Willie James Jennings: The Eyes of Jesus

Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. Acts 3:2

“At the doorway to worship are those whose very presence should discipline praise and guide hope. Before praises go up to God the poor and the lame, sick and pained must be seen. The lame man lay in the path toward praise which is also the path of the disciples. This route was established by Jesus.

The man is precisely the person Jesus will see and demands His disciples see. Peter and John find themselves without an option: time to see with the eyes of Jesus. The man was a daily reminder of the need of Israel itself, for miraculous healing, and for yet another moment of divine revealing…

Peter has no riches to give. He has something else to offer. The contrast of gifts introduces the truth of belonging. There is silver and gold, the gifts of the Caesars of this world, and there are the gifts of God.”

Willie James Jennings in Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible (Belief; Louisville: WJKP, 2017) 41-42.

Ever hear anyone say to you that they do not know anyone who is poor or needy? If you do, give this suggestion. Tell them to ask God to give them the eyes of Jesus. What about you?

God wants to bless the world through you. If you are not sure whom to serve, invite the Spirit to guide you. The Spirit through people is the main character of Acts of the Apostles and the Church today.

And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Acts 3:7-9

“As Peter and John moved along with the flow of the crowd, they providentially encountered a beggar being borne on a litter to his usual post. He had been a congenital cripple for all of his life. Having never taken a step, he had to be carried everywhere he went. . .

Though they had not even come to the gate, the beggar caught sight of Peter and John, who probably looked like good prospects. So he began his mechanical beggar’s wail, which he undoubtedly repeated millions of times. . . Peter responded, “Look at us.”

As the beggar turned expectantly Peter said, “I have no silver and gold.” Perhaps the beggar began to frown. Perhaps he thought he was being mocked. But then came those immortal words: “. . . but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

The poor man knew he could not walk, so he did not budge. But Peter, doing a typically Peter thing, grabbed him by the right hand and began to hoist him up. . . Sometimes we miss the drama and the significance of miracles like this one because we do not allow our imaginations to catch the fact that it happened instantly. . . The man was healed in a flash. . .

What does the Spirit-filled church impart? It imparts what is has! There is a spiritual axiom here: you can only give away what is truly yours. . . The miracle was both literal and parabolic, because the Spirit-filled church dispenses more than care for the body—it brings healing to the soul. In place of spiritual lameness, there can be leaping.”

R. Kent Hughes in Acts: The Church Afire (Preaching the Word)(Wheaton: Crossway, 2014) 53-56.

When people see you coming along, do they see a good prospect? Think about it. Consider how people perceive you. When they see you coming, do they say to themselves: that guy or gal looks kind and loving, generous and compassionate.  Surely he or she will help me by giving me a hand up!

We cannot impart anything that we do not first receive from God. But when connected to that source, we can, like Peter and John, be generous and lift people up, so that the lame leap with joy. Make us good prospects by filling us with your Spirit and compassion, Jesus, to minister richly to those in need today.

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. Acts 3:16

“Peter’s lack of silver reinforces the picture of serving the Lord sacrificially… The heart of the account, as demonstrated by the dialogues that follow is that healing occurs in Jesus’ name, which offers salvation and wholeness. That is, Jesus remains active and works through those agents He has chosen and commissioned…

While believer prayed together daily in the temple, and this man was brought daily, it is only on this occasion when the man requests alms from the apostles, that they address him… Their lack of silver and gold fits Luke’s distinctive emphasis, including Jesus instructions to His followers (Luke 9:2-6; 10:4, 9; 12:41-42)…

The man is healed because of faith in Jesus’ name (3:16). Peter expresses faith by commanding the healing and lifting the man up; apparently the healed man also expresses faith by recognizing what has happened and acting accordingly (3:8)… Nevertheless, these commands are effective only because Jesus’ agents act within His purposes…

Acting by means of Jesus’ name here means acting on His authorization. Analogously, “in God’s name” could signify a representative acting on God’s behalf, according to His command, by His help, or using His name in a miraculous act. Invoking Jesus’ name may also implicitly call on Jesus… Essentially Jesus continues to act through those who bear His name; thus the credit belongs to Him not His agents.”

Craig S. Keener in Acts (NCBC; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020) 182-184.

Notice the source of power for generous service. It flows from the name of Jesus! When His followers serve as agents of faith and obey His command not to trust money to make ministry happen, He shows up for them. He works in mighty ways.

We must not lose this perspective in modern times. It was the name of Jesus that made people strong back then and it holds the same power today. If you want to minister generously, don’t depend on money. Serve, instead, as an agent of faith.

I want to honor my mother today, Patsy Hoag, as it is Mother’s Day, and my wife, Jenni Hoag, too. They are two amazing women, and their strength in the name of Jesus, flows from their deep relationship with Him.

When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Acts 3:3-5

“The lame man is there to ask for alms of the worshipers; giving alms was a responsibility that Judaism took seriously as an expression of compassion that honored God… The lame man is asking for alms… The lame man would have made this request of all who were passing by to go to the temple. Peter, with John gives him attention… Peter demands the man’s attention by calling on him to look at them… Seeking the man’s attention tells him that a response is coming, but it will not be what he expects.”

Darrell Bock in Acts (BECNT; Grand Rapids, Baker, 2007) 160-161.

Most people don’t “pay attention” to poor and needy people. Notice that Peter and John “give attention” to this lame man and bless him beyond imagination in the name of Jesus.

When our giving is what people expect to receive, it will generally follow cultural patterns and flow from finite human resources rather than divine blessing that directs glory to God.

In this scene, which I am studying to preach for a recorded message next week, I am moved that compassionate generosity is about giving attention. It’s about holy noticing the needs of people.

Father, help us by your Spirit to “give attention” to those in need and then call them to watch how Jesus can meet them in their place of crisis and minister in unexpected ways. Amen.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:6

“An economically poor church that is able to harness the power of God is actually a rich church. It is sad that with the increase of riches, dependence on God and consequently spiritual power often become less. It is unfortunately possible to use things that money can buy, such as a wonderful gymnasium for the youth or a grand pipe organ for worship, to have an impressive program and mask spiritual poverty. Economic poverty is sometimes a gift, for it forces us to look to God for strength.”

Ajith Fernando in Acts (NIVAC; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998) 149.

What is the strength of your church? What are you depending on in your personal life to make things happen? Is it material wealth or spiritual riches? These are not insignificant questions, and they are also very revealing ones.

I am studying Acts 3:1-10 to record a sermon on it for my pastor friend, Eric Tober, and what strikes me is that Peter holds nothing back.  After saying “silver or gold I do not have” he adds, “but what I do have I give you.” He shows his strength is in God.

See that! Don’t miss it. That’s generosity. Sharing freely what we have. And notice, even though he had nothing materially to share, he could still be generous. So can we! We can share help, hope, and healing in the name of Jesus.

That’s what our world needs. It needs you and I to give what we have so that we remain dependent on God for strength. Remember, God looks not at what we give, but at what we don’t give, for it reveals where we place our trust.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9

“For most of us, the thought of a life without lack is unimaginable because we live in a world so obviously full of lack — lack of kindness, fairness, and compassion, all of which are more precious because they seem so rare. So much is going wrong all around us: injustice, oppression, natural disasters, broken relationships, perversity, selfishness, pride, and apathy, so much pain that it seems we would need to block it all out and pretend that all is well to have any hope for a semblance of safety and sufficiency. Yet it is not pretense we need, but understanding.

We live in a world under the care of a wholly good God with unlimited power, who lacks nothing and intends only good for His creation. Why, then, is there so much lack and evil? What has gone wrong? Many people believe that the source of these problems rests with humanity alone but we must acknowledge the activity of Satan here. His presence in the world accounts for the seemingly unlimited extent of human wrongdoing that goes far beyond what humanity (made in the image of God) would generate on its own. He has humanity in his grasp through the ideas, beliefs and bastions of wickedness he has developed throughout history, and he intends to keep them there. He works in the realm of the heart and ideas, in their individual as well as social forms, to control the major structures and processes of human life upon the earth.”

Dallas Willard (1935-2013) in Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2018) 67-68.

A great gift we can give to people during a plague is understanding.

We must help them grasp that God is sovereign and that He sends plagues to get our attention and call us to a place of humbling ourselves, confessing our sins, and changing directions (2 Chronicles 7:13-14).

But we must also alert them to the fact that much of the evil and havoc in the world, the lack that exists around us, largely links to the devil, the father of lies who leads many astray (John 8:44).

This is where we find our purpose. When people have understanding they can navigate the storms of life. Do do this we must tune out the noise and attune to the Word of God in order to help others stand firm in the faith.

Listen to their challenges of those around you and show compassion by giving understanding generously.

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8

“God is rich in all things good, and He shares these continuously with us. Not only does He supply our material needs, but even more, He gives us riches in the things that matter most, such as faith, love, mercy, grace, goodwill, kindness. The degree to which we value these gifts versus the monetary gifts is a measure of our progress. . . Be assured, the wealth of this world will end. One day, it will be completely extinguished, never again to rise and distract us. The wealth found in godliness, however, will never end.”

Richard Swenson in Contentment: The Secret to a Lasting Calm (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2013) chapter 6.

When the plague subsides, one can only wonder if people will resume their pursuit of more financial wealth or if they will instead pursue more godliness.

The wealth of this world, as Swenson puts it, will end and be completely extinguished. Naked we are born and naked we depart. What will you pursue in between?

Decide now. Be content with food and covering. Choose to go after godliness. It’s countercultural in every society, but the way to peace, life, and generosity.

I am thankful for my wife and her pursuit of godliness and helping others as Soulcare Anchoress. I am praying for her today as she speaks online to Denver Seminary chapel.

Whether you tune into podcasts, webinars, blogs, or other channels for spiritual enrichment in lockdown, dig into the Word of God to find the only thing that satisfies.

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Matthew 25:31-32

“The entire human race will be there. Think only of those who have lived down the centuries from Adam till today: an immense crowd. Besides them, the angels will be there too. It is impossible not to feel awestruck. And aside from the punishment to which we may be condemned, the idea that God will judge us in front of so many witnesses is frightening… How will He set about separating them? Will He leaf through some sort of register? No. He will judge on the basis of what He sees. Wool characterizes sheep: a shaggy, wrinkled skin marks goats by contrast. You, if you have been cleansed from your sins, will put on clothing woven from your holy deeds, and that clothing will be pure wool.”

Cyril of Jerusalem in Catecheses 15, 24ff (PG33, 904) in Drinking from the Hidden Fountain: A Patristic Breviary, Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World, ed. by Thomas Spidlik (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1994) 404-405.

For Jesus, our actions reveal our beliefs. While we often proclaim our faith with words, Jesus wants us to demonstrate our faith with our works, or holy deeds. What holy deeds is He looking for? Read Matthew 25:34-36.

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

While I am not making an eschatological predictions, the challenging times lead me to think that the end of all things could be near. If that’s true, this should be our greatest moment for rich generosity.

Might God be using the lockdown to give the whole world one last chance to humble themselves, confess their sins, and acknowledge His reign. It’s entirely possible, so let us live today in preparation for reward on judgment day.

But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 1 Corinthians 3:13-14

Whether our Lord Jesus Christ will tarry His return for weeks, months, or years, or whether He is coming soon, let’s be found serving others generously following His example. Does He see a sheep or a goat when He look at you?

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land. Isaiah 1:19

“A magnet has the property of attracting iron. Sometimes we see a piece of iron suspended. It is not resting on any support underneath it, and it is not tied to any object above it. It is only attracted, with invisible bonds, to the strength of the magnet acting on it from above.

Something similar happens with the Holy Scriptures. Many people, if not all, have heard them. Only those who have faith, however, are attracted to them. Those people do not rest on material prosperity nor are they bound to heaven by any visible tie, but they nourish their spirit solely on an invisible hope.”

Theodoret of Cyrus (393-457) in The Cure of Pagan Diseases 5, Iff. (SC57, 226) in Drinking from the Hidden Fountain: A Patristic Breviary, Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World, ed. by Thomas Spidlik (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1994) 381-382.

The magnet is a brilliant picture of the invisible hope we have. Our human tendency is to cling to material prosperity as our hope which leads us to aim for the good things in the land. When we go after those things, we miss what God desires for us.

Crisis times are helpful to us because they reveal our true self and our attractions. They show whether our focus is self-preservation or sacrificial service. They reveal whether we will hoard or exhibit generosity by giving to things God cares about.

Let us, feed on the Scriptures to nourish our spirits during lockdown and with willing and obedient hearts do what they say. Those with genuine faith will be attracted to them like a magnet because they know, therein, is the path to hope and life.

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5

“Moses was prevented from approaching the burning bush until he had taken off his shoes. You are aspiring to stand in the presence of the One who is greater than every thought and every passion. How then can you refuse to strip yourself of every passionate thought?

Praying means rejecting pleasures and banishing anger. Do not open your heart to fleshly longings. They stir up emotions that trouble the eye of the mind and therefore destroy prayer.

Your prayer ought to be steadfast and fervent. So dispel all distractions and wandering thoughts the moment they present themselves. They disturb you and worry you so that your fervor is weakened.

During your prayer, try to keep your mind deaf and dumb. Only so while you be able to pray. Do not be content with external attitudes of prayer. Turn your mind to the prayer of the spirit, with awe and fearfulness.”

Evagrius of Pontus in Sentences on Prayer 479ff (PG79, 1167ff) in Drinking from the Hidden Fountain: A Patristic Breviary, Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World, ed. by Thomas Spidlik (Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1994) 361.

Notice the reason why Moses had to take off his shoes to draw near to God. The ground was holy. It was sanctified, set apart for God. To enter such a place ourselves means that, like Moses, we have to take off our shoes. We have to set aside our fleshly desires.

Only after Moses did that, that is, set aside his comfort and pleasure and focused on God did He see God and hear the plan God had for Him. Like Evagrius describes it, Moses was in “awe and fearfulness” before God. Read Exodus 3 to discover this.

This relates to generosity because when we draw near to God and take off our shoes, the plan He reveals to us will not only be greater than anything we imagine, it will be accomplished only because God will make it so.

So, take off your shoes, let go of worry and wandering thoughts, and draw near to God in prayer. Oh, and don’t be surprised if His plan for you is not something on your radar. To strip yourself of passionate thoughts is to take on God’s vision, His radar for you.

Ponder God’s words to Moses as you respond to today’s Meditation. And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” Exodus 3:12 

God promised His presence with Him on the journey. He also promises to make it so and the sign wa celebration and worship on that mountain. May God give you a similar sign and celebration as you take off your shoes and follow Him wherever He leads you.