The Point of a Sign
5/5/25 Bible Thought (Acts 3)
Anytime we drive down the road we are subjected to countless signs and billboards filled with advertisements. The whole reason they are there is to point to something else. If you’re on a road trip and you need gasoline, or you’re hungry, a sign will tell you at which exit you can have those needs met.
The point of the sign is never the sign itself, but that which it is pointing to.
The same is true not only of a sign beside the road, but a sign in the sense of a miracle or wonder. At any point that God performs a miracle (anything that is outside the regular rhythms of creation) the whole point of the sign is that which it is pointing to—Him.
We find this so clearly in Acts 3, as we see Peter and John heal a crippled man in Jesus’ name. They might not have had silver or gold to give, but they had something for this man greater than another handout. He was going to walk. No longer would he be begging for money and be dependent upon others to carry him to the gate, he was free to live his own life! What a miracle!
But the goal of this miracle wasn’t to just make this guy’s life better. The whole point of this sign was Jesus.
It was in Jesus’ name and authority that the sign had been done (Acts 3:6). Later, when the crowd gathered in around the apostles Peter declared,
“And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all” (Acts 3:16).
It wasn’t through their own power or piety (Acts 3:12). It was all Jesus. He was the point.
This miracle became an on-ramp for Peter to preach Jesus to the people and for them to experience an even greater miracle than new ankles and feet.
After laying the charge of Jesus’ crucifixion upon them, Peter offers hope:
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago” (Acts 3:19-21).
The same Jesus that they crucified offers new life if they would repent and turn to Him. Their sins could be blotted out—utterly eliminated! Although they cried “Release Barabbas!” they could be washed clean.
The goal of the miracle wasn’t just the earthly benefits of one man, but the heavenly glory of Christ and the offer of salvation to all who were present. The miracle showcased who Jesus truly is, and who Jesus is demands a response.
No matter how sinful or broken someone is, there isn’t anyone too messed up for Jesus to fix. The greatest work of all isn’t healing a man’s body, but rather making a sinner a saint, raising those dead in sin to new life in Christ.
That is the greatest miracle.
And the point?
Jesus.
Good stuff. At first I thought you were going to use the signs on the highway as distractions. I like the use of them as pointing to something rather than drawing away in this case.