The Witness of Miracles

This morning I am reflecting on the next bit in the Book of Acts, that relates the aftermath of the healing of the man born lame.  Basically the authorities throw Peter and John, and even the man that was healed< into jail.  The following verses take place the next morning, when Peter and John are called before teh leaders to explain themselves - Acts 4:8-22 NIV:

[8] "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! [9] If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, [10] then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. [11] Jesus is “ 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' [12] Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

[13] When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. [14] But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. [15] So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. [16] “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. [17] But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must  warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

[18] Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. [19] But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! [20] As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

[21] After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. [22] For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old."

In reflecting on these verses, there is one thing that stands out to me, the witness of the man that was healed.  As Luke, the author points out, it would have been easy to discount Peter and John, for they were "unschooled, ordinary men", but the man that was cured miraculously was right there with them and they could all see him standing and walking about as a normal man. The authorities could not argue with his new condition, for apparently he was very well known by most all.

Secondly, it is interesting that the authorities tried to stop the Apostles. They "commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”  They actually believed Peter and John when they said that was how this man was healed, for they commanded them to stop speaking to anyone in Jesus name!  They couldn't stop the news of the healed man, but they thought they could stop the Apostles from doing any more miracles, by stopping them from using His name. Thankfully Peter and John stood up to the threat and said correctly, 'should we listen to you or to Him (God)'?

That is such a great question to put to ourselves, for I know that I tend to listen to man too much.  I operate under the fear of man's disapproval way too  often. My giving into that fear has essentially the same effect as stopping me from speaking to anyone in the name of Jesus.  Oh Lord forgive me and have mercy on me.

The response of the authorities is the same response that we see from the world today when ministries experience healings and miracles. The healings are called in to question, the teachings of the ministers, their own lives are scrutinized for any way to discredit them, oftentimes by church!  Rather than taking an approach that recognizes the good that is being done and the lives that are being changed, the concern is that maybe these ministers are false, or teaching a different doctrine than is acceptable, or worse yet, sinners themselves.

Part of the issue for many of us in America, and in the western church is that we have a worldview that doesn't include healing and miracles. Many have believed the cessationist mindset that says miracles might have happened back then, but they aren't necessary now.  Still others resist any belief or mention on the grounds of science's inability to define what has happened.  Still others resist such thinking on the grounds of our lack of experience of healing and miracles.  My prayer is that the Church wakes up to its calling, to ministry in the Name of Jesus, and re-establishes her authority and experiential witness. Despite our fears of abuse and charlatanism in this area, the fact remains that the witness of miracles was essential to the growth and life of the church, and it should be today as well.

Oh Lord, help us!