3 August 2010
Psalm 78:1-39; Judges 7:1-18; Acts 3:1-11; John 1:19-28

The Midianites had ruled over the Israelites for seven years and made their lives a misery. They had been so ruthless that of the 32,000 men assembled to fight against them 22,000 were too afraid to fight if given the option of running home. Gideon must surely have assumed that the second “cut” would only reduce his force by 300 men but God chose them rather than the 9700 to fight against this fierce army. I wonder what they thought when they realized it would be them against the army of the Midianites AND the Amalekites. Gideon’s fears were allayed when he heard the men talking about the dream and he was willing to become the mighty warrior the angel had proclaimed him to be.

John is clear who is he and who he is not. Elijah, the Prophet and the Messiah were all expected. Elijah, recall, was taken up in the whirlwind before he died and the prophet Malachi had foretold that before the Messiah came Elijah would return (Mal. 4.5). The prophet was the one like Moses who would come, the one the Samaritans were expecting. (Deut. 18.15) John says he is none of the above but instead is simply a voice crying in the wilderness preparing the people for the coming of the Lord. His only role is to ensure that those who will listen have repented of their sins, been washed in the waters of baptism and are prepared to joyfully greet the Lord. His message to the Pharisees here is that the One is already here.

This healing is amazing in that this man had been carried to the Beautiful Gate and yet here he is leaping. The healing didn’t result in halting steps supported on a cane or walker but a man leaping in the air. The muscles that had not been used were strong enough not only to support him but to thrust him into the air and hold him up on his return to earth! How did Peter know that the Spirit would heal this man? The healing was impressive enough that all the people began to run towards Solomon’s Portico to see what had happened and they knew the man, they knew his condition. Like the story of Gideon, God didn’t stop at half-measures here. It was clearly a work of the Lord to do this healing.

We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.