As one of the four clergy who regularly attend services at Kampala Lutheran Church, I occasionally have opportunity to do some of those "normal" things that a Pastor would do - lead liturgy, preach, or lead a Bible study. Recently the Kampala congregation started a Wednesday night Bible Study on the book of Acts. Each of the four clergy took the lead in the Bible Study for two weeks, and tonight my turn came around. We were starting this week with Acts 3 - Peter heals the crippled beggar.
It's amazing that even after 2000 years, we see the same pattern of behavior with those who beg. We see a beggar who has begged for so long that he doesn't even look up at people as he asks for money. He's dejected and looks down, maybe watching the sandals of those who pass by while he holds out his hand. Peter and John take the first unusual step of stopping and then making that strange demand of the beggar, "Look at us." How often have we walked past these unseen people, avoiding eye contact, pretending as if they don't exist? Peter and John instead look this man in the eye - acknowledge that he is a man, a person. This is the first step in this man's restoration.
As the beggar looks up, expecting to get something, we see an echo of how fully Christ gave during his three years of ministry - over and over again, the expectation is wildly exceeded. So it was with this man - he witnessed firsthand in a physical way the restoration promised in Isaiah 35:6, "then will the lame leap like a deer." This is the second step in his restoration. The third was his entrance, perhaps for the very first time, into the temple. As a cripple from birth, this beggar most likely had never entered the temple - he was not able to because his lameness made him impure according to the temple law. So when he is healed he is able to enter the temple for what was probably the first time ever - the first time he would ever have come into the house of the Lord, to be a part of the practicing religion of his day - the first time he would ever draw close to God or be able to offer sacrifices. It's no wonder he was "walking and jumping and praising God!" The fourth stage of his restoration is already at hand but does come later in the account, when he shares the good news of Christ Jesus, the one through whom the beggar was restored. As a witness he testifies to the power of Christ and what a testimony he offers.
I'm sure this beggar, who had for 30 years sat looking at people's feet, can echo with Paul and Isaiah, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" -Shauen