John 20:1-18 “Our Testimony: Jesus Lives”
I’m sure you’ve heard about the time the Sunday School teacher asked about the true meaning of Easter.
The first child to respond said, “It’s when we color eggs and our parents hide them and we look for them.”
The Teacher politely responded that there is more to it than that.
The next child told her, “It’s when we find a basked full of goodies that the Easter Bunny brings and we eat lots of chocolate and candy.”
The Teacher again asked for something more.
Little Joey responded, “It’s when we remember that Jesus rose out of the tomb …”
“Wonderful,” thought the Teacher.
Joey continued, “and if he sees his shadow there is 6 weeks more of winter.”
Easter means different things do different people.
James MacDonald, a pastor in Chicago, said, “For those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ and take the Gospel seriously, this is our Big Time. Sports fanatics have the Super Bowl, but if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, this is our weekend.”
As Christians we’ve celebrated the triumphal entry, the mystery of Jesus in the Upper Room (washing the feet of his disciples, giving them his broken body and shed blood), the horror of Good Friday, and now we arrive at Easter – Resurrection Day.
Apostles Creed (An important confession of the early believers) states, “I believe in . . . Jesus Christ . . . on the third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven and he is seated at the right hand of the father.”
Did you ever play the game of Jenga? You pull out the blocks until the stack falls – hopefully for the other person playing. Pulling out the block of the resurrection is what would make the whole thing, we call Christianity, fall.
WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT QUESTIONS THE RESURRECTION
It’s interesting – George Barna Reports – 30% of self described evangelical born-again Christians don’t believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus from the Dead.
Time Magazine (March 2004) was dedicated to “The Search for Jesus.” According to “The Jesus Seminar,” The descriptions of the trial, crucifixion and resurrection in the Gospels have been deemed inauthentic. Unbelievable. Jesus couldn’t have risen from the dead.
These teachings are what led Sigmund Freud to declare, “Religion is the Opiate of the People” and Frederick Nietzsche, “God is Dead”
Our founding father, Thomas Jefferson, cut the resurrection stories out of his personal version of the Bible, dismissing them as too astonishing to believe. His version of the Gospel ends with “There laid they Jesus, and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.” (Jefferson Bible, chapter 17, verses 63-64 http://www.angelfire.com/co/JeffersonBible/)
Is it possible to be a Christian and not believe in the Resurrection of Jesus?
Not if an empty grave is the pivotal reason for our faith.
FOR OUR FAITH
The Apostle Paul wrote. “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” (I Cor 15:14) “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile.” (I Cor 15:17)
As Christians, without the resurrection, we have nothing to live for, no purpose for our existence. Our Faith – what we firmly believe in – is useless and futile.
"Futile" (Greek, canos – empty) – a great waste of time.
Church, worship, programs, activities, tithes and offerings – useless.
Loving others, community outreach, missionary work - all secular humanism.
JESUS APPROACH
Jesus didn’t make a big show out of the resurrection. If he did, it could have changed everything.
If it were me … I’d jump out and say, “Ta - Da!” I would have shown off to as many people as possible. They would have known right away: The newspapers, the press, CNN, FOX News.
Jesus, on the other hand, went and spoke with those closest to him, in a mysterious way.
If only he had appeared to Pilate, Caiaphas, Herod, or even Caesar – everything would have been different. But he sought out those closest to him – his friends and followers. It would never have stood up in a court of law. These witnesses have a vested interest.
Ultimately, Jesus was interested in his followers … not in the Pilates, Ciaphas, or Caesars. His followers: these were the ones who had followed him, trusted him, put their faith in him.
OUR RESPONSE
Would you recognize Jesus, if you saw him?
Recognizing Jesus is key to the Easter story.
The first time Mary Magdalene saw the risen Jesus, she thought he was a gardener.
Peter, John, the other disciples all were amazed when they saw the risen Jesus.
Thomas needed to feel his wounds to believe it was him.
Jesus appeared to two people on the road to Emmaus (today’s Sunday School lesson)
I’m sure they would have acted different if they knew it was Jesus.
Mary thought he was a gardener.
I’ve had my share of embarrassing and odd experiences of talking with people that I should have known who they were.
As a college student, I was walking to class, complaining with another person about what I heard about the new professor - it was him. Oops!
At the Cochabamba, Bolivia Airport, I saw a humble looking man sitting alone in the waiting area. I asked him about his perspective on the current social problems affecting Bolivia. I talked about the role of faith in our response to the present riots and that I was on my way to a church meeting to decide how to react to the current wave of political unrest. The person turned out to be Evo Morales, who is presently the President of Bolivia. Oops!
Mary, talking to a gardener in the garden near Jesus’ tomb, “They have taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they have put him.”
Jesus / Gardner, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?
Mary, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
Jesus, “Mary”
The sound of her name – in that familiar voice - was all she needed.
Mary went to see a tomb with a body; the other gospels tell us she went to put spices on the body.
Mary found the risen Lord.
I showed the children an empty Easter basket. They were disappointed. Easter is the holiday we celebrate finding nothing. The tomb was empty. We can stay in our disappointment in an empty basket (tomb), or, like the disciples, we can rejoice in seeing the resurrected Jesus.
OUR HOPES
They had hoped that Jesus would be the one who would redeem Israel.
What are your hopes about Jesus? Jesus wants to speak to you in a personal way.
Every Easter morning in Bolivia the protestant evangelical churches march to the Coronilla Hill after an all night prayer vigil (sort of a wake for Jesus). At the Coronilla they celebrate the resurrection!
One year I noticed my friend Jaime Goytia sitting in the crowd of about 20K. Jaime’s father was the 8th protestant Christian in Bolivia. Jaime had seen the believers grow in number from a handful to a great multitude. God is doing things. The risen Jesus is still revealing himself to people going all sorts of places.
Mary didn’t recognize Jesus.
Maybe what’s most important is that Jesus recognized Mary.
Mary felt that God had left her. She (and the other disciples) were without hope and discouraged in the way things turned out.
In the midst of her despair, she was reassured by Jesus presence – He was alive!
Like Mary, we may feel discouraged in the way things have turned out. Jesus presence can assure us as well. Jesus wants you to recognize him. He calls out your name. Are you listening? :I died for you …. Will you live for me?”
Don’t wait for an announcement on the evening news, a CNN newscase, a proclamation from the White House. Look for Jesus; you’ll find him. “Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) You will be surprised what you find.
Mary was looking for a sealed tomb. She found Jesus.
Mary’s testimony to the others (John 20:18) was, “I have seen the Lord!”
Our testimony is the same – whatever we’re looking for, we need to feel the Lord’s presence in our lives and our testimony is our personal experience with Jesus. That’s enough.
Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with you. It’s the only way you can say, “I have seen the Lord!”
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Sermon Synopsis for March 9, 2008
John 11:1-45 “Into New Life”
We talked about the story of Lazarus in John 11. Maybe you heard about the Children’s Sunday School class that studied the story. The little boy asked the teacher hy the Bible doesn’t mention the others that came out of the grave?
The teacher asked why he thinks there were others in the grave.
The Boy responded, “The Bible says that Lazarus came forth.”
That’s a King James Version Joke. That’s a problem with new translations of the Bible – They ruin a lot of old jokes.
HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
When our relationship with God is good, it’s easy to do many things:
- To attend church and S.S.
- To contribute to the offering and special projects
- To help out where you can
- Volunteer
What about when things get rough?
- Arthritis is keeping you from doing what you enjoy
- Problems of old age, the body is wearing out
- Financial problems
- Marriage problems
- Tragic accident (boy killed in motorcycle accident a month ago)
- your sister-in-law is dying
- your mother is dying
- you are dying
When difficulties enter our lives, sometimes it affects our relationship with God.
How is your relationship with God then?
Martha, Mary and Lazarus had a special relationship with Jesus. They were good friends.
When Jesus heard Lazarus was ill, he waited a couple of days and then went to visit the family. It doesn’t make sense for him to wait if he really liked Lazarus and family. He told his disciples, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep,” by which he meant Lazarus was dead.
MOST OF US WOULD GO TO THE FUNERAL OF A FRIEND
Funerals are a time to remember special relationships we had with people. They are difficult; because we won’t see that person any longer in just the same way we knew them.
Lazarus (and his sisters Mary and Martha) were friends with Jesus and his disciples. Lazarus had died. Jesus went (late) to the funeral; when all the grieving was in full swing.
It turned out to be one of the oddest funerals in the history of the world – Lazarus came back to life and they had a great reunion among friends. Most funerals don’t turn out that way.
Funerals often bring accusations. (The “if onlys”)
- If only I hadn’t let him go
- If only I had seen the warning symptoms
- If only I had sent her to the doctor sooner
The “If Onlys” can destroy us.
As Jesus was approaching the town of Bethany; the funeral was in full swing. The mourners were “sitting shivah.” Martha came out to see Jesus with her “if only.” “Jesus, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21)
Later on, Mary caught up with Jesus and had her own “if only.”
When I was director of the Baptist Seminary in Cochabamba, Bolivia, we sent our students to do internship ministry. A group was going South, over the Taquina mountain range to minister in rural villages. Long story shorter – a tragic accident killed a number of the students. Enrique Ferufino was one of those who died. A bad case of the “if onlys” hit hard. It hit me, the other students, the churches, the seminary, especially his family and community. It was so bad, we considered closing the seminary for a while.
When Martha came with her “if only,” Jesus told Martha, “Your brother will rise again”
Martha replied, “I know, in the end times.”
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believe in me will live …”
Jesus was telling Martha, “Trust me” “Believe in me”
Jesus came to the funeral so they would trust in him.
JESUS WANTS TO BE OUR FRIEND
John 15:15 says, “I no longer call you servants … instead I call you friends.”
Confession time: I had a speeding ticket last week. Your pastor is in trouble with the law. Sorry. I look at that section of road differently now.
The fact is, when there are police around, I drive differently.
Many people consider God as a police rather than a friend.
Jesus is our Savior. He is our Master. He is the eternal God who came to this earth and was made a man. Jesus is the Son of God who offered Himself as a sacrifice on Calvary for our sins. He who knew no sin was made sin on our behalf that we might be made the righteous of God in Him. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day; thereby proving Himself to be both the Son of God and God the Son. Jesus ascended into heaven and took His place on the throne at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus is our ruler, judge, and King. But is he our friend? Would you be comfortable talking to him the way you do to your friends in "your language?"
Jesus wants that kind of relationship with us. You don’t become friends easy. It means spending time together. It means sharing ideas, feelings, experiences. Going fishing together, hunting together, sewing together, shopping together.
The words friendship and together are just about inseparable.
Jesus became friends with Mary, Martha & Lazarus. And the bottom line of their relationship – he loved them. (Greek: filios – “like a brother”)
Jesus loved Lazarus, and we suppose that Lazarus loved Jesus too.
That’s why Lazarus’ death upset Jesus so much.
Jesus likes to be present at his friends funerals.
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE TELLS US THAT JESUS WANTS TO GO TO OUR FUNERALS, JUST LIKE HE WENT TO LAZARUS’ FUNERAL.
Jesus shares our emotions:
Everyone was crying – Mary, Martha, all the people at the funeral …
What was Jesus’ response?
Shortest verse in the English language Bible (John 11:35) “Jesus wept.”
Why did Jesus weep?
Certainly he was moved by the death of his friend and the emotion of everyone else.
Jesus wept …
Because it isn’t fair!
Death dominates.
It’s not the way God wants it to be
God wants us to live - that’s why Jesus came into the world. We learned that fact from Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus. John 3:16-17 - God loves the world so much, he sent Jesus … so that we might live. God didn’t send Jesus to condemn us – we already feel bad enough … God sent Jesus that through him we might be saved
God cries, God weeps - at a world of sin / anger / hatred / death
God sees the sickness, the sadness, the troubles, the sorrow – and it makes God sad.
So he sends Jesus - to do something about it.
Even though it looks like it’s too late (like it was for Lazarus), the gospel message is “It’s not too late!”
It wasn’t fair that Jesus suffered and died; it was one of the great tragedies of all time.
But God used that suffering and death that we might have life.
Jesus said to disciples in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
When I reflect on my personal friendships, I realized that I really haven’t done much for my friends. Friends do nice things for each other. I had been a friend. I loaned money; treated them to a meal; shared experiences; given them nice gifts (rule: the nicer the gift the better the friend): prayed with them and for them.
I’ve read about friends who: gave a kidney; worked so they could get an education; given large sums of cash. However, I never thought about dying for a friend. It’s tough to think about.
Jesus is just that kind of friend. He wants that kind of relationship with us.
TO THE POINT
Jesus was present at Lazarus funeral. It turned out to be one of the oddest funerals in the history of the world – Lazarus came back to life and they had a great reunion among friends. Most funerals don’t turn out that way.
In two weeks we celebrate the funeral of Jesus (Good Friday). That’s another funeral that didn’t turn out as most people expected.
Friendships are important, but they don't always last. Most of the friends I had as a kid are long gone. The friends I had as a teenager are a distance away. Even many of the friends that I have had as an adult have drifted away. Jesus knows us and loves us. He stands by for us. He cares about our weakness and loneliness. Jesus will always be there for us. He wants to be our friend. He loves us.
Here's Jesus' promise to you! "When you are sad…I will dry your tears. When you are scared…I will comfort your fears…when you are worried…I will give you hope…And when you are lost and cannot see the light…I shall be your beacon, shinning ever so bright. This is my promise, I pledge till the end. 'Why?' you may ask…because you are my friend." Because I love you.
The tragic death of Enrique Ferrufino (long story short), resulted in many coming to Christ.
Lazarus’ death and resurrection resulted in … v. 45 “many … put their faith in him.” They trusted Jesus.
How is your relationship with Jesus?
Is he your friend?
Jesus will come into your life. – Invite Him!
Jesus will come to your funeral.
He will give you new life.
We talked about the story of Lazarus in John 11. Maybe you heard about the Children’s Sunday School class that studied the story. The little boy asked the teacher hy the Bible doesn’t mention the others that came out of the grave?
The teacher asked why he thinks there were others in the grave.
The Boy responded, “The Bible says that Lazarus came forth.”
That’s a King James Version Joke. That’s a problem with new translations of the Bible – They ruin a lot of old jokes.
HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
When our relationship with God is good, it’s easy to do many things:
- To attend church and S.S.
- To contribute to the offering and special projects
- To help out where you can
- Volunteer
What about when things get rough?
- Arthritis is keeping you from doing what you enjoy
- Problems of old age, the body is wearing out
- Financial problems
- Marriage problems
- Tragic accident (boy killed in motorcycle accident a month ago)
- your sister-in-law is dying
- your mother is dying
- you are dying
When difficulties enter our lives, sometimes it affects our relationship with God.
How is your relationship with God then?
Martha, Mary and Lazarus had a special relationship with Jesus. They were good friends.
When Jesus heard Lazarus was ill, he waited a couple of days and then went to visit the family. It doesn’t make sense for him to wait if he really liked Lazarus and family. He told his disciples, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep,” by which he meant Lazarus was dead.
MOST OF US WOULD GO TO THE FUNERAL OF A FRIEND
Funerals are a time to remember special relationships we had with people. They are difficult; because we won’t see that person any longer in just the same way we knew them.
Lazarus (and his sisters Mary and Martha) were friends with Jesus and his disciples. Lazarus had died. Jesus went (late) to the funeral; when all the grieving was in full swing.
It turned out to be one of the oddest funerals in the history of the world – Lazarus came back to life and they had a great reunion among friends. Most funerals don’t turn out that way.
Funerals often bring accusations. (The “if onlys”)
- If only I hadn’t let him go
- If only I had seen the warning symptoms
- If only I had sent her to the doctor sooner
The “If Onlys” can destroy us.
As Jesus was approaching the town of Bethany; the funeral was in full swing. The mourners were “sitting shivah.” Martha came out to see Jesus with her “if only.” “Jesus, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21)
Later on, Mary caught up with Jesus and had her own “if only.”
When I was director of the Baptist Seminary in Cochabamba, Bolivia, we sent our students to do internship ministry. A group was going South, over the Taquina mountain range to minister in rural villages. Long story shorter – a tragic accident killed a number of the students. Enrique Ferufino was one of those who died. A bad case of the “if onlys” hit hard. It hit me, the other students, the churches, the seminary, especially his family and community. It was so bad, we considered closing the seminary for a while.
When Martha came with her “if only,” Jesus told Martha, “Your brother will rise again”
Martha replied, “I know, in the end times.”
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believe in me will live …”
Jesus was telling Martha, “Trust me” “Believe in me”
Jesus came to the funeral so they would trust in him.
JESUS WANTS TO BE OUR FRIEND
John 15:15 says, “I no longer call you servants … instead I call you friends.”
Confession time: I had a speeding ticket last week. Your pastor is in trouble with the law. Sorry. I look at that section of road differently now.
The fact is, when there are police around, I drive differently.
Many people consider God as a police rather than a friend.
Jesus is our Savior. He is our Master. He is the eternal God who came to this earth and was made a man. Jesus is the Son of God who offered Himself as a sacrifice on Calvary for our sins. He who knew no sin was made sin on our behalf that we might be made the righteous of God in Him. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day; thereby proving Himself to be both the Son of God and God the Son. Jesus ascended into heaven and took His place on the throne at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus is our ruler, judge, and King. But is he our friend? Would you be comfortable talking to him the way you do to your friends in "your language?"
Jesus wants that kind of relationship with us. You don’t become friends easy. It means spending time together. It means sharing ideas, feelings, experiences. Going fishing together, hunting together, sewing together, shopping together.
The words friendship and together are just about inseparable.
Jesus became friends with Mary, Martha & Lazarus. And the bottom line of their relationship – he loved them. (Greek: filios – “like a brother”)
Jesus loved Lazarus, and we suppose that Lazarus loved Jesus too.
That’s why Lazarus’ death upset Jesus so much.
Jesus likes to be present at his friends funerals.
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE TELLS US THAT JESUS WANTS TO GO TO OUR FUNERALS, JUST LIKE HE WENT TO LAZARUS’ FUNERAL.
Jesus shares our emotions:
Everyone was crying – Mary, Martha, all the people at the funeral …
What was Jesus’ response?
Shortest verse in the English language Bible (John 11:35) “Jesus wept.”
Why did Jesus weep?
Certainly he was moved by the death of his friend and the emotion of everyone else.
Jesus wept …
Because it isn’t fair!
Death dominates.
It’s not the way God wants it to be
God wants us to live - that’s why Jesus came into the world. We learned that fact from Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus. John 3:16-17 - God loves the world so much, he sent Jesus … so that we might live. God didn’t send Jesus to condemn us – we already feel bad enough … God sent Jesus that through him we might be saved
God cries, God weeps - at a world of sin / anger / hatred / death
God sees the sickness, the sadness, the troubles, the sorrow – and it makes God sad.
So he sends Jesus - to do something about it.
Even though it looks like it’s too late (like it was for Lazarus), the gospel message is “It’s not too late!”
It wasn’t fair that Jesus suffered and died; it was one of the great tragedies of all time.
But God used that suffering and death that we might have life.
Jesus said to disciples in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
When I reflect on my personal friendships, I realized that I really haven’t done much for my friends. Friends do nice things for each other. I had been a friend. I loaned money; treated them to a meal; shared experiences; given them nice gifts (rule: the nicer the gift the better the friend): prayed with them and for them.
I’ve read about friends who: gave a kidney; worked so they could get an education; given large sums of cash. However, I never thought about dying for a friend. It’s tough to think about.
Jesus is just that kind of friend. He wants that kind of relationship with us.
TO THE POINT
Jesus was present at Lazarus funeral. It turned out to be one of the oddest funerals in the history of the world – Lazarus came back to life and they had a great reunion among friends. Most funerals don’t turn out that way.
In two weeks we celebrate the funeral of Jesus (Good Friday). That’s another funeral that didn’t turn out as most people expected.
Friendships are important, but they don't always last. Most of the friends I had as a kid are long gone. The friends I had as a teenager are a distance away. Even many of the friends that I have had as an adult have drifted away. Jesus knows us and loves us. He stands by for us. He cares about our weakness and loneliness. Jesus will always be there for us. He wants to be our friend. He loves us.
Here's Jesus' promise to you! "When you are sad…I will dry your tears. When you are scared…I will comfort your fears…when you are worried…I will give you hope…And when you are lost and cannot see the light…I shall be your beacon, shinning ever so bright. This is my promise, I pledge till the end. 'Why?' you may ask…because you are my friend." Because I love you.
The tragic death of Enrique Ferrufino (long story short), resulted in many coming to Christ.
Lazarus’ death and resurrection resulted in … v. 45 “many … put their faith in him.” They trusted Jesus.
How is your relationship with Jesus?
Is he your friend?
Jesus will come into your life. – Invite Him!
Jesus will come to your funeral.
He will give you new life.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Sermon Synopsis for March 2, 2008
“Into New Sight” John 9:1-41
Maybe you’ve heard …
Jesus shows up in the darndest places. One day he was in a local coffee shop.
The waiter was washing mugs, when an elderly Dominican man came in and hoisted his bad leg on the chair beside him, pulled himself up painfully, and asked for some espresso. The Dominican looked across the room and said, "Is that Jesus down there?" The waiter nodded and the Dominican told him to give Jesus an espresso too.
The next patron was an ailing Italian with a hunched back and slowness of movement. He shuffled up to the counter and asked for a mocha latte. He also looked down the counter and asked if that was Jesus sitting down there. The waiter nodded and the Italian said to give him a mocha latte.
The third patron, an American, limped in dragging his leg on the floor and hollered, "Waiter, gimme a black coffee. Hey, is that Jesus down there?" The waiter nodded, and the American told him he wanted to buy Jesus a coffee too.
As Jesus got up to leave, he walked over to the Dominican, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed!" The Dominican felt the strength come back to his leg, and he got up and danced to the door.
Jesus touched the Italian and said, "For your kindness you are healed!" The Italian felt his back straighten, and he raised his hands above his head and did a flip out the door.
As Jesus walked toward the American, the American jumped back and exclaimed, "Don't touch me, I'm drawin' disability!"
It’s just a story, but we know that people get comfortable in their condition …
… they work things out and they get comfortable in their disability.
JESUS HAD A HABIT OF GETTING INTO TROUBLE
In today’s scripture passage we see a man who was blind from birth; his encounter with Jesus enabled him to see. He was looking for a donation, but he received sight. Jesus wants us to see … to see what is right and good and pleasing to God.
It’s difficult to imagine, that healing a blind man can get you into trouble, but that’s just what happened to Jesus.
You see, the ones who are truly blind, who truly need to be healed by Jesus, don’t always want to be healed. They’d rather stay on spiritual disability.
Here’s the story in a nutshell: (I thank Cathy, Wanda, Jonna and the Junior Youth for enacting the story in John 9 for us)
One Sabbath Jesus came across a man who had been blind since birth (he had accepted the condition and learned to live with it). The disciples asked him – who is the sinner, this man or his parents? To prove a point (that sin is a human condition and not always a specific sin), Jesus healed the man. He healed him in an odd sort of way – mixing dirt with spit and putting it over his eye and telling him to wash it in the central pool. If someone put mud in my eye, you wouldn’t have to tell me to wash it off.
The children in church liked the idea of playing with mud. We found that Jesus can use ordinary things (like even us) to do amazing things for God.
There are other amazing parts of this scripture story: The reaction of the Jewish leaders.
They were the law enforcers. The Pharisee leaders were more interested in the fact that Jesus did this on a Sabbath, than that the man was healed.
It seems that obedience – or disobedience - to the law was more important than being made well. The Pharisee leaders had a dilemma.
I understand their difficulty, their struggle:
I was recently at a banquet at Weaver Market (Adamstown). Scratched on the stall wall in the men’s room was: “God Loves You.” What do I think? Am I glad that someone wants others to know that God loves them or am I upset that an apparent Christian defaced the wall in the restroom?
I’m not sure how to feel. I’m sure the Pharisee leaders of Jesus time were in a similar quandary.
How do you decide? God gave laws (Sabbath) / God heals.
God makes the rules about what is sin / God cleanses us from sin.
The Pharisee leaders should have rejoiced because of the healing (what God was doing in the life of the blind man), but they chose to focus on the law. Because (they thought) that obedience to the law is what makes you right with God.
The blind man found out that Jesus’ touch and God’s forgiveness made him right with God.
In the face of such an event …
Why would you opt for following the rules when you can have true healing?
Let me put it this way: Why would you stay on disability when you can be healthy?
The disability thing is a good excuse, it’s comfortable, and it’s gladly accepted. But if Jesus brings something better, why not take it?
We sometimes get into a quandary similar to that of the Pharisees.
What about our X-treme Worship:
It has loud rock music; It doesn’t seem respectful and reverent; they don’t use our traditional hymns.
On the other hand, young people are using their gifts for God and are coming to Christ.
How does leadership decide?
Apostle Paul tells us (Phil 2:12) to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”
Our faith is a struggle when it meets real life situations.
THINGS HAPPEN WHEN JESUS IS AROUND
Because of this encounter with Jesus, the man saw differently; his life was changed. Jesus made him right with God. He would never be the same.
You see – this man was struggling with the same issue as Jesus’ disciples.
Because of his blindness (his flaw) he felt that there must be some sin in his life, or in his family, that caused it.
The traditional teaching of the day was that blindness (and any illness) comes because of sin. It was the way of explaining away the problems in their lives.
What about the Problem of Sin?
Much of the discussion in the Scripture passage in John 9 centered on sin. Sin is a problem!
v. 2. Who sinned? The man blind from birth, or his parents?
v. 16. Is Jesus a sinner? Can a sinner perform miracles in God’s name?
vv. 24-25. Is Jesus a sinner? The Pharisee leadership says he is; the healed man is confused about the problem of sin, but he is certain about his healing. The sign of his sin is gone.
v. 31. God doesn’t listen to sinners. If Jesus weren’t from God (sinless) he couldn’t perform miracles.
v. 34. The formerly blind man was “steeped in sin a birth.”
What is Sin? It’s that barrier that keeps us from getting close to God.
You see, the blind man was considered a sinner.
He couldn’t go to the Temple.
He couldn’t offer sacrifices.
He listened to the praise and worship from a distance.
That was a tough situation.
He couldn’t go to God, so God sent Jesus to him.
Jesus doesn’t want his followers on “Spiritual Disability.” He wants to make us right with God. Things happen when Jesus is around.
Pharisee leadership needed to know a few things:
1. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23). Sickness and illness are part of a fallen world.
2. God wants to forgive us our sins. We need to confess our sins (1 John 1:9)
3. God sent Jesus to heal us from our spiritual disability, to forgive us of our sins.
Isaiah 53:4-5 tells us, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.”
John Newton’s mother taught him to pray, but she died when he was 7 and his heart hardened against God. He became a wild, young man who mocked Christianity and drowned himself in drink.
At 23, while a crewman on a slave ship, Newton was jolted awake by a violent storm—so terrifying that he cried out to the Lord. The John Newton who arrived safely in England was a repentant man. For the rest of his life he would refer to March 10, 1748, as the day of his conversion.
Unfortunately, Newton's conversion did not change his views of slavery for many years. He became the captain of his own slave ship. In time, under the influence of famed abolitionist William Wilberforce and Anglican priests John Wesley and George Whitefield, he had another spiritual awakening. In 1760 he became an ordained minister and a powerful foe of slavery.
He eventually became pastor of a church in Olney. While there he wrote a hymn that he had been carrying with him for some time. On Jan. 1, 1773, his congregation sang a new hymn entitled "Faith's Review and Expectation." We know it by a different name.
John Newton wrote, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see." Eventually John Newton's eyes failed and he was totally blind when he died—but he had seen clearly the wonder of God's grace.
God helped John Newton see things differently. His spiritual disability had been cured.
JESUS HELPS US TO SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY
This Lenten Season is a good time to ask, How is your relationship with God? Jesus wants to make you whole, to heal you. Jesus wants to help you see the world differently.
Who needed to see?
Obviously it’s that the man born blind needed to see. Jesus changed his life in many ways.
It becomes obvious that the Pharisee leadership is blind on a deeper level – to God’s presence and power in this world.
We all need to see God at work in the lives of others around us, and in our own lives.
Why did Jesus come?
… to enforce the law, or to set people free?
Dove Award winner Paul Baloche, was in a prayer meeting at his church, Community Christian Fellowship in Lindale, TX. The Pastor prayed, “Open the eyes of our hearts so that we can understand your world.” The phrase stuck in his mind.
One morning, Baloche was playing music on his guitar during an altar call at a revival meeting. The phrase came back to him, “Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord. We want to see You.” The story goes, that others started to sing with him, and the song was born.
Good things (unexpected things) happen when we are in a right relationship with God. …
How is your relationship with God? Maybe you need to sing along?
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord;
Open the eyes of my heart.
I want to see You!
I want to see You!
Maybe you’ve heard …
Jesus shows up in the darndest places. One day he was in a local coffee shop.
The waiter was washing mugs, when an elderly Dominican man came in and hoisted his bad leg on the chair beside him, pulled himself up painfully, and asked for some espresso. The Dominican looked across the room and said, "Is that Jesus down there?" The waiter nodded and the Dominican told him to give Jesus an espresso too.
The next patron was an ailing Italian with a hunched back and slowness of movement. He shuffled up to the counter and asked for a mocha latte. He also looked down the counter and asked if that was Jesus sitting down there. The waiter nodded and the Italian said to give him a mocha latte.
The third patron, an American, limped in dragging his leg on the floor and hollered, "Waiter, gimme a black coffee. Hey, is that Jesus down there?" The waiter nodded, and the American told him he wanted to buy Jesus a coffee too.
As Jesus got up to leave, he walked over to the Dominican, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed!" The Dominican felt the strength come back to his leg, and he got up and danced to the door.
Jesus touched the Italian and said, "For your kindness you are healed!" The Italian felt his back straighten, and he raised his hands above his head and did a flip out the door.
As Jesus walked toward the American, the American jumped back and exclaimed, "Don't touch me, I'm drawin' disability!"
It’s just a story, but we know that people get comfortable in their condition …
… they work things out and they get comfortable in their disability.
JESUS HAD A HABIT OF GETTING INTO TROUBLE
In today’s scripture passage we see a man who was blind from birth; his encounter with Jesus enabled him to see. He was looking for a donation, but he received sight. Jesus wants us to see … to see what is right and good and pleasing to God.
It’s difficult to imagine, that healing a blind man can get you into trouble, but that’s just what happened to Jesus.
You see, the ones who are truly blind, who truly need to be healed by Jesus, don’t always want to be healed. They’d rather stay on spiritual disability.
Here’s the story in a nutshell: (I thank Cathy, Wanda, Jonna and the Junior Youth for enacting the story in John 9 for us)
One Sabbath Jesus came across a man who had been blind since birth (he had accepted the condition and learned to live with it). The disciples asked him – who is the sinner, this man or his parents? To prove a point (that sin is a human condition and not always a specific sin), Jesus healed the man. He healed him in an odd sort of way – mixing dirt with spit and putting it over his eye and telling him to wash it in the central pool. If someone put mud in my eye, you wouldn’t have to tell me to wash it off.
The children in church liked the idea of playing with mud. We found that Jesus can use ordinary things (like even us) to do amazing things for God.
There are other amazing parts of this scripture story: The reaction of the Jewish leaders.
They were the law enforcers. The Pharisee leaders were more interested in the fact that Jesus did this on a Sabbath, than that the man was healed.
It seems that obedience – or disobedience - to the law was more important than being made well. The Pharisee leaders had a dilemma.
I understand their difficulty, their struggle:
I was recently at a banquet at Weaver Market (Adamstown). Scratched on the stall wall in the men’s room was: “God Loves You.” What do I think? Am I glad that someone wants others to know that God loves them or am I upset that an apparent Christian defaced the wall in the restroom?
I’m not sure how to feel. I’m sure the Pharisee leaders of Jesus time were in a similar quandary.
How do you decide? God gave laws (Sabbath) / God heals.
God makes the rules about what is sin / God cleanses us from sin.
The Pharisee leaders should have rejoiced because of the healing (what God was doing in the life of the blind man), but they chose to focus on the law. Because (they thought) that obedience to the law is what makes you right with God.
The blind man found out that Jesus’ touch and God’s forgiveness made him right with God.
In the face of such an event …
Why would you opt for following the rules when you can have true healing?
Let me put it this way: Why would you stay on disability when you can be healthy?
The disability thing is a good excuse, it’s comfortable, and it’s gladly accepted. But if Jesus brings something better, why not take it?
We sometimes get into a quandary similar to that of the Pharisees.
What about our X-treme Worship:
It has loud rock music; It doesn’t seem respectful and reverent; they don’t use our traditional hymns.
On the other hand, young people are using their gifts for God and are coming to Christ.
How does leadership decide?
Apostle Paul tells us (Phil 2:12) to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”
Our faith is a struggle when it meets real life situations.
THINGS HAPPEN WHEN JESUS IS AROUND
Because of this encounter with Jesus, the man saw differently; his life was changed. Jesus made him right with God. He would never be the same.
You see – this man was struggling with the same issue as Jesus’ disciples.
Because of his blindness (his flaw) he felt that there must be some sin in his life, or in his family, that caused it.
The traditional teaching of the day was that blindness (and any illness) comes because of sin. It was the way of explaining away the problems in their lives.
What about the Problem of Sin?
Much of the discussion in the Scripture passage in John 9 centered on sin. Sin is a problem!
v. 2. Who sinned? The man blind from birth, or his parents?
v. 16. Is Jesus a sinner? Can a sinner perform miracles in God’s name?
vv. 24-25. Is Jesus a sinner? The Pharisee leadership says he is; the healed man is confused about the problem of sin, but he is certain about his healing. The sign of his sin is gone.
v. 31. God doesn’t listen to sinners. If Jesus weren’t from God (sinless) he couldn’t perform miracles.
v. 34. The formerly blind man was “steeped in sin a birth.”
What is Sin? It’s that barrier that keeps us from getting close to God.
You see, the blind man was considered a sinner.
He couldn’t go to the Temple.
He couldn’t offer sacrifices.
He listened to the praise and worship from a distance.
That was a tough situation.
He couldn’t go to God, so God sent Jesus to him.
Jesus doesn’t want his followers on “Spiritual Disability.” He wants to make us right with God. Things happen when Jesus is around.
Pharisee leadership needed to know a few things:
1. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23). Sickness and illness are part of a fallen world.
2. God wants to forgive us our sins. We need to confess our sins (1 John 1:9)
3. God sent Jesus to heal us from our spiritual disability, to forgive us of our sins.
Isaiah 53:4-5 tells us, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.”
John Newton’s mother taught him to pray, but she died when he was 7 and his heart hardened against God. He became a wild, young man who mocked Christianity and drowned himself in drink.
At 23, while a crewman on a slave ship, Newton was jolted awake by a violent storm—so terrifying that he cried out to the Lord. The John Newton who arrived safely in England was a repentant man. For the rest of his life he would refer to March 10, 1748, as the day of his conversion.
Unfortunately, Newton's conversion did not change his views of slavery for many years. He became the captain of his own slave ship. In time, under the influence of famed abolitionist William Wilberforce and Anglican priests John Wesley and George Whitefield, he had another spiritual awakening. In 1760 he became an ordained minister and a powerful foe of slavery.
He eventually became pastor of a church in Olney. While there he wrote a hymn that he had been carrying with him for some time. On Jan. 1, 1773, his congregation sang a new hymn entitled "Faith's Review and Expectation." We know it by a different name.
John Newton wrote, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see." Eventually John Newton's eyes failed and he was totally blind when he died—but he had seen clearly the wonder of God's grace.
God helped John Newton see things differently. His spiritual disability had been cured.
JESUS HELPS US TO SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY
This Lenten Season is a good time to ask, How is your relationship with God? Jesus wants to make you whole, to heal you. Jesus wants to help you see the world differently.
Who needed to see?
Obviously it’s that the man born blind needed to see. Jesus changed his life in many ways.
It becomes obvious that the Pharisee leadership is blind on a deeper level – to God’s presence and power in this world.
We all need to see God at work in the lives of others around us, and in our own lives.
Why did Jesus come?
… to enforce the law, or to set people free?
Dove Award winner Paul Baloche, was in a prayer meeting at his church, Community Christian Fellowship in Lindale, TX. The Pastor prayed, “Open the eyes of our hearts so that we can understand your world.” The phrase stuck in his mind.
One morning, Baloche was playing music on his guitar during an altar call at a revival meeting. The phrase came back to him, “Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord. We want to see You.” The story goes, that others started to sing with him, and the song was born.
Good things (unexpected things) happen when we are in a right relationship with God. …
How is your relationship with God? Maybe you need to sing along?
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord;
Open the eyes of my heart.
I want to see You!
I want to see You!
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