3:1 It's 3:00 in the afternoon. Peter and John make their way into the temple/church/place of worship to pray.
3:2-3 A family brings a man who has been physically ill since his birth to the temple seeking monetary help for his situation. The family stops Peter and John to ask them for charitable contributions to this man's plight.
3:4 Peter and John fasten their eyes on the man. Peter and John were trained in compassion, they were trained to focus intently on their fellow humans to help and heal them. Peter and John look on this man with their full attention. They ask the man to look at them.
The deeper meaning underlining this is that when a person asks for God to enter their lives, the request is met with complete sincerity and focus. Peter and John request that the man look at them, the meaning underneath this is that when a person is asking, they must propel their request with their own sincerity and focus. With your whole heart request and with your whole heart receive.
It's imperative that we know what we ask for. To be given life and guidance by God is to ask for a great responsibility, is to profess a great faith. With full knowledge and understanding only does God want us to hear and absorb His philosophy. Fasten your eyes on Him.
3:5 The man looks to Peter and John and expects to receive charity, money from them. The metaphor behind this is quite endearing: we ask from God and we receive so much more than we ever expected.
3:6 Peter explains that he has no silver or gold. Even now, people believe that money is the winged savior of our tribulations. Yet without money, Peter and the disciples are establishing a worldwide spirituality. Without money, Peter, with the spirit of God, enables the man to walk. In the name of Jesus... in the name of compassion, in the name of the ability and generosity of God. Truly when we work with God we accomplish miracles, we change lives, we alter the course of the world.
3:7 Peter reaches out to the man and aids him in rising up. Children of God reach out their hands to help others rise up. That is their purpose, that is their greatest joy. It's a family effort. He felt himself grow in strength. Similarly, we grow in strength as we stand more firmly in our Father's philosophy.
3:8 The man leaped into the standing position. God fills our hearts with vigor, vitality and joy. We become able through Him and it makes us eager, zealous in loving and promoting His philosophy. This man was grateful and he let the world know.
3:9 We've spoken about our lives being a testimony, the best testimony of what we believe. This man's health and enthusiasm spoke of God's kindness and ability; those we observed him were observing a health and enthusiasm that they themselves could have. We are all walking billboards -- what are you advertising? What do you promote? Be careful that you're encouraging humanity toward light not darkness.
God restores our souls. As long as our souls, spirits are healthy, our entire entity exudes love and happiness. This man's physical illness is a metaphor for a spiritual illness -- both of which God can heal. Yet even paralyzed, a strong spirit is healthier than the most nimble, agile body.
3:10 God wants you to understand that you life has a precise impact on the world. You can inspire people away from their fears or adversity and into hope and happiness. You have so much ability inside of you to, like this healed man, fill those around you with wonder and amazement. You, together with God, will do wonderful and amazing things and they will be observed and absorbed by those around you. Sometimes, often even, simple kindness is the first step to saving a life.
3:11 With love and gratitude the man embraces Peter and John. He's grateful to God but he's also aware of the help, the bridge to Him that was God's children. You're going to make friends along your way.
3:12-13 Peter reminds the wondering crowd, and us, of a very important detail: it is with God that we succeed and accomplish; it is through Him that we strengthen and heal.
3:14-15 Peter reminds some of those in the crowd that they had previously rejected and tortured the bringer of this message: Jesus.
3:16 Peter is very grateful and full of so much faith for his Teacher, for our Shepherd and at all times, Peter reminds us to remember Who we came from. Peter wants this love and healing from God to be available to everyone and so he always ensures that we know where and Who to obtain it from. For surely God does give us perfect soundness, stability and foundation in truth and compassion, and people need it so much.
3:17-18 Peter was trained by The manifestation of forgiveness, understanding and humility and therefore Peter exhibits and expresses what his (and our) teacher taught him. He's gentle with this crowd and forgiving. Peter tells them that he understands that they made a mistake. Now Peter is saying, look around you and observe these occurrences that have unfolded before you -- verbatim scripture foretold manifested right before their eyes. Scripture of the very books they've studied and claimed believed in. With all of this evidence, Peter is saying, the time for ignorance has passed. Observe truth and compassion.
3:19 Peter encourages them to examine their thoughts, beliefs and actions and to dismiss the cruel and greedy ones from their lives. Peter prods them to convert from selfishness to selflessness. That is the only conversion the world needs.
Rather than force specific and certain religions and rules onto people... understand and accept that there is only one true way to convert to God's philosophy: to convert from indifference and cruelty to compassion. Whatever the process of doing that, it is a conversion to God.
3:20 For the kind will receive comfort, protection and guidance from the Shepherd of compassion, the shepherd of God's children: Jesus.
3:21 Jesus, who will remain with God until the fulfillment of scripture -- until humanity has had its full chance in freedom to choose and develop who they are, collectively and individually. Jesus, who was described and foretold by many of God's prophets as manifested kindness in the world.
3:22 From the very beginning, even by Moses, Jesus was spoken of: Deuteronomy 18:15. God's plan has been in perfect action since the start. He's got the situation under control! (It's humans who are bit wonky and unpredictable).
3:23 By rejecting the manifestation of compassion, a person would be rejecting compassion itself. Whether or not a person believes in Jesus the Prophet specifically is not really the point: a person must believe in the philosophy Jesus brought to the world -- because the core of that message is the core of His soul, of Who He is and what God stands for. Therefore, to reject kindness is to be cruel -- and there is no room or allotment for cruelty in God's family or in God's house.
Probably no two people in the world have the exact same faith -- and that's okay! There are many modes of transportation to the same destination.
3:24 Peter reminds us that quite a lot of prophets have been born into the world to bring people together toward God. Prophets promoting and inspiring compassion and wisdom who were met with indifference and cruelty. Listen, observe, perceive... God speaks to us in many ways, through many vessels. The truth is among us waiting to catch our attention.
3:25 They, we, are the descendants of men and women who have come before us to guide us toward our true nature, spiritual compassion and life. We come from a long lineage of humans who have believed and preached and worked in the name of God. Bringing compassion to humanity has been a longtime effort by God and Peter reminds us to consider and join the patient, zealous focus and work God has done.
3:26 Jesus was sent to bless us with opportunity. Opportunity for love, wisdom and purpose. For an eternal, spiritual house and family. Don't take for granted the treasure you are being proffered.
