Jesus’ 120 disciples (1.15) and all the new Christians in Jerusalem met at the Temple in the months that followed the giving of the Holy Spirit. The Temple had wide porticos (covered porches) where large crowds could gather. It was here, in Solomon’s portico, that the believers met to listen to the apostles’ teaching entrusted to them by Jesus. They met there daily to devote themselves (2.42) to this teaching which laid the foundations of their faith. They had new lives and they needed to know how to live them – how it would work out to depend on Jesus Christ daily, even though they could not see him with natural vision. The Temple porch was the venue for their public meetings and prayer. The believers were also organised into home meetings, where they ate together, shared fellowship, worshiped and made sure that everyone’s needs were met (2.42-47). There was an overflowing of praise and a strong sense of expectation among the hundreds and hundreds of people putting their faith in the risen Christ.
One afternoon, as Peter and John were entering one of the massive gateways to the Temple (the gate called Beautiful) an encounter with a disabled man created a stunning opportunity for the people of the city to learn that Jesus of Nazareth – recently crucified - was alive and calling them to be reconciled to God.
The man, in his 40s, was carried by some friends or family members and deposited at a spot by the big gate where he could beg money from the large crowds of people who flocked into the Temple for the Jewish prayer times. This man had a congenital deformity and had never walked. It was his daily routine to take up his position and hope for some small change from those who pitied him; he depended on that money for life. Among those going through, were Peter and John. He asked them for cash.
At that moment, both Peter and John realised that Jesus had something for that man. They stopped and made a deliberate connection with the man – not the usual casual toss of a few coins in his direction that he was used to. They looked hard at him and told him to pay attention, which he did, expecting that some money was about to come his way! Peter told him that although they were not going to give him money, they had something much better to give. With that, he told him to get up and walk because it was the will of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to restore him. Peter reached out and hauled him to his feet, while at that very moment his twisted and locked ankles loosened up, the muscles, tendons and bones were restored and he bounded onto his feet for the first time ever. (Isaiah 35.6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer). He walked, then hopped and leapt about praising God, drawing a stunned audience; for they knew him as the man crippled from birth. Wonder and amazement spread among the crowd. They were confronted with indisputable miraculous power and were eager for an explanation. And Peter would give it.
This event was further evidence that Jesus Christ was continuing all that he began to do and teach (1.1) when he was physically present with his disciples in Israel. Church is not an activity done by Christians in memory of Jesus. Church is the body of Christ, enlivened by Jesus himself through the giving of the Holy Spirit to all its genuine members. Church is followers of Jesus, devoted to his teaching, devoted to sharing their lives for the good of each other, devoted to worship and prayer and eager to welcome in all those who the Lord will add to his church. Church is Christians expecting Jesus to do his rescuing of lives through them (just as Peter and John were open to Jesus’ decision to heal the lame man at the gate). Church is Christians confident that Jesus works with authority and with gracious saving influence through them. Church is Christians noticing and coming in beside the works that Jesus is doing in the world around them. Church is us teaching and declaring from the Bible, the meaning of what God is doing in the world. Church is what Jesus does and what we participate in.
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