‘What I have I give you’ (Acts 3:1-10)

 ‘What I have I give you’

 

 

[Acts 3:1-10]

 

The article titled ‘True Gospel Evangelism [Sitting at the Lord's Feet Every Day]’ (Christigreen) questions what the best method of gospel evangelism is, one that can be consistently effective across all eras.  It raises queries such as ‘Is it through reform movements?  Short-term or long-term missions?  Turning the globe into a mission field?  Is it through life as a form of evangelism?  Is it through radio or television?’  It acknowledges that God has used all of these methods, sometimes employing quite dramatic means, to proclaim the gospel to the world.  However, the Bible does not particularly emphasize any of these methods as crucial in spreading the message that Jesus is the Son of God.  It goes on to suggest that the most powerful method of evangelism, one that can be consistently effective across all eras, is when the church comes together with one heart and one mind to form a community of love.  The article cites Christigreen, who states: ‘There are not many evangelism training booklets and lectures that mention united churches.  However, Jesus prayed for believers to be united.  This is because true fellowship, characterized by genuine love for one another, is unfamiliar to people in this world. Such unity will draw people's attention.  Have you experienced a gathering where the believers were of one heart and one soul?  If so, you will know that such a gathering acts like a magnet, drawing those around you.  Conversely, no one is attracted to a quarreling church.  Chronic disputes are a clear indication that Jesus is not acknowledged as Lord there.  The pure unity of saints is the best tool God has given us for gospel evangelism (Internet).

 

In Acts 2:42-47, we have already meditated on the church that “the Lord adds to their number daily those who were being saved” (v. 47).  We learned that this church was one that found favor with all the people (v. 47).  In other words, this early church was attractive even to the people of the world.  What was the characteristic of this early church that drew the hearts of all the people?  It was the way the saints came together with one heart and one mind, sharing joyfully and with sincerity, displaying love for one another.  As Mr. Yong-woo Choi said: ’Modern people are trapped in a state of spiritual panic, like hyenas wandering through the fields, feeling lonely and isolated with hearts that seem to be pierced.  The phenomenon that emerges from living a life pursuing only pleasure, materialism, and external convenience, having lost God, the One in whose image we were created, is one of self-destruction, mental illness, and rebellion.  What these modern people truly, genuinely desire in their hearts is warmth.  It's 'truth.  It's gentleness.  It's love.  The character of Jesus was gentle and humble.  Gentleness and humility can also be expressed as warmth, truth, gentleness, beauty, happiness, and love.  When a church is warm, truthful, gentle, beautiful, happy, and filled with love, people naturally gravitate toward such a place.  They can't help but go there.  However, if the church doesn't seem much different from their own spiritual state, how can modern people feel the power of the church?’ (Internet).

 

We, as members of the church, must become attractive saints.  Therefore, we must exert effort in evangelism.  In today's passage, Acts 3:1-10, we see the first miracle of Acts involving Peter and John encountering a man who had been lame from birth at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, healing him in the name of Jesus Christ when they went up to pray.  I would like to contemplate Acts 3:1-10 under the title "What I have, I give you," focusing on how we can give what we have.

 

First, to give what I have, I must pay attention to the needy souls.

 

Look at Acts 3:5 - "So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them."  In today's Scripture, we encounter a needy soul.  This man is the one referred to as the crippled man who was being carried to the temple gate (v. 2).  One day, at three in the afternoon (v. 1) when Peter and John were going up to the temple to pray, they encountered this man and he began to beg for money (v. 3).  When Peter and John looked at him and said, "Look at us!" (v. 4), the crippled man eagerly looked at them, expecting to receive something.  What was it that this crippled man was so eager for at this moment?  Our immediate response might be money.  What did a beggar like him want?  While this is a common-sense answer, we can find more solid evidence in the mention of the Beautiful Gate (v. 2) at which the crippled man was sitting and begging.  At that time, it is said that there were ten gates leading into the Jerusalem temple.  Among them, the one at which the crippled man sat and begged, known as the "Beautiful Gate," was the tenth gate, renowned for being adorned with silver and gold, and was commonly known as the Nicanor Gate (Yoo).  The man who was now sitting at this gate, begging Peter and John to allow him to enter the temple to pray, was in need of silver and gold. He was begging for money because he needed it.

 

There is a book written by Drs. Win and Charles Arn titled "The Master’s Plan for Making Disciples."  In this book, there is an interesting diagram that indicates when extended family members who do not believe in Jesus are most receptive to the Gospel.  Starting from the top of the diagram, here are a few items in sequence: the death of a spouse, divorce, separation, the death of a close family member, personal injury or illness, job loss, retirement, etc.  What these authors argue is that people in our lives experience "periods of transition" caused by recent events, and the more recent these transitional periods are, the more receptive they are to accepting a new life, such as in Christ or within the church.  If we approach and share the Gospel with our extended family members who we need to reach out to, especially those who are in a stable personal situation without any major problems or unusual disruptions, they generally have less receptivity to accepting a new life in Christ or in the church.  What we can consider here is the relationship between "intercessory prayer" and "transitional periods."  Just as Peter and John encountered the lame man begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple when they were going up to pray at 3:00 PM, among the people we are interceding for, there are particularly difficult and challenging individuals.  Among them, there may be people who, like the crippled man, come to church every Sunday in need of something.  Furthermore, there may be intercession targets who do not believe in Jesus.  We need to pay special attention to them and recognize their urgent need for the Gospel and love of Jesus.  Here, what does "paying attention" mean?  Look at verse 4: "And fixing his attention on them, with John, Peter said, 'Look at us.'"  This refers to intimate focus and contact between personalities.  True contact between personalities occurs in a scene where gazes meet and confront each other (Park).

 

We must pay attention to needy souls, especially those in transitional periods of life.  There must be intimate focus and contact between personalities when it comes to caring for them.

 

Second, in order to give what we have, we must be clear about what we don't have.

 

Look at Acts 3:6a – “Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, ….”  Peter clearly stated to the crippled man that he and John did not possess what the man was asking for.  How disappointing might this word have been to the beggar, who had been sitting and begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Jerusalem temple, known for being adorned with silver and gold?  It could have been a statement sufficient to discourage him.  We may wonder, 'How could Peter say such a thing?' 'Why didn't he show more pity for the beggar and instead abruptly state that he had no silver or gold?'  However, pretending to have something we don't is more likely to disappoint the other party.  Therefore, it is necessary to clearly state when something is not available according to the other person's request.

 

In an article from Donga.com titled ‘Let's Discard Only This... / Deep-rooted Hypocrisy,’ it is written: ‘Most people live in this world with various flaws that are usually hidden and supplemented by other strengths, gradually deviating from their true selves.  However, among the various deviations from the norm, there is something that can never be hidden.  It's what we call 'pretense.'  Pretense is also known as 'masking.'  Pretending to know when you don't, acting superior when you're inferior, pretending to have when you don't.  This 'pretense' is based on a relative sense of showmanship.  It belongs to a kind of social malady because it forcibly packages oneself and tries to present falsehood as truth. If you delve deeper into the essence of this 'pretense,' it is nothing more than vanity, ostentation, and illusion, and even exaggeration, extravagance, falsehood, and greed are included in this 'pretense.'  The cause of this malady lies in the fact that its content is not genuine (Internet).  Let's not pretend to have what we don't.  Let's be people who can plainly say when something is not available.  Let's not pretend to possess something we don't. 

 

Third and last, in order to give what we have, we must know what we possess.

 

Look at Acts 3:6 - " Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."  What should we give to the crippled man who begs for silver and gold?  I once had a conversation with Rev. Han, who studied at the Korean Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  One story he shared was about an exam question from a professor at the seminary.  The question was apparently simple yet profound: 'What do saints need the most?'  What do you think?  While individual saints may have different personal needs, from a spiritual perspective, it is a fact that the Word of God is what we all need the most.  From the perspective of the crippled man, gold and silver were what he needed the most, which is why he resorted to begging for them.  However, from the viewpoint of the apostles Peter and John, that wasn't the case.  In their eyes, what the lame man needed most wasn't gold or silver, but something more fundamental: the ability to walk.  Doesn't that make sense?  When Peter said, " Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you," he was referring to the ability to walk "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" (v. 6).  Here, what he meant by "what I have" was precisely the power to walk "in the name of Jesus Christ."  What's crucial here is the name Jesus Christ.  This name isn't some sort of magical incantation.  Just as a person's name represents their authority and influence, the name "Jesus" signifies His power.  And the authority of this name "Jesus" refers to the works done by the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus.

 

What is the remarkable significance of the name of Jesus?  The name of Jesus is the name by which we are saved.  Peter performed a miracle by using the name of Jesus to make the crippled man rise and walk.  And as they preached about Jesus Christ, the number of believers continued to grow.  At this point, the apostles were arrested by the leaders of the Jewish religion and brought to court.  They were asked, 'By what power or by what name did you do this?' (4:7).  In response, Peter boldly declared in verse 12, 'And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.'  Our salvation comes through the name of Jesus Christ.  There is no one but Jesus.  He alone is the exclusive path to salvation and our true hope.  Through Him, we receive salvation, obtain life, and live a fulfilled existence.  The name of Jesus is one that receives glory, honor, and praise.  In Hebrews 2:7, the Bible says, “You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor.”  However, to grasp this glory and honor, one must understand the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.  Because it was through the suffering and death on the cross that the name of Jesus Christ was exalted, and the glory and honor of God were revealed.  When trying to believe in Jesus Christ, you might wonder why such suffering is happening to you.  However, from the perspective of eternity, our trials are but momentary.  As Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”  At every fleeting moment of hardship and adversity, look to Jesus Christ, who was adorned with glory and honor.  The name of Jesus is a name that performs miracles.  In Acts 3:6, Peter and John boldly declared to the lame man sitting at the temple gate,” Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  The name of Jesus is not only the means through which eternal life is granted to us but also the powerful name that we can turn to in times of various hardships and difficulties in our lives.  The power of Jesus' name remains the same, whether then or now.  What changes is our faith.  We are people who possess this amazing name.  Just like Peter, when we proclaim in the name of Jesus Christ, God's wondrous works will also manifest in our lives.  May we not live a powerless and hopeless life but triumph in the name of Jesus Christ.

 

The first verse of the gospel song "Jesus," written by Jeong-mi Song, goes like this:

 

‘Leaving the highest and most exalted throne, abandoning the glory of heaven

Descending to seek us, the lowly and humble

God came down to meet each despairing soul, one by one

The Lord, who came down to meet us, His name is Jesus

Beautiful name, Jesus

Healing the sick, making the blind see, the power of His name

Oh, Jesus, oh, Jesus, His name endures forever

The Son of God, who raises the dead and wipes away every tear.’

 

We are individuals who bear the beautiful and eternal name "Jesus."  We are Christians.  Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we manifest the power of the name "Jesus."  When we pray in the name of Jesus, the power of prayer is revealed.  When we proclaim the gospel in the name of Jesus, spiritually dead souls accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, receiving new life.  We witness and hear of these miraculous transformations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

With a prayer for an even greater manifestation of the work of new life,

 

 

 

 

 

James Kim

(While praying for an even greater manifestation of the work of obtaining new life)