Just Like Jesus

Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. [Acts 3.12-13]

Peter and John did not heal the lame man at the Beautiful Gate. Peter did speak the words and offered his hand to help the man to his feet, but it was God Who healed the man. He (God) did so to bring glory to His servant Jesus.

Peter, who by denying Jesus betrayed Him just days before, had a transformation of some kind to the point that he began to look and act just like Jesus.

I am a proud grandparent subsequent to being a proud parent. I am witnessing my second generation of children. For me, it is great glory to see my children look and act like me (at least in the good ways). Particularly in ways I think myself gifted in, it brings me glory to see my children follow suit. 

So it is with God. He was glorified by Jesus on earth because Jesus looked and acted just like His Father. And then, at the Beautiful Gate, Peter looked and acted just like Jesus (by the power of God) and it brought glory to Jesus - Who, at the right hand of God, brings glory to God.

Christians have looked like a lot of things since this event at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. But have they looked like Jesus? Do we look and act just like Jesus today? We should.

Father, forgive me for not bringing glory to Jesus and therefore to You by looking and acting just like Jesus.