Luke 24:36b-48
While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 Yet for all their joy they were still disbelieving and wondering, and he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

Acts 3:12-19
When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “Fellow Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him.14 But you rejected the holy and righteous one and asked to have a murderer given to you, 15 and you killed the author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.
17 “And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.

Luke 24:36b-48 and Acts 3 tell powerful stories about transformation and new beginnings in Christ. These passages remind us that Christ gives us the chance to leave our old ways behind and start fresh. In this essay, we will look at these stories from a reformed perspective and explore what they mean for us today.

I would like to note that Luke uses a teaching style in these passages, sharing stories that help us learn about what Christ can do for us. Seeing the stories this way makes them both interesting and meaningful.

In this passage, Jesus calms his disciples by showing empathy and understanding, bringing them peace. This teaches us that empathy and understanding are important for everyone who follows Christ. When we face challenges—whether personal, social, or global—connecting with others and seeing things from their point of view can help us make a positive difference. Even when life is hard, Christ gives us the strength to build a better future through compassion.

Meeting the risen Christ changed everything for the disciples. At first, they felt lost and doubtful, but seeing Jesus alive gave them hope. Jesus gave them a new mission: to share the message of repentance and forgiveness everywhere. With the Holy Spirit, they found the courage to spread the gospel and help build God's kingdom. Jesus' way of calming his disciples shows his authority. In the same way, when we follow God, we can trust him to calm our fears and help us share our faith with confidence.

The man who had been unable to walk since birth depended on others for help. Now, he could walk, jump, and thank God. His healing is a picture of the spiritual renewal Christ offers to everyone (Bible Hub, “The Lame Beggar”). Through this miracle, Peter shares the message of redemption and invites others to find new beginnings by trusting in the risen Savior (Acts 3:16, 19). The faith and love shown here remind us that, no matter how difficult life gets, there is always hope for a new start with Jesus.

The beggar’s situation was desperate. Many of us have felt overwhelmed, even desperate, at times too. It could be something that happened at school or at work, after a disagreement, or even after losing someone close or facing a tough diagnosis. Like Peter and John, who saw the beggar’s true value as a child of God, Christ sees you the same way—worthy of forgiveness and healing (Acts 3:6–8; Bible Hub, “The Lame Beggar”). Whatever you are facing, He will forgive you.

When Peter healed the beggar in Christ’s name, it showed both God’s power and Christ’s love for everyone. Christ cares more about our hearts and our trust in him than about our status or abilities (Acts 3:12–16). Through this kindness, Peter shared the message of redemption and restoration. Like the beggar, we need to believe that Christ is with us, accept him as our Savior, and confess our sins to receive his grace.

The story of the beggar at the Beautiful Gate is a picture of the spiritual journey we all go through as believers (Grace Evangelical Society, “The Lame Man”). We each have our struggles, but faith in Christ gives us a new start. Just as the beggar walked and rejoiced after being healed, we can also find spiritual healing and renewal by trusting in Christ.

Looking at Luke 24:36b-48 and Acts 3, we see how Christ’s power can change lives (Luke 24:46–48; Acts 3:19). Through him, we receive forgiveness, redemption, and a new purpose. The disciples were called to share the news of Christ’s resurrection, and the healing of the beggar showed how real that message is. Like them, we are invited to embrace the new life Christ offers. Luke gives us examples of people who followed Christ (Luke 24:48; Center for Excellence in Preaching, “Luke 24:36-48 Commentary”). The disciples left everything to follow him, and the healed man became a witness to Christ’s power. Many people throughout history have accepted this invitation and been changed by Jesus’s love and grace (Bible Hub, “Luke 24:47 Commentaries”). This invitation is still open today. Let the Holy Spirit guide you as you trust in Christ’s healing power and share the Good News with others.

In Christ, there is a fresh start right here… in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.