0403 WHAT I HAVE I GIVE

WHAT I HAVE I GIVE 

Peter and John were on their way to the temple, because it was about 3:00 in the afternoon—the hour of prayer. There were three hours of prayer each day—sunrise, mid-afternoon and sunset. The prayers mostly consisted of a series of memorized prayers, each of which opened and closed with blessing God for one of his actions or attributes. 

One of those prayers said this: “Heal us, Adonai, and we shall be healed. Save us and we shall be saved. For You are our praise. Bring complete healing for all of our ailments because God, King, a faithful and compassionate healer are you. Blessed are you, Lord who heals the sick of his people Israel.”

The words were prayed every day, and devout Jews truly meant the words. Peter and John were on their way to say that very prayer. And yet, there was this man just outside the gate, begging for alms from those who prayed for his healing. But he had been paralyzed from birth, and nothing had ever changed. Not even Jesus the Nazarene stopped to heal him. The man, no doubt, had wondered over and over, had he sinned, or had his parents, to make him paralyzed from birth. But there was no answer, no healing, no hint that God saw and knew and cared and had the power to heal him. He likely had become a skeptic after so many years of being ignored. Bitter toward the God who mocked the man’s suffering through His silence.

It was worse when he met a joyous man about a year before. The man said that he had been born blind, and the disciples had asked Jesus whether he had sinned, or his parents had sinned, in order to make him blind from birth. But Jesus had said it was neither. Said that he was blind for the glory of God. And then Jesus healed him, right then and there.

Why him and not me? Why is God ignoring my cries for help? But God was not ignoring this man. And the man was about to discover just how much the God of Abraham was aware of his condition. 

He caught Peter’s eye and then turned his gaze downward, according to custom, as he stuck out his palm and he asked for an alm. And this is what Peter did say: 

“Look at us!” 

Before Peter said his famous line, he declared this command. He was saying, Don’t miss this! Don’t think that you have reached the end. Pay careful attention to what I’m about to say, because the very way that you think about God, and your relationship to him, is about to explode. Are you watching? Here it comes:

“Silver and gold have I none.”

So far, that sounds like an excuse for ignoring the man’s request. But it was true. He had no money. But Peter did hold something far greater than what money could buy.

“But such as I have give I thee.”

What a challenge for we who follow Christ today. I have no money, but I will give you what I have. I would expect something like, “God bless you” or “Have this stick of gum from my pocket” or “Here’s a pamphlet explaining how Jesus wants you to change your wicked ways” or “Come and drag yourself to the hour of prayer and we’ll tell you how to be truly happy.” But Peter has something far more valuable to offer. He is saying, I am not being selfish or greedy. I genuinely have no money. But I can tell that your needs go far beyond what a small coin or two will cure. So, I will give you what I DO have:

“In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I say to you, get up and walk.”

Then Peter reaches out his arm and extends his strong right hand to help the man to his feet. And, just like that, the man’s world is turned upside down.

He is healed instantly, and sees that God really DOES care for Him. So the man is walking and leaping and praising God, and he continues to cling to Peter and John as they make their way to the temple as planned. But this trip to the temple does not draw attention away from the prayers! No, it actually helps to guide the pray-ers themselves, creating a physical and intellectual answer to their prayers.

Soon, we are going to see how the believers were all together and shared everything in common. We are going to see how the world responded to them, saying behold how they love one another. We will see them sell property and give that money to the group, to be distributed to those in need. We will see them share food together from house to house, with glad and sincere hearts, and distribute the food daily to those who are in need. And the Lord adding daily to their numbers those who were being saved.

Perhaps our church is not growing like the early church, with the corps of believers being of one heart and mind, because we are not being as radically committed to one another.

Generosity. Hospitality. That’s what marked the early church. May it mark the church again today. Amen.