4:18 So they called
them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19
But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight
of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak
the things which we have seen and heard.” 21 So when they had further
threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of
the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. 22 For the man
was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

When I read the stories in the Bible I try and put myself in
the story. I try my best to place myself in the shoes of every person or at
least every perspective in the room. If I were Peter what thoughts and emotions
would I be experiencing at that moment. If I were a council member what would I
be thinking? If I were the lame man thrust into a conflict that isn't mine what
would I be thinking?
Today I'd like to look through the eyes of the lame man
watching this conflict he never signed up for. Think about what he has been through in less than 24 hours.
'Yesterday' he was brought to the temple by his family so he could collect some
spare change from the worshippers gong in and out of the temple. Did he believe
in God? Was he there because it was a good spot to beg? Did he have any hopes
or dreams at all of ever being healed? Had he heard stories of the carpenter
from Nazareth? Was that why his family had brought him here? Were they hoping
He might return and have mercy on this lame loved one of theirs?
This lame man, was he content with his life circumstance? Was
he bitter? Had he lost faith in God for leaving him like this or was his faith
still alive? 'Yesterday' those were the questions surrounding his life. 'Today'
everything is different. Today he is walking but in chains. Yesterday he was
restrained by a body that didn't work. Now he is restrained by the Church he
was raised by and taught to believe in. His crime? He was healed. Imagine the
emotional roller coaster he was on. Imagine the sense of "this can't be
happening".
Perhaps he well knew about the war between the Church and the
followers of the Carpenter. Perhaps he overheard the whispered conversations
that took place in the temple courtyard about the upheaval in Jerusalem between
the establishment and 'the followers of the Way'.
Now he has been thrust into the thick of it. He has new legs
but can't run. He has been freed from a broken body only to be trapped by a
hostile angry Church.
He has met a lot of people. He has seen a lot of faces.
Mostly he has seen faces that quickly turn and pretend they don't see him. What
he had never seen was the love and intensity in the eyes of Peter when Peter
said "Look at us."
That same intensity was still very much in him as the council
threatened him never to speak in His name again.
He watched in awe. He didn't fully understand what was
happening. He didn't know the Source of Peter's passion but he knew he wanted
to. He could write a book already with the stories Peter and John had shared
with him in the prison the night before about this man they called Jesus. He
knew whatever happened today his life would never be the same. He also knew
that no matter what this angry desperate council did there was no way Peter was
going to stop. That much was obvious.
"Jesus. There is just something about that Name and I
want to find out so much more. No matter what my Church says I will follow
wherever His Name leads me. He gave me my legs and I will give Him my life."
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