More Jesus

Sep 7, 2021

"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.'"

- St. Peter, Acts 3:6

"As much money as you could want! The one thing most human beings would choose above all - the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them."

- Harry Potter, The Sorcerer's Stone

"If only I had more money, then I would be much happier." I wonder if you've had that thought run through your head as often as it has through mine. Not long ago, I was talking to a friend about a mutual acquaintance who has been blessed with extraordinary wealth after a very very successful career. She lives in a breath-taking home overlooking the cliffs at Del Mar… owns her own personal jet… flies to exotic locations all over the world… and when my friend told me that she had just purchased two new Land Rovers I said, "Wow! I love those cars… how cool is it that when she could not decide which one to buy, she decided to buy them both!"

My friend replied, "Yes… but is she happy?"

I laughed and said, "Duh! Wouldn't you be? I mean, even if I was unhappy… I'd be happier being unhappy in a Land Rover than in a Ford!"

"You need to remember," my moralistic friend said, "what Howard Hughes said when he was asked, 'How much money do you need to be happy?' He said, 'Just a little bit more.'"

Today, in Acts 3, Doctor Luke introduces us to a fella who truly believed, "If I only had more money my life would be better." As it turns out, what he really needed was not more money… but more Jesus.

The story opens with Peter and John going to the Temple to pray. It's 3:00 in the afternoon. As they walk through the gate called, "Beautiful," they notice a man laying on a mat asking for spare change. What an interesting contrast between the condition of this man and the name of the gate where he lay… because, you see, he was lame, his legs were deformed. Just recently, Candace and I experienced the thrill of watching our grandchildren walk for the first time… What joy! Neither this man, nor his parents, had ever experienced that moment.

Scholars believe this man was probably in his 40's, which means that for at least 30 years he had been carried to this gate by family or friends and placed on a mat to beg all day long. I did the math… if you assume this man asked for money once every 5 minutes then he's asked for spare change over a million times. And obviously, most of the time, he was rejected or ignored… people would not make eye contact with him. I know… because I tend to do that myself.

Which is why I was personally convicted by what Peter did. It says, "...he looked at him intently"... that is, he made eye contact with him… he did not ignore him. He looked him in the eye and said, "Look at us!" (v.4) So, this man looks up, into the eyes of Peter and John… and expects what? He expects what he's expected for the last 30 years… money… and maybe a lot of money… because this man has given up on what he wanted most a long long time ago. He gave up his dream of walking as soon as he saw the crookedness of his legs… and so he settled for money instead. So, looking up, he hears Peter say, "I have no silver or gold,"... and he thinks, "Oh great, now comes the sermon… now comes the positive attitude lecture… now comes the sin I committed that put me in this condition"... but what he feels is immediate disappointment! "Silver and gold is what I need most! That puts food on my table. And what am I gonna get… advice?" But because he is a captive audience, he prepares his heart for the worst, as Peter says,

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!

- Acts 3:5

Doctor Luke tells us that Peter grabs him by the hand and pulls him to his feet.

Unbelievably… there is this sudden, immediate, strange warmth that surges through his legs… straightening… strengthening… energizing… and then… unsupported, he stands… upright! And what his parents never saw… what he never felt… what he had given up on ever happening… happened!

The Scriptures say that he didn't just walk. I mean he's got 40 years of lying around pent up inside of him… so he leaps and he jumps and he runs… he boogies all around the temple grounds! He expected the worst. In the name of Jesus, he experienced the best! And here's why… because Peter was consumed by this burning conviction that the main thing he had to offer another human being is not silver or gold. The main thing he has to offer another human being is Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

Ok… you and I are surrounded by people who are in varying degrees of need. Some need a little… some are desperate for a lot. As you pass by them… even though they have been in this condition for a long time… even though they may have long ago given up on their dream… even though they may think they know what they need…

...maybe they're single and think they need to get married (ohhhh boy… not!)...

...maybe they're depressed and think they need more medication (which may be true, but you are not a doctor)...

...maybe they've been trying to get pregnant and cannot… so they're giving up hope...

...maybe they're sick and tired of financial stress and the pressure it creates on their marriage...

...maybe they've never had good health, and the chronic battle with pain has worn them out...

...maybe they just believe they are the captain of their souls and they can determine their destiny, but it's not happening...

...maybe they've lost a loved one and so their dream of enjoying retirement together has vanished...

Here's the lesson: The main thing you have to offer them is not silver or gold… it's Jesus! Look them in the eye… listen to them… and while you acknowledge that they have needs… huge needs… and even though they need many things… the first thing they need, the most important thing they need, is Jesus! Jesus has a solution for every problem. He has strength for every storm. He has grace for every failure. He has hope for every disappointment! People don't need more money… they need more Jesus! Hey… someone stopped when you laid at a gate called, "Beautiful" in a deplorable condition… they did not ignore you… they looked you in the eye and said… "I can't give you what you say you want, but I can give you what you need… Jesus! He loves you! He is the Risen Lord who came from heaven just to be with you and to help you!"