Despite the irrefutable proof, there was still a decision that needed to made . . . an exercise of the will that needed to occur. That the man stood before them was undeniable . . . that he stood at all was unbelievable. His legs had not worked since birth (Acts 3:1) . . . for over forty years they had hung limp about him (Acts 4:22). But in an instance . . . at the uttering of a command to “rise up and walk” by the authority of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, this guy’s legs were regenerated and he stood up. Electronic pulses from the brain found their way for the first time to the man’s lower extremities . . atrophied thigh and calf muscles took shape . . . dislocated bones were relocated, ligaments and tendons regaining their strength . . . and this guy doesn’t just stand up, but he leaps up . . . and continues walking, and leaping, and praising God (3:6-8).

And the crowd that day at the temple saw this once lame man now in acrobatic worship, many recognizing him. And, as they watched him doing cartwheels in the temple, they were filled with wonder and amazement (3:10). That he had been healed was not up for discussion . . . that a miracle had occurred was a given . . . the only thing left for consideration was “how?” and “so what?”

The “how”, says Peter, is simple . . . it was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (3:6, 4:10) . . . the same Jesus who had been crucified and who God had raised from the dead. The “so what?” Just as God had raised Jesus from the dead . . . and as the Name of Jesus had raised this lame beggar from the ground . . . so too Jesus fulfilled the promise to Abraham of blessing to all peoples by delivering them from sin (3:25-26) . . . believe it or not!

And, the Scriptures say, “Many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.” (4:4)

That the lame man walked was irrefutable . . . that he was leaping and bounding about the temple was clearly understood . . . that it was because of Jesus . . . crucified . . . risen from the dead . . . proclaimed to be the Messiah . . . identified as the One foretold of by the prophets as “the stone rejected by the builder, the cornerstone” (4:11) . . . that would take another kind of leaping . . . a leap of faith.

This is the second time this morning I’ve read of “a leap of faith”. My earlier reading in Genesis records God’s repeated promise to an aging Abram that he and Sarai would “defy the odds” and conceive and give birth to a son. “Look toward heaven,” God speaks to Abram, “and number the stars, if you are able to number them . . . so shall your offspring be” (Gen. 15:5). Mmmm . . . that Abram would be the father of a son was enough of a stretch . . . but that he would then be the father of a multitude of people (13:16) . . . and a multitude of nations (17:4) . . . and the source of blessing to the whole world (12:3) . . . whoo-boy! . . . that’s more out there than a lame dude walking. Yup!

“And he believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness.” (Gen. 15:6)

Abram believed that what God had said was true . . . he took that leap of faith . . . just as the crowd, that day in the temple, believed that what God had said through Peter was true. And to them all, it was counted as righteousness. Faith is the “secret sauce” of the kingdom of heaven. It is by faith that we know Jesus saves . . . by faith that we are declared redeemed and righteous in Him . . . by faith that we know God is in control and that all things work together for our good according to His purpose . . . by faith that we appropriate the promises of God given us in His word . . . by faith that we await that day when we will move into our room which Jesus has been preparing for us in His Father’s house (John 14:1-13).

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. If we would draw near to Him we must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him (Heb. 11:6). And when we believe . . . whether for the first time as we come to Him for forgiveness and regeneration . . . or for the umpteenth time when we submit to His ways and receive His promises . . . then let the leaping begin! For that is life and life to the max . . . that is getting your legs underneath you. Oh, that I might know more of leaping and praising God . . . for His glory.