What About the Others?

John 5:1-18

Would Jesus really have healed only one person out of many? Would Jesus really have singled out an individual and restored him to health while ignoring others? If we read it a certain way that’s the impression that we might get from our gospel text for today. “Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids — blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?…Stand up, take your mat and walk.’ At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk” (John 5: 2-6, 8-9). That’s great for the one man, but what about the others? What about the other “blind, lame, and paralyzed” people who were there that day?

This is an interesting point to ponder, no doubt, but it is not really what the passage is telling us. The central issue here is that whatever healing took place was done on the Sabbath which caused the religious leaders of the day to be very angry. They could not tolerate the fact that Jesus broke the law of Moses, even if it was for the purpose of restoring fullness to a man’s life. So maybe the real question to ask is why did Jesus not heal the religious leaders of his day of their closed minds and hard hearts? Why did Jesus leave so many people bound to sin and a dependence on the law?

Eventually, of course, that is exactly what Jesus offered to the world when he died on the cross. Jesus gave his life so that those who believed in him - the blind, lame, and paralyzed, along with uptight religious leaders - might find salvation and grace. Turns out there were a whole bunch of folks who needed Jesus’ attention that Sabbath day, some of whom knew it, and some who did not. So which group are we in?

Prayer: Lord, heal us of all that harms us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

What’s the Matter With These People?

Mark 2:23-3:6

Our reading from Mark for today includes two incidents that took place on the sabbath day, times when Jesus broke the strictest interpretation of the law against work on the Lord’s day. But surely the only reason we know of these events is that there were some who opposed Jesus. I suppose that plucking grain may have been unnecessary as told by Mark, but it certainly was not “work.” And clearly, as Jesus showed over and over again, God’s mercy transcended the designation of days allowing acts of healing even on the sabbath, and even in the synagogue on that day.

So why would anyone object? Couldn’t they see the good that was going on? Didn’t they get it? Those questions are all fine and good until we start to think about the traditions, customs, ways of life to which we cling, even at the risk of hurting others. Don’t we know any better? Seeing the sin in others is so much easier than seeing it in ourselves. Perhaps that is the real message that Jesus is sharing with us in Mark today.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when our understanding clashes with your will and we refuse to give way. Amen.

Which is Worse, a Withered Hand or a Withered Heart?

Luke 6:1-11

Stories of Jesus disregarding the traditional sabbath restrictions are common. Our reading from Luke this morning includes two such instances, the second being the more poignant.Luke tells us that Jesus was teaching in the synagogue one sabbath (Luke 6:6-11).

Among those in attendance was a man whose right hand was withered. The contrast between Jesus, accepted as a teacher, and a man whose condition would have caused him to suffer a certain amount of isolation from others is significant. So is the presence of those for whom the law was far more important than Jesus’ compassion. As Jesus heals the withered hand the scribes and Pharisees in attendance have their darkest opinions of Jesus confirmed. You can almost hear their minds closing, their hearts hardening. The story ends with the man’s hand restored and the perspective of the scribes and Pharisees withered instead. But Jesus has also put himself in an awkward situation. He has gone from a position of respect –– as a teacher –– to one of disrepute, a man willing to flaunt the law of God. It’s a profound turn of events.

It is typical to try and place ourselves in stories like this one, to see ourselves standing with Jesus and approving of his actions. But the truth is not always that clear cut. There are times when we can get so wrapped up in protocol and tradition, in “the way we do things” that we miss the opportunity to learn something new, even from Jesus. Jesus lived in obedience in God, not in blind acceptance of the law or of public opinion. If we are going to follow Jesus we are going to have to learn to do the same, to concentrate on acts of compassion and not on judgment. We are going to have to trust the teacher.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your healing touch that mends our hearts and minds even as it leads us toward accepting your will. Amen.

It’s All About What You Know

Hosea 4:1-10
Acts 21:27-36
Luke 6:1-11
A recent Pew Foundation survey showed that Americans are not as knowledgeable about religion, even Christianity, as might be expected.
(see http://pewforum.org/Other-Beliefs-and-Practices/U-S-Religious-Knowledge-Survey.aspx). As it turns out, knowledge may be more important than we realize, at least based on our readings today. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me,” says God through the prophet Hosea (Hosea 4:6). In the book of Acts Paul is surrounded by a mob intent on killing him. When Roman troops arrive to break up the riot they are not able to discover what is happening. “Some in the crowd shouted one thing (against Paul), some another; and as (the Roman Tribunal) could not learn the facts because of the uproar he ordered (Paul) to be brought into the barracks” (Acts 21:34). Jesus, too, is confronted by a need for knowledge. Over and over again he is challenged over his or his disciples’ actions on the Sabbath. But Jesus continues to redefine what God intends the Sabbath to be.

Not preparing or informing ourselves can lead to a number of negative consequences. Spiritual alienation from God and one another is just one example of where we may end up if we don’t take the time to learn and appreciate what God is saying to us. As a minister, I feel a special sense of urgency in this matter. To a certain extent it is my responsibility to make sure people have the knowledge they need to function best as Christians. When I fail to convey the message adequately then things begin to break down. The challenge, of course, is to strive to know God better, in study, prayer, worship, contemplation, conversation, and a spirit of openness and trust in what God is saying. And it isn’t just about knowing the answers to the questions. As any high school algebra teacher can tell you, it is really all about applying what you know to the circumstances of life. The Pharisees knew the laws pertaining to the Sabbath, they just didn’t understand what it all meant. That’s why Jesus had to redefine it for them.

In the modern era of religion, with technology and information so readily available, it is more important than ever to make sure that we are learning, and that we are applying what we learn to the glory of God. We’ve simply got to take the time.

Prayer: O God, forgive us when we will not learn, when we allow knowledge to pass us by, and when we refuse to share what we do know. Help us to become better prepared for life in your terms, O Lord. Amen.