Why Be Surprised?

Readings:
I Chronicles 2
Acts 3:1-16

Focus:
Acts 3:12a:"Peter saw them coming, and met them with these words: 'Men of Israel, why be surprised at this?'"

A man who has been crippled from birth has been begging next to a well-known gate for years. He himself is well known because of this prominent position by the gate. When Peter and John come by and he draws their attention, instead of giving him a gift of money, they heal him so that he can walk.

Naturally the crowd becomes aware of this healing and comes running up astounded, but Peter greets them with the words that they are not to be surprised. It is nothing less than what God can do.

We are so often like that crowd. We expect too little of God. Miraculous healings are not commonly seen now, and possibly were used more by God at the time that Jesus is on earth. But God is capable of doing anything that he wants to do. He is, after all, God. We should not be surprised when God does something unexpected, answers a prayer in a seemingly impossible way, or changes circumstances in a way that we might have thought impossible. God can do whatever he wants. Why be surprised?