before she “graduated” from kindergarten? Those are amazing and delightful things to experience to be sure.

But when I hear of a remarkable healing or a apparent change of heart I sometimes wonder. Is it real, fake, or just a fluke? Rather than being amazed when I see healings, life changes, or other miracles, I’m too often skeptical. How about you?

The amazement of the people who saw this once-lame beggar now healed and praising God was key to an encounter with God’s word, and an opportunity to repent and believe. Their amazement opened a door for Peter to put their false-assumptions to rest, and point them to Jesus. Rather than thinking of Peter and John as superstars they were to recognize Jesus as God’s Messiah and their Savior.

I am not in favor of falling for any and all amazing feets paraded before our eyes. But we do well to take heed when a life is changed, a disease is healed, or a relationship rift is healed.  These are all the work of God. Truly there are charlatans, con artists, and false prophets. But the scheisters do not negate the true work of God any more than a counterfeit bill negates the value of a real dollar bill. Too many counterfeits make you skeptical to be sure. But don’t miss the real thing just because there are those who are making a name for themselves.

Who knows? God may have something to say to you around those miraculous signs!

“Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets. Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.’ Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God’s people.’

“Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today. You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.” – Acts 3:17-26

Refreshed! Can you recall the last time you’ve felt truly refreshed? It may be following a particularly good vacation. It may be after a shower at the end of a end of a good workout. Could be just a really good night’s sleep. Sometimes, however, these simple things are hard to come by. And the refreshment they bring are all too fleeting. Whether it’s struggling to get a good night’s sleep, the lack of any kind of workout, or the reality of stressful vacations: true refreshment is all too allusive.

You might remember the Coca Cola claim that Coke was the pause that refreshes. Perhaps you have enjoyed your share of refreshing Coca Cola over the years. You’ve cherished break time, and really enjoyed being able to have some down time during the day. Those are great memories for me…in years gone by.

But God offers a greater, more far-reaching and longer-lasting refreshment through repentance, and the presence of Jesus in our lives: Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. 

True, lasting, and pure refreshment comes to those who give up pursuit of false treasures, and fake riches. They rest in the presence, mercy, goodness, and grace of God. True refreshment comes when we are shaped by the word of God, the truth of Scripture, and the values of godliness.

I notice that the promise is for “times” of refreshment. This is not a one-time deal. We sin daily and continually need God’s mercy and forgiving grace. That’s why we repent daily. Times of refreshment come when we daily repent of our sins and turn away from the devil and seek Jesus’ refreshing presence. Repentance and faith are the essential ingredients of the pause that truly refreshes.

“Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets. Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.’ Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God’s people.’

“Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today. You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.” – Acts 3:17-26

I recall distinctly a feeling of visceral fear when I read C.F.W. Walther’s The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel. In that book Walther lays bare the soul’s need for mercy and forgiveness. He does such a great job of it that I nearly despaired of God’s grace. I had serious doubts about my salvation!

The great relief came to me in the words of my professor who assigned the book. “Gentlemen,” he said, “I sense that Walther really knew the people who would read this book.” My professor’s comment revealed a place for me to stand with my beloved prof: at the foot of the cross. That is the only place of true comfort and security before God who knows our every thought, word, and deed.

The place of grave insecurity is in the spotlight of our own godliness. We have no standing if we try to stand on our righteousness. That’s why the promises of God are so precious to sinners and so inconsequential to self-righteous folks.

Self-righteous folks condemned Jesus. Self-righteous folks believe they have no need for a Savior. Self-righteous folks offer themselves to God as though that’s quite a gift. Self-righteous folks look down on those who call others to repentance and faith in Jesus. Self-righteous folks ignore the true message of the Bible, never fear God’s judgment, and hold themselves up as the example of true godliness, and dishonor the Son of God who is the full manifestation of the righteousness of God.

If you look to God’s word for justification of yourself, your life, your pet hobby horse, you will all too likely overlook your need for God’s justification, his mercy, and his faithfulness.

If you look to God’s word for his promises, his goodness, his faithfulness, his mercy – all within the context of truth, holiness, and justice, you will find Jesus on the cross, Laos in the tomb, and raised from the dead. Then you will find your true place in the covenant promises of God.

All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

“Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes. – Acts 3:9-16

I recall perhaps five sermons out of the 250 or more that I heard while in seminary. Three years of attending chapel services offered opportunity to hear many sermons. Most were edifying at the time. Many were very well delivered and right on target. But five stick with me even today, more than 40 years later.

The salvo-return-salvo delivered between two professors, making their points about the book of Isaiah as a single work of one prophet. I count this as two sermons.

The message following those two in which the professor told us over and over, “Every Christian Counts” based on 1 Corinthians 12.

The message near Christmas time when one professor suggested that inviting Jesus to your Christmas parties really missed the point of the season. Jesus invites people to His party!

I was reminded of the fifth sermon when I read again this passage in which Peter charges the people of handing over and rejecting Jesus, rejecting “this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer.” The message I recalled had some lines like that then said, “We would never do that…” Perhaps it was even, “We don’t do that…do we?” The point: we do the same thing even though we would like to deny it.

I have a little trouble truly taking that to heart. I have no illusion of sinlessness in my life. I am deeply aware of my need for God’s mercy and forgiveness. I know I have sinned in thought, word, and deed. I realize my sin is my fault, my own most grievous fault, mine and not another’s fault. But I have trouble believing that I drove the nails into Jesus’ hands and feet. I have trouble taking to heart that I asked for a murderer to be spared in place of Jesus.

Truly, however, the whole issue is a difference without a distinction. You see, however we may sin, we add to the weight of sin Jesus carried on the cross. The wages of sin is death. And while it is true that some sins have a far greater impact, and weigh far heavier on our hearts than others, any sin separates us from God. Any. Sin. Kills.

We may be able to point to certain sins we have not committed outwardly. But none of us can escape our need for the Savior who died for our sins. Thanks be to God that he has offered his Son and redeemed us. Whenever we catch a glimpse of his healing mercies we rightly join the once-lame-man, walking, jumping, and praising God. Surely we can claim to do that just like he did.

All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. ¹⁰ When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! ¹¹ They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

¹² Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? ¹³ For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. ¹⁴ You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. ¹⁵ You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

¹⁶ “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes. – Acts 3:9-16

Perhaps you have discovered – as I have – that the anticipation of a great event is sometimes more fun and enjoyable than the event itself. You’re planning a wonderful vacation. You dream of the places you’ll see. You imagine the foods you’ll enjoy. You dream of the evening walks, the sunsets or sunrises, the mountain vistas or the ocean views. You can almost smell the leisurely breakfasts and taste the evening glass of wine.

The event comes along, and it’s great. Almost everything you imagined proved to be true. The food, sights, experiences are wonderful. But it seems that the event itself fades all too quickly. You can imagine and plan for weeks – perhaps even months. But the trip is over in 2 weeks – if you’re lucky. Now what? Back to work. Reality sets in. Bills to pay. Lawn to mow. Appointments to keep.

The people of the Old Testament looked forward to God’s ultimate deliverance for centuries. Fifteen hundred years before Jesus was born Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. From the moment that God first promised a Savior and for centuries thereafter the people waited. When would he come? How would he prevail? What would his reign look like?

Then Jesus comes. Little of what they expected came to pass. He was not the kind of king they expected. His apparent end was death by the cruelest form of Roman execution. But then he rose from the dead. He was alive. God vindicated him for his faithfulness, perfect obedience, and sacrificial love. Now he is exalted to the right hand of God. This is what had actually been promised. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all those who spoke for God pointed people toward this Jesus. He has come. He has fulfilled the promises of God.

This is one case where the wait was worth it. There was no disappointment once Jesus was fully vindicated. Even now we wait for the final consummation of God’s promises and kingdom. He will do as he has promises. From a human standpoint he has done the most difficult part. Soon will come the full and eternal experience of God’s faithfulness and promises. All the anticipation and preparations we are making will be fully realized. But the new will not wear off. The glory will not fade. The joy will not go away.

We have a picture of that reality in the healing of the lame beggar. We will have the full experience of it when Jesus returns on the Great Last Day. It will be worth the wait.

All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

Peter Preaches in the Temple

Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

“Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes. – Acts 3:9-16

The Christian walk has been described by Eugene Peterson as a long obedience in the same direction. John Baillie prays about our Christian walk this way:

O you who were, and are, and are to come, I thank you that this Christian way in which I walk is no untried or uncharted road, but a road beaten hard by the footsteps of saints, apostles, prophets and martyrs. I thank you for the sign-posts and danger-signals with which it is marked at every turn and which may be known to me through the study of the Bible, and of all history, and of all the great literature of the world.

Most often we think of these truths in terms of our obedience, faithfulness, and dedication. Indeed the example of others should inspire us. We should also seek to leave a legacy of faithfulness that others may wish to follow. There are times when we must remain faithful – even against temptations and hardships we endure along that path of faithful obedience.

But as Peter speaks to the people on this occasion, he speaks of God’s faithfulness and his long-term plan and purpose to redeem and save his people. This was worked out in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, our Savior. God brought glory to Jesus by raising him from the dead, and by healing this man in Jesus’ name.

Just as Peter and John could testify to the death and resurrection of Jesus – they were eye-witnesses after all – so now these people were seeing in bold relief the power of God. The man who was healed in Jesus’ name was standing before their very eyes.

There may be those who dismiss this witness to Jesus. They could dismiss this as people trying to sustain and support their own beliefs. They could be saying Jesus did this in order to gain popularity or fame. But there is no good reason that would sustain that idea. Peter and John had nothing to gain by crediting Jesus – unless Jesus really was the One who healed the man – which is exactly what they claim.

One other thought: Jesus deserves all the honor we could ever give him. He is worthy of our faithful witness.

All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. ¹⁰ When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! ¹¹ They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

¹² Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? ¹³ For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. ¹⁴ You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. ¹⁵ You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

¹⁶ “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes. – Acts 3:9-16

Perhaps you remember the scene in the Indiana Jones movie where Indiana must walk across a chasm in order to save the day (or his own skin!). There is no bridge visible, but he must take the first step of faith. As he puts his foot out and down into thin air a solid bridge materializes under his feet. He takes another step. More bridge appears. And so it goes: believing makes it so.

Some people have that view of faith. The Bible does, after all, describe faith as “the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.” That truth does not translate, however, to bridges materializing under our feet when it comes to biblical, Christian faith. That faith is founded on God’s promise, secured by Jesus’ death and resurrection, and attested to in the Bible.

The impact of that faith is also attested to in these verses. We see how God acts in mighty and unanticipated ways in the healing of this man. We see how God changes his life. The man who once begged for daily sustenance now praises God for far more than a few alms. He can walk!

I am intrigued by the phrase, “Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.” The ESV has this verse: “And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.”

Jesus is the source of perfect healing and complete restoration. This is not something we make happen by our hard-fought belief. This is something we discover as we exercise our Holy Spirit-given faith. Another way to put it: Faith does not cause one to be healed. Faith discovers the healing to have been a gift from God. 

A strong net will catch even the greatest doubter when he falls. But a weak net will fail the one whose faith is stronger than Abraham’s. The strength of our faith is that in which we put our faith. Faith put in the name of Jesus will never disappoint. It will discover perfect healing and complete restoration in his name.

All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. ¹⁰ When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! ¹¹ They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

¹² Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? ¹³ For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. ¹⁴ You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. ¹⁵ You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!

¹⁶ “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes. – Acts 3:9-16 [NLT]

Do you enjoy asking questions? Are you good at it? I love to ask questions. It’s an art that I’ve sought to develop over the years. Some say I’m pretty good at it. Questions can probe a false belief to test it’s strength. Questions can frame a discussion for one purpose or another. It may be an overreach to say that there is no such thing as an unbiased question. But most questions carry with them a motive or bias of understanding and intent.

Peter asks a question here that is on my list of the top ten questions in the Bible. Peter asks, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?” While it is actually two questions the two are related, and the follow-up tells us of his motive for asking the first.

The answer to the first question is obvious to me. I’d say, “Because this guy was lame and constantly begging for money. Now he’s healed and praising God! This is unusual.” I’d be tempted to add, “Duh!” But Peter doesn’t really want an answer to the first question. He is more interested in engaging the people to think about the second question. He asks, in effect, “Do you think we did this?”

While they may be ready to deny Peter’s ability to perform such a miracle, they’re not necessarily really ready for the alternative. No, Peter and John didn’t do this. God did it. Jesus’ name, and faith in him were the instruments of miraculous healing. Jesus is at work and he wants his work to impact the lives of healed lame men and also those who hear of that healing, and see the man now healed and walking. So Peter asks the question to engage them in that discovery.

What question would Peter ask you? What would God want to reveal in your heart, your faith, and your world view? Is there something you might reexamine, reconsider, and  repent of? That’s between you and the Holy Spirit. But for now, I do leave you with the question: “Do these words stir something in you that needs your attention and God’s grace?

Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. ² As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

⁴ Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. ⁶ But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

⁷ Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. ⁸ He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

⁹ All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. ¹⁰ When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! – Acts 3:1-10

Do you ever drive up to a beggar on the street corner and look away? Or do you look them in the eyes? I’ve noticed that many people will look away. They won’t engage. Sometimes, however, I’ve noticed the person on the street corner won’t look at me – even when I’m trying to engage him, or catch his eye. He will look past me, or have the 1000-yard-stare going.

Not Peter and this man. Peter looks directly at him. He is not going to avoid this one. He is not trying to figure out how to get out of this awkward situation. But Peter not only looks the man in the eye, he demands of the man, “Look at us.”

Some say that a coincidence is an event in which God wants to remain anonymous. Perhaps. But there is something very specific going on here. Jesus has ascended to the right hand of God. He has poured out the Holy Spirit. He is seated at the right hand of God on high. The rule and reign of God is at hand. Peter is about to introduce the man to the King of kings and the King of kings to the man. Things are going to change.

This is no accidental encounter. This is a divine appointment and Peter is not going to let that escape the notice of the beggar in the temple. He wants to connect. Man to man. Mano e mano. But this is no stare down. This isn’t a flinching contest. This is no game of chicken.

Next time you see a homeless person at the side of the road, if you have a McDonald’s or Chick-Fil-A gift card (for example), hand it to him. Look him in the eye. For that look in the eye, and that solid connection may be the catalyst for something far better than the gift card. The currency of true riches from Jesus is grace, love, respect, and kindness. It can all start with a look in the eyes.