p. 2 | THE LAME MAN HEALED by J. O. Corliss

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 22, 1902

THE LAME MAN HEALED.

By J. O. Corliss

The promise of power to witness for Christ was not intended to be confined to words of praise and exaltation for the Saviour. To witness for Him meant, to the early disciples, to copy His life and work. Without power to do this, to many the words of believers would have proved but empty sound. The mission of Christ’s followers has been, from the first, to reveal the contrast between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdoms of earth. This must not only be told in speech, but demonstrated in actions. So when the Saviour first sent out the twelve, He commanded them to preach as they went, and say, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In order that those among whom the disciples went, might know the nature of the kingdom to which their attention was being called, its advocates were to “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils.” Matt. 10: 5–8.

All this was to be done freely, because the power with which to do it had been freely bestowed. It was to be done as an incentive, not only to draw attention to the power of the truth presented, but to create a desire on the part of those suffering from the results of sin to become subjects of a better kingdom, one which gave promise of power to relieve them of every earthly ailment. Jesus Himself had thus shown the power of His kingdom, and it was fitting that, as His followers went ‘out to witness for Him,’ they too should be clothed with power to do as He had done, and would doubtless have done were He in their places.

That this was the Saviour’s intention is clearly revealed in His words and conduct toward the disciples immediately after His resurrection from the dead. He had previously said to them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall He do also; and greater works [that is, a larger number] than these shall He do; because I go unto My Father.” John 14: 12. This statement is so broad as to cover every believer in Christ, and refers to those of every succeeding generation from that time forward. That more of these works have not been done since Christ returned to heaven than when He was on earth, shows that the power to do them has not been with professed believers in Him.

Yet by referring to the time cited in the previous paragraph, it will be seen that this is no fault of the Master’s. When He was about to leave the earth to return to His Father, He came to His disciples with the comforting words: “Peace be unto you; as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.” John 20: 21. But the Father had sent Him with all the power of heaven, to speak freedom from sin and its results. Would He confer the same power on them? The record tells us that having revealed their mission to them, He then “breathed on them,” and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost; whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”

Of course this power could only obtain by their possessing the Holy Spirit, which never errs in judgment. But as much as this commission may have been misused to deceive men, it nevertheless stands as a promise of the power given to the followers of Christ. More than this, it was the basis of all the operations of the early disciples, as may be seen by reference to the Acts of the Apostles, chapters 5, 8, and 9. In these instances the apostle stood in the relation of the Lord’s representative to those with whom he had to do, and when he spoke by the direction of the Spirit, it was the word of God through him, and carried with it the power of God’s command.

The case of healing the lame man is after the same order. On this occasion, Peter and John were about entering the temple to pray, when this poor cripple, who had never had power to stand alone, looked up to them from his customary place beside the gate, to beg a small pittance. This was Peter’s opportunity. He knew what the poor mendicant needed most, and looking on him with pity born of the Spirit’s power, commanded his earnest attention, as tho he might receive the gift for which he had asked. Having secured the attention of the would-be recipient, 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.” Acts 3: 1–6.

Then, as tho it was the most natural thing to do, the apostle extended his hand to lift the lame man to his feet, and the miracle was completed. The ankle-bones, which had never before been fully matured, responded to the word of power through Peter, and instantly assumed their normal state. Upon this he immediately leaped about, and praised God before the assembling multitude. The people, knowing that he was the same man who had daily sat begging before the gate, were filled with wonder and amazement. Knowing nothing of the promise of power received by the apostles, they could not divine how their word could thus heal a man whom they knew to have been lame from his birth.

The attention of the people being thus centered on the two disciples, Peter took occasion to present the source of the power, the operation of which they had just witnessed. In a few words he told them that the God of their father Abraham had glorified His Son Jesus, whom they had denied and put to death; that He, being the “Prince of Life,” had been raised from the dead, and they, as His followers, were witnesses of Him, and through the use of His name, in faith of its power, had restored the man, whom they knew, to perfect soundness. Thus the act of healing, combined with the story of the gift of Heaven’s power in the person of Christ, was a testimony with telling effect.

How much more effective would be the preaching of to-day, were it accompanied with such proof of heavenly power. The church would not, as now, be open to the ridicule of its enemies, who make all its doings but the farcical work of hypocritical pretenders. Would that the situation were different, and that genuine Holy Ghost power could attend the work of the Gospel for our day.

J. O. CORLISS.