October 27, 2013
Scripture:
Let’s turn to Exodus 15:1 & 2. The Children of Israel have just been redeemed out of Egypt and we find them able to sing here. Well might we sing and praise Him for what He has done for us.
Hymn 139 – What can wash away my sins
Prayer
We have been going through the parables that Jesus told. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Today’s parable comes in the middle of a story. We will call this parable The Two Debtors. A debtor is one that owes another person money. If Sarah lends me twenty dollars, I am then a debtor to Sarah.
Luke 7:40 - 50
The Pharisees’ were people that believed that they needed to obey the law strictly. They even had extra laws and this made them feel even better. A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to have dinner at his house. While eating dinner, a woman came to Simon’s house. This woman was well known in the city for the sinful things that she did. She came into the house and started to weep at Jesus’ feet. Her tears fell on his feet and she wiped them off with her hair. She kissed them and anointed them with ointment. Simon thought that if Jesus had known what kind of woman this was, he wouldn’t have allowed her to touch him.
Jesus then went on to tell Simon the parable of the two debtors. There were two men that owed a certain man money. The only difference between the two men was the amount that they each owed. To make it simple, we could say that one owed $50 and the other $500. These two men couldn’t pay their debts. They were both forgiven of their debts. Which man do you think would have loved the creditor better? I believe it was the man that owed $500. Jesus told this to Simon, so that he would see that he and the woman were just like the two debtors. He knew what the woman had done and what she was doing was the affection that flowed from the great forgiveness she had been granted. Also, from this, Simon learned that Jesus knew his thoughts.
When God forgives he forgives frankly (without hesitation), freely (without cost), and fully (without limit). In 1 John we get, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Acts 3
Chapter two of Acts gave us the first day of the present church period. We can see by their actions and Peter’s sermon that Christ was the centre of all that they did.
Chapter three of Acts continues what we got in chapter two, and we can see the apostles working with the power they were given. Their power was from on high. They were given boldness and entered into the work of Christ, trying to honour the Lord.
They were in the church period, but they were in Jerusalem, and still had a lot to do with the temple and other Jewish things. Thus we have Peter and John going to the temple at the hour of prayer. At the temple, at the gate Beautiful, Peter and John met a man who was lame from his birth. Chapter four tells us that this man was above forty, the number that represents a full time of testing, but he was still lame. He’s a picture of man: born lame, unable to walk for the Lord. This man was laid at the gate each day, looking for a handout. It was a pathetic situation.
Peter and John made a good pair. Their personalities complemented each other: what Peter didn’t have, John supplied, and what John didn’t have, Peter supplied. It’s a reminder to us that we are not complete in ourselves.
The Lord must have seen this lame man during His lifetime, but He chose not to heal him, leaving it for Peter and John to do here. The man, however, didn’t know what to ask for. He only asked for something so that he could maintain himself in his infirmity. He had something so much better coming!
Peter told this man, “Look at us.” The man did, thinking that they would give him something. Peter told him, “I don’t have silver or gold, but I do have something else. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Peter gave him a hand, the man’s feet and ankle bones received strength, and he leaped and walked.
This man asked for one thing, but got something so much better. Often we ask God for something, and He gives us something different than what we asked for, but it’s so much better. It’s like the woman in John four, who came looking for water and left with living water.
Not only was this healing an amazing miracle, but it was also a great testimony. This man had been lame for over forty years. This miracle made a great change in him, just as a new convert should show great change in his life. This man knew where his healing came from and praised God. What a testimony!
This man was like the one born blind in the gospels. The disciples asked the Lord, “Who sinned, this man, or his parents that he was born blind?” Jesus told them, “Nobody sinned, this man is like this to demonstrate God’s grace.” It’s like the very first sin in the garden. God could have prevented it, but that wouldn’t have served His purposes. He wanted to show that He can take lame beggars and turn them into walking, leaping, and praising people.
In Acts 2:22, Peter tells us that Jesus did miracles, wonders, and signs. V43 tells us that the apostles also did signs and wonders. Here in our chapter, we see that the people were amazed by such displays of power.
There was a sermon that accompanied this miracle. V.12. There was a lot of work to be done with the Jews, and they would identify with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We can be thankful that their God is our God! Vv.13-15. Jesus was the Holy One and the Just, yet these people preferred a murderer to Him, and killed the Prince of Life.
Peter’s sermon was powerful, meant to shake those that crucified Jesus. It affected those who cried out for His crucifixion, and it also affected those that worked for it. We’ll see next time how the rulers imprisoned these men.
Hymn 95 – I have a glorious Saviour
Prayer