The invalid man is so focused on why he can’t get into the pool that he has forgotten what God is capable of doing inside of him 
Albert Einstein once said, “There are two ways to live your life. One is as thought nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”Some of us believe God is a miracle maker, and others don’t. I suspect the invalid at the pool believed in miracles simply because he was there. While that might be true, Elizabeth Johnson described this man as “perhaps the least willing and the least grateful of all the people healed in the Bible.” Jesus asked him if he wanted to be made well. You think he would say yes. But instead of answering the question, the man grumbles and complains. As my friend Roxy reminded me, “Chronic illness wears on you.” Now there was a belief that this pool of water had healing properties and that it could change one’s life. It was said that every now and then an angel would stir the water, the water would begin to bubble, and the first one into the pool would be healed. For 38 years this man sat there. Waiting. Watching. Hoping. Every day is the same. Not much changes. His life, in contrast to the pool, was stagnant. How many of us sit on our mats and hope for something better to happen in our life? Have we become blind and crippled, unable to see that the deep well of life is not out there in that magic pool of water, but it’s here…inside us? Episcopal priest Fr. Michael Marsh argues, “The pool of Bethesda is an illusion. It deceives us into believing that life is to be found outside ourselves.” He says, “It tricks us into living an ‘as soon as’ kind of life – as soon as I get to the water… my life will be better, my problems will be fixed. Perhaps there’s a voice inside you saying, “As soon as I graduate I can get out of this place.” Or “As soon as I find someone to love I’ll be happy.” Or “As soon as I get ahead in my career or make more money I’ll be satisfied and then all will be well.” “The problem with this kind of thinking,” writes Marsh, “is it puts our life on hold as we sit on our mats, imprisoned by the circumstances of our life.” The imprisonment is so great, and so crippling, that when Jesus asks the man, “Do you want to be made well?” the guy only has excuses why he isn’t. He is so focused on why he can’t get into the pool that he has forgotten what God is capable of doing inside of him. Johns story reminds us that our wellness isn’t found outside our various circumstances, but within them. In the midst of our living, whether it’s our best or broken self, Jesus comes to meet us…speaking words of life and resurrection, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” Jesus doesn’t help the man into the water, nor does he wait for the man to confess his sins or profess his faith. Jesus simply tells him what to do, and the man does it. He gets up and goes, taking his mat with him – the very mat he desperately wanted to escape. My takeaway is this: Jesus meets us, and heals us…but our mats, our scars and stories, we still have to carry…they are a living testimony to God healing the world from within itself. Healing isn’t based on us having ‘enough’ faith, but on the faithfulness of God. There is nothing this man did to earn Jesus’ approval or attention. It was done purely out of God’s love for him. Likewise, Jesus doesn’t heal so he can be praised or worshiped. He heals because that is what God’s love does. It redeems us and transforms us and makes us whole and well. We too can learn to do all kinds of miracles simply by watching and doing what Jesus does. By the way we love one another, we are able to heal the brokenness in us and in the world. This doesn’t happen with war, or greed, or economic sanctions. God’s love is the balm that heals the world. “Jesus doesn’t change our outer circumstances. He changes us” from within so that we can go out and be change makers. “He calls us into a new way of being, seeing, acting, speaking, thinking…so the world can get a taste of God’s healing love and be made well.” Jesus is offering you a type of healing that transforms the human condition – that takes your brokenness and makes you whole. He’s asking you, “Do you want to be made well?” How will you answer? In his book A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway writes, “The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places.” Jesus comes to us in our brokenness and open our eyes so we might see our cracks for what they really are – the true beauty of God at work in us. You may have heard me talk about this before, but in the fifteenth century the Japanese created an art form called “Kintsugi.” It’s where an artist takes and repairs broken pottery with a special lacquer that had been mixed with gold. The final result is a new object that is more beautiful and more valuable for having been broken and repaired. This illustration reminds me that we are cracked and broken people. Some more than others. But that’s not how God sees us. God is the artist. And Jesus is the gold that God uses to bind us back together, to make us beautiful and new. Because of Jesus, we are worth more simply because of our golden cracks. Like Hemingway reminded us, being broken is an unavoidable part of life. But through Christ Jesus, who gave his life for us, all of life is made well again. And when people see our golden scars they see God's divine grace and love in all its glory. In Questioning Jesus, we are all given a choice: “Do you want to be made well from the things in life that are crippling you?” Jesus is inviting you into a greater life, with more substance and wholeness of body, mind and spirit. Your restored life doesn’t happen “as soon as this or that happens…” but the second you answer Jesus’ question. “Do you want to be made well?” If so, then pick up your mat and go be who God made you to be, a perfect work of art – the divine image of the One who created you a beloved child, cracks and all. Work Cited Johnson, Elizabeth. Commentary on John 5:1-9. From workingpreacher.org, originally published on May 1, 2016. Marsh, Michael. “Get up off your mat.” From interruptingthesilence.com, originally published on May 6, 2013. Macdonald, Ian. From the sermon “Healing and Renewal” originally published on February 22, 2015. 
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When we see others as God sees us, then we will be able to share the love, mercy and grace that God has given to us. We are able to walk in the footsteps of Jesus who walked with the intentions of a humbled heart.
The first way we can show Christlike love is by seeking Justice. Today, Women’s rights are being challenged again. Basic human rights are being pushed aside for global corporations and special interest groups. And minority rights are almost all but gone. We are so divided that the scales of justice can’t weigh things evenly anymore. John writes about some Pharisee who brought to Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery. By law these religious men had the right to stone the woman to death. Using her to bait Jesus, they asked him if they should obey the law or not. Knowing what they were up to, Jesus said, “Let any of you who is without sin cast the first stone.” We like to play judge, jury and executioner – don’t we? The church if famous for that. We like to think our way of doing things is better than anyone else’s. This leads to all sorts of evil being done in the name of God. But that’s not the way Jesus walked. Because Jesus sought God’s will and not his own, he was able to do what was fair and right. As such, the men dropped their stones and the woman’s life was sparred because Jesus doesn’t just talk the talk – he walks the walk. Jesus’ entire ministry is draped in love and showing kindness towards everyone, especially the minorities and the marginalized. Which takes us to the second point: Kindness. If we want to walk in the footsteps of Jesus then we can’t skip over this simple way of showing love. Jesus is the poster child of kindness. He once met a leper who shouted, “Lord if you want…you can cure me.”(Mt. 8:1-4) We don’t know if the guy had faith in Jesus or just said this to anyone who passed by. Matthew’s gospel tells us that Jesus recognized him and said, “I want to cure you.” That is kindness. Jesus judged the leper fairly through the lens of love and had compassion for the man. The law required that no one could touch a leper without become ritually unclean. They were to be avoided at all cost. They were pushed out into the wilderness to die alone. Again, Jesus placed kindness and mercy above the law. He reached out and touched the man. And he was healed. Because Jesus put God’s will first, this man could return to his family, his job, and the community – including the temple – where his story of being restored would bring glory to God. Jesus teaches us that sometimes rules need not to be broken but simply looked at through the lens of God’s righteousness instead of our own need to be right. When we see others as God sees us, then we will be able to share the love, mercy and grace that God has given to us. We are able to walk in the footsteps of Jesus who walked with the intentions of a humbled heart. This takes us to our last point…Humility. All four gospels tell numerous stories of Jesus putting other people’s needs before his own. But there was no greater act of humility, then what he did for us on the cross. This was a profound act of love that defined his entire mission. Jesus faced an unjust trial where kindness was nowhere to be found. Through it, he remained virtually silent. There was no time for talk. He knew had to walk the hardest walk of all. Earlier that night, Jesus prayed “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) From his incarnation to his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus walked humbly with God. We can debate why he had to die – perhaps God really needed a perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins – but we can’t ignore the importance of those words he prayed in the garden that night he humbled himself before his enemies: “not my will but yours be done.” Our mission in life is to do the will of God – to walk the walk in the footsteps of Christ. And sometimes that requires making tough sacrifices. Jesus did what was fair and just to sinners and saints alike. So must we. Jesus showed kindness and compassion, he was loyal in his love, from the greatest to the least of these. So to must we do the same. Jesus sacrificed his entire life so that we could live throughout eternity. Are you willing to make a similar sacrifice? Are you willing to give up this life of yours so that God might live in you and be glorified? Jesus told his disciples that the Son of Man will be seen for who he is, and that God will be seen too… through him. The moment that people are able to see God at work in us, God’s glory will be on display. So perhaps the best way to worship and glorify God isn’t just by going to church but becoming the church, the body of Christ that comes together seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly before God. We are called to let God’s glory shine through us. And there is no better way to do that than by walking as Jesus walked…with God’s love as our guide. I hope you are beginning to understand that to see and do what Jesus does enables us to learn and teach the will of God. Jesus said, “Anyone who hears my words...and does them...will be like a house built on rock that can withstand the biggest storms of life.” Imagine facing your worst storms with love instead of fear. Imagine standing in love instead of revenge when people throw rocks at you, or push you way, or seek to crucify you. It’s one thing to hear the words of Jesus. It’s another to live them so faithfully that God’s glory prevails triumphantly. If you leave here today knowing one thing, I hope it’s that you will be encouraged to let justice, love, kindness, and peace define who you are. May these be the markers that identify you as you walk with Jesus for the life giving glory of God – our creator, our savior and 
My kids have taught me how to make every day Mother’s Day. By that I mean they are constantly saying, “Mom, where’s my homework?” And “Mom, what’s for dinner?" And "Mom, have you seen my sweater?" Or "Mom, will you get me a bandaid.” The only thing they say to me is, “Dad, where’s mom?” Kathleen is the one of best moms ever. I have learned so much by watching her fully embrace her motherly spirit. I have learned how to be a father… and that nothing…no books, videos, or ancient folklore can prepare a man for the experience of watching someone else give birth. Speaking of giving birth, this is also the Lord’s Day when we talk about Jesus and the new birth he offers. And this might be a better way to go since Mother’s Day isn’t a great day for some. 
In today’s reading, Jesus is with a different kind of family, his disciples. A massive crowd has surrounded them. This is early in his ministry and his mother and siblings rush to save him; fearing for his life. (READ MARK 3:31-35) Last week Jesus asked, “Do you love me?” A simple question that, as my cousin Jere pointed out, can’t be answered so simply. Today’s question is a bit more esoteric. “Who is my mother and brother?” Jesus didn’t wait for an answer. Looking at those who have gathered, those who have left their jobs and families to follow him, he declares, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, and my mother.” Typical of Jesus, he takes what we know to be the norm and turns it upside down to make it new again. Of course, Jesus doesn’t tell us what the will of God is. But I suspect the people who are there know the words of the prophet Micah who said, “And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). This is more than keeping the letter of the law, it’s about living in the true Spirit of what God desires most – love, justice, and humility. By saying a spiritual connection is stronger than any biological one, Jesus is inviting us into the most important family of all – the Family of God. I am the youngest of four, and Kathleen is number 5 of 9. How either one of us managed to survive our siblings is nothing short of a miracle. Our families can be the source of the greatest joy and deepest heartache. But they are who we were given, so we learn to adapt accordingly. Jesus teaches us to accept and love them because in God’s family all are welcomed and loved. There is no room for jealousy, pettiness, or competition. So we must set aside our differences and family squabbles, and bend our will to God’s. Some people are afraid to surrender to God’s will because they think God will make them stop having fun. That’s what mothers are for. God wants to fill you with the most enjoyment you could ever imagine. By doing the will of God, we get a foretaste of what is to come; unbound freedom, endless joy, everlasting love, and grace upon grace. Fear is removed so we can truly thrive. So how might we begin to do God’s will? I’ve been saying it every week this year. When we see and do what Jesus does we, we learn and teach the will of God. Paul says it differently in that we are to be “Imitators of Christ.” But I like how Meister Eckhart put it. “We are all called to be mothers of God, for God is always waiting to be born.” We don’t have to be child bearers to be life givers. Mother Teresa never experienced child birth, yet she certainly earned the title by being a mother to all – especially to the most vulnerable. As she so famously prayed, “in all that I do, may other’s see Christ and not me.” If we want to follow Christ, then we must bear God’s incarnate love. We must to allow it to take shape within us and bring it safely into being. Jesus has made Mother’s Day a day for everyone, because we have all been called to give birth to God’s love, grace, and peace every day. By loving kindness, seeking justice, being humble we keep Jesus’ mission alive. Today is our day to be life givers. But let us forget that for every woman honored today, there is another longing for a life to grow within her womb. Yet we can celebrate both by giving birth to the will of God. For every person whose mother was not much of a mother at all, whose memories are tainted by years of abuse and pain, you can celebrate today because Jesus welcomes you into God’s family where your scars and suffering are healed by love and forgiveness. For all mothers and children who are separated for whatever reason, you can celebrate today knowing that Jesus reconciled all things to him. And through him we all become united in God’s love; receiving mercy and grace through our faith. For those who struggle today because your mother has died and you can’t call her on the phone, and for those mothers who know the pain of burying a child – come celebrate with Mary whose son died but did not stay dead. He rose again from the grave, securing eternity for her and all who would believe. By giving over his will to do God’s will, Jesus redeems us, unites us, and transforms us into one family through his body and blood. Just as we inherited this great kinship, so to are we called to do the same. To see and do what Jesus does, so we can be life givers. Jesus gives us great power and responsibility. Through him, the love of God remains alive inside us all… until the fullness of God’s glory, the mother of all love, is revealed throughout eternity. And so I ask you this important question: Will you be my mother, my brother, my sister? Let us pray: Thank you, God, for this life, and for our opportunity to share your grace with others. Send us out in the name of Jesus to carry your love and do your will, so that those who see and learn to do the same, to the glory of your name alone, Amen
Imagine you are with them on the beach and Jesus is asking you, “Do you love me?” I think it’s a question we all need to answer, if for no other reason then we’ve all denied our Lord at least once in our lives. Today I want to look at these four simple words to see how they might speak to your heart, as you think about your answer? The first is DO: It’s a straightforward word that sets up a yes-no question. This isn’t an invitation. Jesus isn’t asking Peter to love him. Nor is it a plea, saying ‘will you love me?’ Jesus is straight to the point: DO you love me! If someone asked me, “Do you like mayonnaise?” I would say, “No I do not.” Or is someone said, “Do you like craft beer.” I would enthusiastically respond, “Yes I do.” You either like mayonnaise or you don’t. And no amount of craft beer will make you change your mind. Jesus is asking you a decisive question – with zero ambiguity. Therefore, “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.” The next word is YOU: Jesus asks, do YOU, Peter, love me? Do YOU, Ian, love me? Do YOU ______________ love me? You are the subject of the question. Just as Jesus chose his disciples, so too has Jesus chosen you. Now, Jesus is asking you to make a choice. Jesus wants to be in a personal, more meaningful relationship with you, but he’s not going to force you into it. He gives you the choice to say yes, or no. The onus is on you. On day Kathleen came up to me and said, “Yes.” And I said, “What the heck are you talking about?” And she said, “Yes, I will marry you.” No matter how she came to that conclusion, her choice forever changed my life. In scripture, Jesus describes himself as the bridegroom and you as the bride. Today, Jesus is standing at the altar ready to make a commitment to you…one that will change your life forever. But will you say, “I do”? The next word is LOVE… which gets thrown around a little too freely these days. And it might explain why we have trouble committing ourselves to it. For example I love tacos, but I’m not going to marry tacos. I love pizza but I know a relationship with pizza is not going to last very long. Love is the verb. And it ought to evoke something greater than mere pleasure. It occurs over 680 times in the Bible. In both the Hebrew and the Greek there are multiple words used for the word love. One is Storge: which is an affectionate love of someone in the family…parents loving their kids, a brother loving his sisters no matter how much they drive him crazy. Then there’s Philos: the love between friends; like Jesus had with Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Another is Eros: the physical and romantic love that happens at the end of Hallmark movies. But my favorite is Agape. This is the selfless and unconditional love. It is the love that Jesus demonstrated on the cross for our behalf. Jesus said a just few chapters before, “there is no greater love than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). In Jesus we see the perfection of God’s sacrificial love. By this love the world is redeem back to it’s rightful place. And it will never be the same again. C.S. Lewis once wrote, “To love at all is to be vulnerable.” He is right. Which is probably why so many of us are afraid to commit to loving others beyond family and friends. God knows what it’s like to be vulnerable. After all, God gives us the choice to accept or reject his love. But once you say ‘yes’ there’s no turning back to your old ways, being mere fishermen. Love is a verb that sends you out into the world to fish for people. Which takes us to the last word: ME. Last week Taylor Swift dropped a new song called “ME!” In it she sings, “I promise that you’ll never find another like me” while comparing herself to the world – proving she stands out above the rest. As the object of the question, Jesus is also saying, “I’m the only one of me.” And so he asks “Do you love me or do you love the world?” This is a tough question because we want God’s agape, yet seek and settle for the approval of family, friends, and lovers. But earlier in John’s gospel Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through ME.” In choosing Jesus, you’re choosing God who first chose you to love unconditionally. By the love of God that it has extended to you through Jesus Christ, you have been made a beloved child of God; receiving grace upon grace! Scripture tells us this is true through Jesus. But Jesus tells us is also true through you and me. If we love God, we will love one another – offering the same forgiveness and grace that God has give to us. So here’s the takeaway. When Jesus asks “Do you love ME” it’s deeply personal. Jesus wants a more meaningful relationship with you so you can have a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God whose agape allows us to have a deep and meaningful relationship with others. Thus Jesus emphatically proclaimed love as the most important command. Because those who truly love God will truly love their brothers and sisters. Not only love them, but cherish and feed them. To be agape. Such love has the power to change and transform every relationship – between you and me, us and them – by uniting us in one Spirit. That is the power of God’s redeeming, unconditional love that Jesus wants to give you and me. By saying “Yes, I love you” to Jesus, you allow God’s love to flow in and out and all around you. By saying, “Yes” to Jesus, you are saying “Yes, I love you” to the weak and the vulnerable; to the broken and the down and out. You’re saying, “Yes, I love you” to the hungry, thirsty, poor, and helpless; to the immigrant and the wayward; to the enemy and the stranger. By saying, “Yes, I love you” to Jesus you begin to see and do what he does…so that others can learn and teach the will of God for other’s to learn and teach, and so on. Your “Yes” allows the cycle of love to overpower and break the cycle of violence, hatred, racism, and tyranny that is in the world. Jesus has already answered the question. He has already shown us the power of agape. And now it’s up to us to make the choice. According to the gospel of John, this is the final time Jesus will appear to the disciples; but it’s not the last. Because wherever there is love, between you and me, there Christ is among us. You LOVE Me.
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” Imagine you are with them on the beach and Jesus is asking you, “Do you love me?” I think it’s a question we all need to answer, if for no other reason then we’ve all denied our Lord at least once in our lives. Today I want to look at these four simple words to see how they might speak to your heart, as you think about your answer? The first is DO: It’s a straightforward word that sets up a yes-no question. This isn’t an invitation. Jesus isn’t asking Peter to love him. Nor is it a plea, saying ‘will you love me?’ Jesus is straight to the point: DO you love me! If someone asked me, “Do you like mayonnaise?” I would say, “No I do not.” Or is someone said, “Do you like craft beer.” I would enthusiastically respond, “Yes I do.” You either like mayonnaise or you don’t. And no amount of craft beer will make you change your mind. Jesus is asking you a decisive question – with zero ambiguity. Therefore, “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.” The next word is YOU: Jesus asks, do YOU, Peter, love me? Do YOU, Ian, love me? Do YOU ______________ love me? You are the subject of the question. Just as Jesus chose his disciples, so too has Jesus chosen you. Now, Jesus is asking you to make a choice. Jesus wants to be in a personal, more meaningful relationship with you, but he’s not going to force you into it. He gives you the choice to say yes, or no. The onus is on you. On day Kathleen came up to me and said, “Yes.” And I said, “What the heck are you talking about?” And she said, “Yes, I will marry you.” No matter how she came to that conclusion, her choice forever changed my life. In scripture, Jesus describes himself as the bridegroom and you as the bride. Today, Jesus is standing at the altar ready to make a commitment to you…one that will change your life forever. But will you say, “I do”? The next word is LOVE… which gets thrown around a little too freely these days. And it might explain why we have trouble committing ourselves to it. For example I love tacos, but I’m not going to marry tacos. I love pizza but I know a relationship with pizza is not going to last very long. Love is the verb. And it ought to evoke something greater than mere pleasure. It occurs over 680 times in the Bible. In both the Hebrew and the Greek there are multiple words used for the word love. One is Storge: which is an affectionate love of someone in the family…parents loving their kids, a brother loving his sisters no matter how much they drive him crazy. Then there’s Philos: the love between friends; like Jesus had with Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Another is Eros: the physical and romantic love that happens at the end of Hallmark movies. But my favorite is Agape. This is the selfless and unconditional love. It is the love that Jesus demonstrated on the cross for our behalf. Jesus said a just few chapters before, “there is no greater love than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). In Jesus we see the perfection of God’s sacrificial love. By this love the world is redeem back to it’s rightful place. And it will never be the same again. C.S. Lewis once wrote, “To love at all is to be vulnerable.” He is right. Which is probably why so many of us are afraid to commit to loving others beyond family and friends. God knows what it’s like to be vulnerable. After all, God gives us the choice to accept or reject his love. But once you say ‘yes’ there’s no turning back to your old ways, being mere fishermen. Love is a verb that sends you out into the world to fish for people. Which takes us to the last word: ME. Last week Taylor Swift dropped a new song called “ME!” In it she sings, “I promise that you’ll never find another like me” while comparing herself to the world – proving she stands out above the rest. As the object of the question, Jesus is also saying, “I’m the only one of me.” And so he asks “Do you love me or do you love the world?” This is a tough question because we want God’s agape, yet seek and settle for the approval of family, friends, and lovers. But earlier in John’s gospel Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through ME.” In choosing Jesus, you’re choosing God who first chose you to love unconditionally. By the love of God that it has extended to you through Jesus Christ, you have been made a beloved child of God; receiving grace upon grace! Scripture tells us this is true through Jesus. But Jesus tells us is also true through you and me. If we love God, we will love one another – offering the same forgiveness and grace that God has give to us. So here’s the takeaway. When Jesus asks “Do you love ME” it’s deeply personal. Jesus wants a more meaningful relationship with you so you can have a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God whose agape allows us to have a deep and meaningful relationship with others. Thus Jesus emphatically proclaimed love as the most important command. Because those who truly love God will truly love their brothers and sisters. Not only love them, but cherish and feed them. To be agape. Such love has the power to change and transform every relationship – between you and me, us and them – by uniting us in one Spirit. That is the power of God’s redeeming, unconditional love that Jesus wants to give you and me. By saying “Yes, I love you” to Jesus, you allow God’s love to flow in and out and all around you. By saying, “Yes” to Jesus, you are saying “Yes, I love you” to the weak and the vulnerable; to the broken and the down and out. You’re saying, “Yes, I love you” to the hungry, thirsty, poor, and helpless; to the immigrant and the wayward; to the enemy and the stranger. By saying, “Yes, I love you” to Jesus you begin to see and do what he does…so that others can learn and teach the will of God for other’s to learn and teach, and so on. Your “Yes” allows the cycle of love to overpower and break the cycle of violence, hatred, racism, and tyranny that is in the world. Jesus has already answered the question. He has already shown us the power of agape. And now it’s up to us to make the choice. According to the gospel of John, this is the final time Jesus will appear to the disciples; but it’s not the last. Because wherever there is love, between you and me, there Christ is among us. You LOVEMe. |
Rev. Ianhas been blogging under the name: Jesus not Jesús: Looking for Christ in the face of strangers. You can read his posts and browse his archives by clicking here. Sermon Archives
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