Peter and John were on their way to the Temple. They were going to pray to God. They missed Jesus. He had gone to be with His Father in Heaven. But they remembered how He had taught them to pray. They knew that someday they would be with Jesus again. But for now they would continue to pray and work for God as Jesus had told them to.
At the Temple there was a certain gate that was called Beautiful. By that gate sat a beggar. This beggar was a lame man who had never been able to walk. As a little boy he had never run with other children. And now that he was grown up, he couldn't work like other men. Every day his friends would carry him to the gate of the Temple. He sat there all day and asked people for money.
When Peter and John walked through the Beautiful gate the lame man called to them. He begged them to give him some money. Both of them turned to look at the lame man. Then Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold to give to you, but I will give you what I do have."
The lame man must have been excited. He probably wondered what great thing Peter was going to give to him. He didn't know that Peter and John had a special power from God. It was the power that God had promised to those who love Him. They could do miracles like Jesus had done when He lived on this earth.
Suddenly the lame man heard Peter saying, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." Then Peter reached down and took him by the hand and lifted him up.
At once the man's feet and ankle bones got very strong! He could stand on them and they didn't hurt! He was so excited that he began to jump up and down! He walked all around! He praised God! He was healed!
Then the man went with Peter and John into the Temple. He was so happy, he wanted to give thanks to God for healing him. He was no longer a lame man! He could walk!
All the people at the Temple saw the man walking and praising God. They knew that this was the man who had begged at the gate of the Temple. Now he could walk! They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Jesus had gone back to Heaven but the people could see that His miracles still happened. And they still happen today!
Make a finger puppet to use as a prop while studying this lesson. Help your child draw a simple outline of a person's body, but tell him not to draw the legs. Instead, at the base of the form help him cut out two small holes big enough for him to slip his index and middle fingers through.
Draw features and clothing details on the puppet, then cut it out.
As you read this lesson together, have your child use the puppet to act out the different parts of the story, from sitting at the gate, to walking, and leaping, and praising God!
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