Why not me?
A lame man may have had this question.
The man is described in Acts chapter 3.
Verse 2 records "And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple."
How is this possible?
Do you ever feel like you wait at the "gate" of the temple, and even at heaven's door for a miracle that is not forthcoming?
Was this lame man not at the temple gate when Jesus was?
Acts is the record of the things the apostles did after Christ's death. Jesus Christ, resurrected, ministered to the apostles 40 days. Acts chapter 1 describes how Jesus returned to heaven.
Acts 3 tells how the lame man was healed at the temple by Peter and John, sometime later, AFTER Christ's crucifixion, and resurrection, ministry, and return to heaven. Acts 4: 22 tells us "the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed."
FORTY years of age?
Where was he when Jesus came and went from the temple?
While Jesus lived on earth the blind saw, the deaf heard, the lame leaped by His power and miracles. Through his name and power, the rotted flesh of lepers "came again like unto the flesh of a little child" (2 Kings 5:9), and of even greater significance sins were forgiven—washed completely away, and forgiven.
Mathew 11:5 tells us, "The blind receive their sight, and the lame
walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up,
and the poor have the gospel preached to them."
We know from many sources, and specifically from Matthew 21:14 that "the blind and the lame came to [Jesus] in the temple;
and he healed them."
How is it then that a 40 year old man, lame from his mother's womb, "laid at the gate of the temple daily" was still at the gate of the temple when Peter and John came?
The story (Acts 3: 4-13) tells us:
"Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on
us. And he gave heed unto them,
expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold
have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
"And he took him by the right
hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle
bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and
walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and
praising God. And all the people saw him
walking and praising God:
"And they knew that it was he
which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled
with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was
healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that
is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
Peter witnessed that this man was healed so that the people could receive a sure witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ, and that His power and gospel remained on the earth.
Prophets teach us to go to the temple when we are troubled, to seek peace and healing there. As we wait at the temple praying for a miracle do we have faith and trust like this man apparently had?
Do we trust God?
Can we accept His omniscience?
Especially when we feel we have been bypassed?
Even when miracles happen for all around us?"
Particularly when we have cause to question: "Why not me?"
