Acts 3:12-19 (NRSV)
Read Acts 3:12-19 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, "You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? Verse 13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. Verse 14But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, Verse 15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. Verse 16And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. Verse 17"And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. Verse 18In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Verse 19Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,
Devotion
Peter and John encounter a lame man who is healed in the name of Jesus. Peter’s response to those who witnessed the standing and walking of this man is placed in a question: “Why do you wonder at this? Why do you stare at us?” Certainly it was out of the ordinary. Certainly a healing of this sort didn’t happen every day. And a final question might be asked: “What did you do?” Peter’s response is our gift: It was not he nor John who made him walk. It was Jesus. His name itself has made this man strong.
I am walking the journey of chemotherapy with a long-time friend. Her cancer diagnosis was made within one month of feeling tired and nauseated. I am amazed at her physical strength as well as her strong faith as she prepares for and experiences her chemical treatments and returns home to rest. We pray for her healing in the name of Jesus.
Prayer
Healing Jesus, thank you for your presence that makes my ordinary life astonishingly extraordinary by knowing it is you who heals and it is you who are ever present with me each day. Amen.