“Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them. A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.”
Acts 5:15-16. (NAB)
People come to Jesus just as they are, filled with gifts and potential buried within them, which the Holy Spirit develops over time. Before Pentecost, Peter had a history of always being on the wrong page of God’s play book. He tried to convince Jesus not to go to the cross, he drew a sword and cut off a man’s ear, he denied knowing Jesus all together, and for a while, he was prejudiced against gentiles joining the church. (Acts 10:28)
The women of the gospel seemed to follow Jesus more easily, being the last ones with Him at the cross and the first ones at His tomb on Sunday morning. They always believed, comforted, and served. Even the wife of Pontius Pilate tried to influence her husband into sparing Jesus’ life.
Whether we identify with the women of the gospel or with the raw instability of Peter, every believer experienced a major transformation in the upper room. The Holy Spirit saw the need to fill everyone on Pentecost, whether they were steadfast in their faith or weak and struggling.
Afterward, they overflowed with renewed joy and courage. God sees the same potential in all of us, that He saw in Peter and those in the upper room.
The astonishing change in Peter can be read about in the book of Acts. The quick tempered and carnal minded disciple became a man of God, who had a crowd waiting for him everywhere he went. People weren’t just waiting for Peter to preach, pray or lay hands and heal them, they were waiting for his shadow.
The Spirit anointed Peter so that when he walked down the street, his shadow was cast over the sick who were lying on mats, and they were “all cured.” Jesus told His disciples that one day they will do greater things than He did, because they will do it in His name.
(John 14:12)
It must have been incredible to see the healing power of Christ working through the shadow of Peter.
If Peter could be so transformed, so can anyone. There is a renewed Peter waiting inside each one of us.
We have our own unique shadow to cast, which brings glory to Jesus. It may not be a shadow that physically heals people. Maybe our shadow is one that simply listens, encourages, or inspires the faith of others. Some people reveal the shadow of God’s mercy by seeing a need and starting a new ministry, or by giving financial help to organizations that minister in various ways. So many different gifts of the Spirit are waiting to be expressed through each person’s shadow.
If we learn anything from Peter’s transformation, it’s that God never gives up on anyone, regardless of how often they mess up. When we stumble in error like Peter, the Lord is patient and forgiving, helping us to rise back up again. He loves us while making us the best version of ourselves, so that we can cast our shadow for Christ, wherever we go.
Lord, show us how we may cast our shadow for your glory as you continue transforming us to become all that you called us to be. Amen
