Peter Heals a Lame Man (spark pp. 506-509)

Peter heals a lame man (spark pp. 506-510)

Did you know that even after Jesus returned to heaven, his disciples performed miracles?  Today, we’re talking about Peter and John as they continued to tell people about Jesus.

At three o’clock one afternoon, Peter and John were walking to the temple together to pray. As they walked (walk, walk, walk) they saw some people carrying a man who wouldn’t walk.  They carefully took him and placed in front of the beautiful temple gates so that he could beg.

In the time of the disciples, it was about all you could do as someone who couldn’t walk.  You couldn’t work, and so you had to ask for help to be able to buy food—and you could do this sitting outside of the temple.  So there he sat.

When Peter and John walked up to the gate, the may said “Would you please give me some money for food?”

Then what do you think happened?  Did Peter and John give him money?  Peter told the man, “Look, we don’t have any money either.”  And maybe this made the man a bit sad, or made him think it was time to just ask the next person.

But then something amazing happened. Peter said, “I have something else I can give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk!”  Peter grabbed the man’s hand and suddenly his feet and ankles grew strong.  He could stand.  He could walk! He would even RUN!!!

With a happy cry, the man started walk, leap, dancing, skipping and praising God!  He followed Peter and John into the temple, and he laughed and started shouting to others, “Look!  Look what God has done for me!  I can walk!” 

A crowd gathered—and they all started talking at once. “Isn’t this the man who sits outside the gate begging every day?  What happened to him?  How is he walking?  How has he been healed?”

Peter finally spoke up, loudly, to the surprised crowd “This man believes in Jesus and his faith made him strong.  Right in front of you he has been healed and made whole because he believed.”  The people were amazed.

What did you learn?  Jesus isn’t the only person who could heal others—those who believed in him and healed in his name could even make people who couldn’t walk, walk!