There are many types of sight that the Bible talks about.  Some words refer to our physical senses of sight, others represent our perception and mental understanding and still others refer to our spirits.  

Today we are looking at Acts 3 and the story of the lame man from birth.  Why did the lame man get healed?  

“Look (Blepo) on us”

After Jesus died and rose again, his disciples carried on talking and preaching to those around their area.  In Acts 3:1-3 we see Peter and John going into the temple to pray.  This is the same temple at the same time that they used to enter in with Jesus.  

This lame man sat by this gate daily waiting for people to give him alms.  Here in verse 4 we see Peter’s response to his request. 

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

Acts 3:4 KJV

Like I said at the beginning of this post.  There are different types of the word “look” or “see”.  This specific word is the greek word Blepo.  It means to see or pay attention to the physical with no real knowledge or perception.  It really just means to focus your attention on something.  

Peter was saying, “Hey pay attention because God is going to do something whether you realize it or not.” 

The point I’m making is that in this particular instance the man wasn’t operating in any level of faith.  He wasn’t expecting God to show up and heal him.  Instead, he was expecting money or something from Peter and John.  

It was Peter and John’s Faith

Many of us know this story as we see in the next verses.

6 Then 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.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Acts 3:6-8 KJV

It was the faith of Peter and John that caused the man to receive strength in his ankles and feet. 

“Peter saw (harao) it”

11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

Acts 3:11-12 KJV

Here in verse 12 we see that “Peter saw it”.  This time that word “saw” is the word “harao” which means to “grasp the spiritual truth”. In other words, Peter saw what the people were thinking in themselves about that miracle. 

The people thought it was Peter or John who did the miracle when in fact it was simply their faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ that allowed them to perform the miracle. 

Wrapping Up

Following God’s leading means “seeing” (horao) what God is doing around you.  Peter and John took that opportunity to walk in faith so that those men and women could come to Christ.  It is important to realize that we are on this earth to operate as God’s hands and feet.  

Just as Peter and John used their relationship with Christ to bring others into the family, we should operate in faith and not by sight in our own lives.  When people around us need to see Jesus, it is our responsibility to show it to them.  

I realize this is a shorter post than usual, but the truth is that it is important to understand our part in bringing people to Jesus. Miracles and operating in faith isn’t just so that we can have the nicest stuff. We are supposed to use the faith we have been given to preach the gospel.

Signs and wonders follow the preaching of the word. This brings people to Christ. It’s a Holy Ghost light show as it were. But it is our job to operate in the faith that it requires.

Unbelievers will always operate in Blepo. They will see with their natural eye and judge everything off of it. It is our responsibility as a born again believer to operate with horao. We are to see and understand the spiritual meaning behind what our sight is telling us.

Each opportunity to witness is a chance to look not on the outward things, but on the heart. Talk to people’s hearts. You can’t get people to mentally understand the Bible and get saved. It won’t happen. They need the gospel to be preached so that they can hear and believe, but just like Peter and John, God might have you perform a miracle on your faith to get them paying attention to you long enough to preach the gospel.

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