The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-11

Sunday School Lesson

John Wesley never Intentionally
inaugurated a new church, SO
these early Jewish Christians
continued as Christian Jews in
the tabernacles at this early day.
So, we find Peter and John going
up to the temple to pray at the
appointed hour ! y.
At the beautiful Gate Of the
Temple there was a beggar, a
man who had been lame since
birth, and who for many years
had been accustomed to sit at this
place to ask for aims. He was
well-known to the worshippers of
the Temple, and when he APP
peared subsequently, with physic-
al faculties restored he was inn
mediately recognized. This beg
gar realized that earnest people
going to worship were most like
ly to have sympathy with him
over his misfortune and assist
him.
The customary plea was made
to these two apostles. Peter
looked steadily upon the man to
read the character inside and
what he saw evidently satisfied
him as to the inherent faith in
his soul and the justification for
the miraculous relief which he
was going to receive. Soy in the
name of the Master he was
preaching, Peter called upon him
to rise up. and walks-, The mans
faith was sufficient correspond in
trustfulness and he Immediately
was, restored. In the first joy of
such deliverance we find him
rushing into the Temple, demon
strating his new powers and
praising God who had rescued
him from the ailment. 1t should
be borne in mind that when this
record was written men were
alive who had lived on that
eventful day.
1t was nothing strange that this
performance should have created
wonder to those who had known
the afflicted beggar for years.
Peter utilized the opportunity to
deliver another strong address,
pointing out the need for repent
ance and acceptance of the Sa-
vior. His activity brought him to
the attention of the rulers of the
Jewish church and they had the
impetuous and outspoken apostles
brought before them in an effort
to stifle the testimony to the Mes
siah whose crucifixion they had
been responsible for. But Peter,
who had denied his Lord before
humble accuserS, was bold
enough to tell these leaders that
the lame man walked through
the power of Jesus, whom We
crucified".
There are some practical appli-
cations of this lesson. When Pc
ter and John were called upon
for help, the lame man was hunt
ing for money. He little dream
ed of greater gift. Peter had no
money, so he said, "Silver and
gold have l none", but realizing
that there were other ways in
which he could render assistance,
added, "but such as l have, give
l thee. How often in life we
allow our fellow-man to go in
suffering and misery because we
fail to realize that the greatest
help and assistance is not neces-
sarily gold, but human sympathy,
a helping hand, and new
chance. II all of us would real
ize this great truth and form a
determination to be more help
full in the future, how much
permanent good we, might accom-
plishie
James II. Snowden, in writing
on this incident, uses the figure
of the lame beggar at the Beau
tiful Gate for striking analogy.
He says: "The earth itself is a
beggared world lying at the Gate
Beautiful of the universe, Tenn
Pile whose stairs are stars and
whose, jeweled gates are blazing
consultations; lying there cover
ed with rags, a mass of sores,
madly crying for gold when it
needs the infinite grace of God
to cleanse and clothe it and give