#181

Jesus and Sacred Selectivity

The man has been sick for thirty-eight years. Whether factual or not, there was the belief that if one was the first to be immersed in the pool of Bethesda after the water has been disturbed he or she would be healed. This infirm man had a problem. His illness debilitated him from getting into the water by himself, and there was no one around to help him, so someone else would get into the pool first and be healed. Then the waiting would start again until the water was once again disturbed and the disappointment that would follow when he would not experience healing.

John records this for our reading in chapter 5 of his Gospel. Verse 3 indicates that there were many people at the pool waiting to be healed. Perhaps there were others who were of the same debilitation as this fellow. Maybe there were some who had been waiting just as long as he had – maybe longer. At any rate this is the one that Jesus focuses on and heals.

Are we not at least tempted to ask, “What about the others?” “Why does this fellow get preferential treatment?” “How could Jesus walk away from the rest of those who were suffering?” “Couldn't He just have waved his hand and healed all of those who were at the pool?”

In Matthew 8:16 and 12:15 we find Jesus in two different locations and he healed all the sick that were brought to him. Here in John 5 we find Jesus walking into a location where there were plenty of sick, yet he healed only one.

Of course, there were plenty of sick who were never touched by Jesus’ healing hand. There were many who were demon possessed and did not experience exorcism at the hands of Jesus. There were many who died and were not raised. Even those who were raised eventually died again without Jesus around for a second resurrection.

Today we hear stories, and maybe this is a personal experience for you, of those who have been miraculously healed. They give praise to God for this healing, and rightly so. But it does beg the question, why them and not my loved one? Is God being selective? If one is healed, why not all?

It may be that we are making too much out of this incident. Could it be that the healing is not the important message here, but rather it is Jesus recognizing the hopeless plight of this individual? His hopelessness was wrapped up in what he considered to be his source of healing. His hopelessness was a matter of the right, or wrong, timing. His hopelessness was exaggerated by his absolute dependence on some other human being. His hopeless state would be the state he would die in if he had not come in contact with Jesus.

The assurance that we take away from this incident is that Jesus will step into our hopeless situations – any time - any place. In the middle of your hopelessness, have you invited Him in? Are your prepared for His healing?

#180

The Faith Expert

Yesterday our church family sat in heat because the A/C was not working. I guess we all survived and I did work through my sermon perhaps more speedily than normal. We discovered on Monday that a series of breakers had popped off which did not allow the compressors to do their thing in the chiller (Yes, that is the system we have). As soon as the switch was thrown, compressors start compressing, chillers start chilling, pumps start pumping, valves start...uhm...valving, and we now have cool air. That simple! All we needed was an expert who knew what to do.

Of course I am trying to use this as an illustration.  I am wondering what it takes to make our spiritual system work at peak performance. I am wondering how many of us have just become content with the way things are spiritually. Have we just puttered and muttered along out there when there was so much more success available if we can just find the switch.

I know one thing that really excited Jesus, the expert on faith. He was electrified, and said so, when he observed or interacted with someone demonstrating great faith in Him and/or His Father. At some points He “marveled” at faith. At other points He compared it to the lacking faith of the Israelites.

He gets after us when our faith is replaced by senseless worry. The very ones that should have had faith, or at least a growing faith, were the ones that were chastised. At various points He asked them, “Where is Your Faith?”

Sometimes I think I am acting on faith when in reality I have made a decision based on reason or logic, or on personal preference (what I wanted in the first place) and I, not the expert, have christened it “faith.”

A troubling statement that Jesus makes to two blind men was, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” Why is it troubling? Those words were said in response to positive actions of faith on the part of those two blind men. Wonder if it still applies to those of us who at times have little or no faith, “According to your faith will it be done to you?” What are we missing when the faith breaker has been tripped “off?”

If we are going to flip the switch that springs God into action, it will be when we turn on our faith.

Hebrews 11:6

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

At least, that is what the expert says.

#179

Focus, Focus, Focus

So many times my peripheral vision gets in the way. I can’t seem to stay focused on what is in front of me because of the sideline distractions that surface virtually every day. Right now, Tuesday, I am at my desk trying to get my sermon for Sunday at least to the simmering stage so that by Saturday it will be well done. However, there are too many distractions. My son called, always a welcome distraction. Someone called about church softball league. I have a book that I am into on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and it is begging me to read the next chapter.

If anyone had to deal with distractions it was Jesus – hardheaded disciples, traitors, pharisaic religious leaders, the Romans, etc. But He remained focused.

John 4:34

          My food, said Jesus, is to do the will of Him who sent me.

Apparently this scene was a distraction for His disciples as they noticed he was talking to a woman, a Samaritan woman at that.

John 6:38

          For I have come down from heaven not to do my will,

          but the will of Him who sent me.

It seems that He might have been saddened, but not distracted, by those who could not accept His teaching (John 6:66).

Luke 9:51

          As the time approached for Him to be taken up to

          heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

You can almost see Jesus looking in the direction of Jerusalem, if not looking right at Jerusalem, and setting one foot in front of the other totally focused on the will of His Father.

Even in the garden Jesus did not lose focus on His mission. He so understood the ramifications of His mission that He asked for new orders if possible. It wasn't!

Have to wonder if we as individual Christians or as a collective body have lost our focus. Observation tells us that we have. Out there in our peripheral vision are many things that distract us; politics, materialism, self-promotion, idolizing human beings, entertainment, programs, worship styles, preaching styles, etc.

It appears that Jesus gave us our marching orders when he predicted the manner of His death.

John 12:32

         But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will

         draw all men to myself.

Focus! Focus! Focus! We've lost our focus on our mission, and seem to be focused on a host of other lesser missions which will not produce the results of drawing men to Jesus.

Focus! Focus! Focus! Let’s get it back! I can’t even begin to imagine the impact Christianity can have on the world if we stay focused.

Hebrews 12:2

          Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter

         of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the

         cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand

         of the throne of God.

#178

From God to Servant

As I’m sitting here determining how to begin our study of Philippians for class tonight, I have landed on Philippians 2:5-6.

             Who, being in very nature God, did not consider

             equality with God something to be grasped, but

             made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a

             servant, being made in human likeness.

How could He? How would He? Should He? How could he give up God, or the very nature of God, and become a servant, or take the very nature of a servant? Those two natures are about as opposite as any two natures could possibly be. I remember when my wife and I moved to New Mexico from Dallas, Texas. Our change in location resulted in culture shock.

How could Jesus take that-moving from the nature of God to the nature of man-moving from the position of master to the position of slave? I wonder if He experienced nature shock. Did he even know what that would involve? Had he experienced the nature of a servant before, or had he just witnessed it from his position with God?

2:8 tells us that this required humility. That almost sounds like an understatement. It was a level of humility that no humanity has ever developed. Sometimes we find ourselves humbled when the police officer has pulled us over for a traffic violation. We feel pretty sheepishly humble when an error on our tax return has been found not by us, but by the IRS. Jesus’ humility did not come as a result of a mistake he had made, but from a heart that was more than willing and anxious to carry out the Will of His Father.

One who was in very nature God, humbled himself, and put on the nature of a servant. No, I don’t know how he could do it. But I do know that in order for us to be saved, and have a relationship with God, he should have done it!

The result of this is,

        “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

         in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and

         every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to

         the glory of the father (2:10-11).”

Don't know how He could have, but He did. Don't know how He would do it, but He did. Don't know if He should, but He thought He should and did.

#177

Sees What You Are - Not What You Were

I am not sure of all the psychological reasons as to why we can’t let go of our own pasts with all of our failures and glitches. The writer of Hebrews says we need to put all of that stuff down so we can get focused on Jesus (Hebrews 12).

At his invitation, Jesus has dinner with a Pharisee named Simon (Luke 7). It is during that meal that a sinful woman comes in and begins to cleanse the feet of Jesus. She was a prostitute. Simon knew this about her and, as far as he was concerned, that’s what she would forever be. “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman that she is – that she is a sinner.” He saw her for what she was.

Jesus looks at her and sees a redeemed soul. “Your sins are forgiven.”   He saw her as saved. “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

We can take a great deal of solace in the fact that Jesus sees us as we are and not as we were. I can hate what I was. I can get as far away as I can from what I was. I can teach others to not be what I was, but with Jesus I am seen as I am. I don’t need to wear what I was around my neck. I can rejoice in the reality that I am no longer what I was.

If Jesus can see me for what I am, then I should too. If Jesus could look at this prostitute (formerly) and see a redeemed and saved individual, then I can too.

This comes into play in both scenarios mentioned in the previous paragraph; how we look at ourselves, and how we look at others. Sometimes in our dealings with others we only see them as they were. It seems we can’t get past their past. It’s a good thing that Jesus can.

Could it possibly be that we can’t get past their past because we can’t get past our own past? The first step is to hear Jesus say to you now regardless of what you were and did then, “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you, go in peace.”

#176

A True Reflection

It seems he was pretty intent on seeing the Father. Philip made the request of Jesus, “Show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” I’m thinking that many of us feel the same way. If God would just reveal Himself to us, if He would just let us see Him then “that will be enough for us.”

Jesus’ response to Philip is somewhat curt. “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you for such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the father.” If I may borrow words from a song by Acappella (though in a different context), He (God) was “standing right in front of him (Philip),” apparently had been for some time.

Hebrews 1:3 states that truth this way, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being…” This is more, much more, than being a chip off the old block.”

I am wondering if in our intent to come to know God that we skip right over Jesus. And can I say that it is impossible to come to know God without knowing Jesus. Someone should start a blog called, “Who is Jesus?” Oh yes, someone has.

You want to know how God would react to rebellion? Take a look at how Jesus reacted to rebellion. You want to know how God would respond to faithfulness or faithlessness? Remember how Jesus responded to faith demonstrated and faith failures. You want to know how God would respond to our hurts and pains? Follow Jesus as He stops to ease the hurts and pains of so many people. You want to know how God would respond to Satan? Just watch Jesus kick him in the teeth.

Sometimes I think we are looking for something different from God. Maybe we know how Jesus would react or what He would say in certain situations, but we are hoping just maybe God would react or speak differently.

Maybe we think if we go to God we are going right to the top. Don’t forget that Jesus is there too, seated at the right hand of God - now!

Oh yes, we can learn about God from His creation, (Romans 1). If we start with creation, we should be able to reason to a creator. But the ultimate revelation of God comes through His Son.

If we get to know Jesus, we will get to know God. Jesus speaks what His Father speaks. He does what His Father gave Him to do. That’s what the “exact representation” does. As a matter of fact it is difficult if not impossible to tell them apart. Who is Jesus? The exact representation of God – a true reflection.

#175

Behind Enemy Lines

A movie in 2001 portrayed a Navy navigator – Lt. Christ Burnett played by Owen Wilson - being shot down behind enemy lines. The movie is the story of him working his way back to the point of rescue without being killed by Bosnian soldiers. His commanding officer has to go against politics to launch a rescue mission. He is ultimately rescued and renews his desire to continue to be a Navy pilot.

I know the story of another one who went behind enemy lines – a couple of differences here. He did it voluntarily, and He did it universally.

In this plot the enemy territory was death,

I Corinthians 15:26

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

                                 and the enemy commander was the devil himself.

Hebrews 2:14

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil

One risks much going into enemy territory. Perhaps the greatest risk of all is that those you are trying to save have no appreciation for the hazardous nature of the mission. You are meeting the enemy face to face. Jesus met his enemy head-on, and came out on the other side victorious!

Jesus had more power than death could handle.

Acts 2:24

24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

  

He considered you and me worth the risk. There was too much at stake to shrink back from this mission.

Romans 4:25

25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

II Timothy 1:10

10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus,  who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

And it was "mission accomplished." We can taunt the enemy with these questions and assurances  from Paul!

I Corinthians 15:55

55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

  

Romans 8:38-39

38 For I am convinced that neither death…, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Enemy lines have been breached!!!

#174

Walking in His Steps

I John 2:5-6

But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Impossible! Doesn’t it sound that way to you? Walk as Jesus did. Go where he went. Do what he did. Say what he said. I’m not sure that we fully understand who Jesus was and is to the point that we could walk just like him. But that is probably not the issue.

We know enough about Jesus to see him as someone totally different… Revolutionary… Out-of-the-box. I think what we are dealing with within ourselves is not that we do not know enough about Jesus, but a reluctance to be like him.

To walk as Jesus did means to take steps toward the religious establishment and confront it with truth, truth that sometimes and perhaps many times is in direct conflict with established religious practice and teaching.

To walk as Jesus did means to step right up to the sick and hurting and bring them healing regardless of what the “Sabbath” practice demanded, or supposedly demanded.

To walk as Jesus did means to come face-to-face with some pretty ordinary people and encourage them to follow Him.

To walk as Jesus did means to have intentionality in our steps. Too many of us on too many days let the pressures and strategies of the world take us here and there without ever standing up to them and saying, “Jesus has other things in mind for me today.”

To walk as Jesus did means to have an open line of communication with the Father. And though that is a two-way path for communication with God, it is primarily for God speaking to us.

And of course, to walk as Jesus did means a complete sacrifice of self to the will of God, the salvation of man, and ministering to the hurting.

That may explain our reluctance, but it doesn’t excuse it. It would be unfair of God to put this expectation out there without a reasonable hope of fulfillment. And there is hope!

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

Ephesians 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.