The Proof is in the Pudding!

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate,though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By 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 completely healed him, as you can all see.
This story comes right after Peter saw a beggar who was lame from birth and says to him, "Silver and gold I do not have, but in the name of Jesus get up and walk." And Jesus took him by the right hand and the man jumped up was healed and started praising God.  The people stood in amazement when they realized this is the man who had sat at the gate begging his whole life.  
So Peter asks them why this is so surprising?  I guess they had grown so used to God not showing up anymore that when he did, they were surprised.  Peter is quick to add that it was not by his own power that he pulled the guy up to his feet so he could walk for the first time in his life. Then, he goes on to say that the power came from God, the God of their forefathers Abraham, Issac and Jacob.  The same God who sent prophets out to foretell of the one day the Messiah would come to restore all of Israel.  These are the prophet they ignored so when Jesus the Messiah came they killed him, releasing a known murderer instead. 
But more than just lay a major guilt trip on them, Peter points out that it is in Jesus' name that this man was healed.  Peter, like Jesus, has a heart for his fellow Jews.  Peter is doing the same things that Jesus did as proof that Jesus had really risen from the dead. Soon thereafter, the Jewish leaders will come and arrest Peter and John, yet the numbers of those who believed in their message swelled to 5,000.  
You often hear the saying the "proof is in the pudding".  The proof in the pudding for the message that Peter gave was the power that came through him to heal this man.  Importantly Peter did not take credit for it, for he knew he could never do this on his own.  Here is the good news, the proof is still in the pudding.  The proof of Jesus flows through us in the power of the Holy Spirit.  You may never tell a lame beggar to get up and walk, but God can flow through you supernaturally as you allow him to love others through you.  The proof in the pudding for a Christian is your love for other people which is the only thing that can change a human heart.    

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