The First Miracle

Acts--The Gospel in the City PART V
6 January 2013
Dr. Timothy Keller

Acts 3:2-8, 13-23
2Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.  3When he saw Peter and John about the enter, he asked them for money.  4Peter looked straight at him as did John.  Then Peter said, "Look at us!"  5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6Then 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."  7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.  8He jumped to his feet and began to walk.  Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus.  You handed him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.  14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.  15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.  We are witnesses of this.  16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong.  It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you all can see.

17Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.  18But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer.  19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus.  21He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.  22For Moses siad, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.  23Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'

MIRACLES POINT UPWARDS
--Done in the name of Jesus and points to Him in heaven.

MIRACLES POINT FORWARD
--Miracles alleviate human suffering--not glorifying the miracle do-er.
--Miracles point to a future where Jesus restores everything.
--Originally, in Eden, there was no suffering.
--Joy form v.8 connects to Isaiah 35 in the restoration of Eden.

MIRACLES POINT INWARDS
--We are parlyzed with self-centeredness.
--Our main sins are not any physical defects.
--We need to repent and look inwards before anything else.

MIRACLES POINT DOWNWARDS
--Christ suffers unlike most "heroic" figures.
--People that perform miracles are thrown in jail.
--Power of God comes into the world through weakness as a mortal Jesus.
--Power of God comes into life through repentence and sacrificing control.