By Grace Through Faith

Yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. Galatians 2:16

This month marks the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation. Christians of all backgrounds will gather to celebrate and remember the historic nature of Martin Luther’s protest and the subsequent movement of the church. While the Protestant Reformation had ramifications for all aspects of society, its theological foundations are what have captivated my attention for many years.

As a teenager, I was assigned to write a research paper on any topic I wished. I chose to write about Martin Luther. This project forced me to immerse myself in the history of Luther’s life and the theological doctrine of justification. While it was quite a lot for a sixteen year old to process, it left an indelible mark on my life.

Like Luther, I was deeply touched by the magnitude of justification by grace. This concept, articulated in the writings of Paul, makes clear that our relationship with God is made whole not by our good works, but by grace. Grace is a gift of God, undeserved and free. We cannot earn our salvation but are saved by Jesus Christ. This theological concept drove Luther to write the 95 Theses and take a stand against the Catholic Church. But it also changed his life and relationship with God.

Like many people, Luther had understood God to be a harsh and punishing judge. This led him as a young monk to repeatedly confess his sins and seek absolution. He lived in constant fear and trepidation of God’s judgment and damnation. When he read and began to understand justification by grace through faith, his life was transformed. Luther understood God as loving and merciful rather than angry and punishing.

When we realize the gift God has given to us through Jesus’ death and resurrection and no longer feel the pressure of having to be morally perfect, it is liberating. We are set free from anxiety and fear. We are set free for love of God and love of neighbor. We can love others freely because we have been loved. We can give ourselves away because Christ gave himself for us.

We are justified by grace, through faith, apart from works of the law and it makes all the difference! Let us celebrate this remarkable and life-giving gift!

The First Apostles

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ²And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. ⁵But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” ⁸So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Matthew 28:1-10

On Easter morning the women who were followers of Jesus came to the tomb. They came expecting to find the bodily remains of a dead man. They came with hearts filled with sorrow and despair. But they came to the tomb nonetheless. The earthquake and the appearance of the angel must have been quite startling. Then the guards shook and became "like dead men" (which I presume to mean they passed out). No wonder the first words spoken by the angel are "do not be afraid." The whole scene was like something out of a movie: surreal, powerful, and mysterious.


The message of the angel was to go and tell the disciples that Jesus had been raised from the dead and to meet him in Galilee. Jesus was no longer confined to the tomb and was alive! The women left with "fear and great joy" and ran to tell them. Fear and great joy. This is an interesting combination. Fear because of the awesome display of power shown by the angel and God. Joy because Jesus was alive and he truly was the Messiah! The empty tomb proved all their hopes had been realized and God was at work! Then Jesus himself appeared to women. He showed them he was real and death had been defeated. He also told them to go and tell the disciples.


The women at the tomb were the first apostles. They were witnesses to Jesus' resurrection and they shared the good news. They were sent by Jesus to go and tell, and they faithfully went and told. On this point, all the gospels agree. The women were the first witnesses, while the men got all the credit. The men didn't show up at the tomb, the women did. The angel didn't speak to the men, but to the women. These women had been part of Jesus' ministry from the very beginning, but Christian history has regulated them to secondary status. I believe these women are shining examples of faith, courage, and witnessing. God chose them to be the first witnesses and they were faithful. We could all hope to do the same.


Prayer: Lord, help me to be a faithful witness to you. Help me share the good news that Christ is Risen! In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Waiting in Hope

After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. ³⁹Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. ⁴⁰They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴²And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. John 19:38-42

After Jesus' death his followers were no doubt feeling a variety of emotions: grief, fear, disappointment, anger, despair and more. What do you do next? The one you believed was the Messiah has been crucified. How do you carry on? In the time between Jesus' death on Friday and the empty tomb on Sunday the disciples of Jesus must have truly struggled to understand what it all meant. Was this part of God's plan? Was Jesus a fraud? Was the end near? Would the Romans hunt them down?


In the midst of confusion and fear, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus cared for Jesus' body and prepared him for burial. Joseph was a disciple in secret and Nicodemus was a Pharisee, so they were not at risk of being arrested. Their simple act of kindness and care for Jesus spoke to their ongoing commitment to Jesus. We do not know what they said to one another or what they were thinking. What we do know is that in the midst of their grief, confusion, and fear they did what they could.


The time between Good Friday and Easter is a time of waiting. We wait not knowing; we wait in grief; we wait in hope. Looking back on Jesus' death and resurrection, it is easy to understand Good Friday as a victory. But at the time, it must have seemed a stunning rebuttal and defeat. In times like these we need to cling to hope. The time before it all makes sense; the time before it all works out; the time before grief has passed. Easter is a season of hope in the midst of death and despair. We know how the story ends, let us cling to this hope as we wait.

The Way, The Truth, and The Life

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. ²In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” ⁵Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:1-7

As Jesus gathered with the disciples for the last time he knew he was heading to the cross. He knew and was prepared for what this would mean for him. He also knew the disciples would face many of their own challenges after his death. They would have to live in fear because of being hunted by the authorities because their direct connection to Jesus. They would also be tasked with starting the church; sharing the good news with all people and calling all to faith. As Jesus meet with them, he wanted to assure them that while he was leaving them he was not abandoning them. He would go ahead of them and prepare a place for them and then bring them to himself.


These words Jesus spoke, may not have been understood by the disciples at the time, but after his death they would provide great comfort and strength. Thomas was particularly confused about where Jesus was going. Thomas asks "how can we know the way?" Jesus tells him: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus is the way to the father and by following in the ways of Jesus we will discover the truth about God and ourselves, and receive the promise of eternal life. Following the way of Jesus is the starting point for truth and discovering a life worth living.


This passage is often misused as a hammer against anyone claiming an alternative path to God or salvation outside of Christ. They reason that "if Christ is the way, then no other way can be legitimate." While I cannot affirmatively argue for another way to God outside of Christ, I do not think this is what Jesus had in mind. Jesus' statement was not given in the midst of a discourse about different religions and paths of salvation. He was trying to assure his disciples to not lose faith after his death. His message is that even in death, he is the way to God. Jesus' death on the cross does not invalidate his ministry, but rather proves it. Taken in this context, we can understand Jesus' goal to be to calm the fears and anxieties of his disciples, rather than making an abstract argument for the exclusivity of Christianity.


In the end, Christ offers us the promise that through him we can be in relationship with God. The way of Jesus leads to the cross and the empty tomb. The way of Jesus shows us the truth and offers us life. Faith calls us to believe and trust this promise. Outside of this promise, God gets to decide.


Prayer: Lord, let me follow your ways, live the life you have called me to and discover life in and through you. Help me to share your love and grace with all in my life, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Love in Action

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ²The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper ³Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, ⁴got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. ⁵Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. ⁶He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” ⁷Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” ⁸Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” ⁹Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” ¹⁰Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” ¹¹For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” John 13:1-11

On the last night of his life Jesus chose to wash feet. He did this as an act of love and service. In ancient days, the wealthy would employ a servant at the door of the home to wash guest's feet as they entered. This was a luxury and considered to be beneath the master of the house to perform. This is why Peter is perplexed by Jesus' actions. Peter most likely thought the disciples should wash Jesus' feet not the other way around. Nonetheless, Jesus performs this humble aspect of hospitality because of his deep love for his disciples. He knew the end was near and wanted them to always know his love for them.


But Jesus' act of footwashing is not only an act of service and love, but also provides an example of faithful living. Jesus modeled servant love and calls the disciples, and us, to follow.

Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ ³⁴I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:33-35

Jesus commands the disciples to love another, just as he loved them. He commands them to show so much love that all will recognize them as followers of Jesus because of their acts of love. The command to love others entails more than simple affection or care; it implies acts of compassion and sacrifice.


Love, understood from a Christian perspective, is action. Love is not a feeling to be expressed but serving others. We are to love others as Jesus loves us; completely, selflessly, and unconditionally. In a world filled with darkness, despair, brokenness and sin, love is the answer. Jesus commands us to love others because on our own we will struggle to love. Jesus commands us to love because we need to be constantly reminded of the gift of love we have been so freely given. Jesus commands us to love because love makes all the difference.


Lord, let your love rule my heart, mind, and actions. Let me love others as you have first loved me: freely, without condition, and with humility, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Glory Time

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. ²¹They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” ²²Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. ²³Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. John 12:20-26

Throughout the gospel of John, Jesus performed signs that he was the Messiah. These signs allowed those with eyes of faith to understand what God was doing. The final sign that reveals God's plan for salvation is Jesus' death and resurrection. This sign was designed to take place at a particular time and place. As Jesus entered the first Holy Week, he sensed the time was upon him as both Jewish and non-Jewish visitors entered Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. The timing would allow a maximum number of people to be exposed to Christ's death on the cross, creating a greater opportunity for people to come to believe Jesus was the Messiah. And just like the grain of wheat that in death produces life, so to will Christ's journey to the cross produce the promise of eternal life for all who believe.


As contemplated his journey to the cross he knew he would both fulfill God's plan and be incredibly painful.

Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. ²⁸Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” ²⁹The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” ³⁰Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. ³¹Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. ³²And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” ³³He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. ³⁴The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” ³⁵Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. ³⁶While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” John 12:27-36

The time had come for Jesus to go to the cross. He understood everything he had done had led to this point. The healings brought the crowds, the teaching opened minds and hearts, and his followers would share the good news. Jesus is the light of the world and came to eradicate all darkness. He did this for you, me, and all of humanity. He gave his life so we might live. Let us walk as children of the light.


Prayer: Lord, let me walk in your light and see the promise of your Son. Prepare my heart to receive your love in this most Holy Week, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Parable of the Talents

For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; ¹⁵to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. ¹⁶The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. ¹⁷In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. ¹⁸But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. ¹⁹After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ ²¹His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ ²²And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ ²³His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ ²⁴Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; ²⁵so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ ²⁶But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? ²⁷Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. ²⁹For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ³⁰As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:14-30

(The parables of Jesus are open to multiple interpretations, and the parable of the talents is no exception. A key interpretative choice for the reader is to decide who the "king" or "master" is in each parable. If we decide as a reader that the most powerful figure in the story is God, then different avenues of understanding open up than would if God is not the most powerful person. For this reflection, I will follow the tradition interpretation of God as the master in this story. Follow the link below for an alternative interpretation.)


Each of has been given gifts or talents by God, but not in the same areas or in equal proportions. For example, our genetics largely determine our physical attributes. I may wish to be taller but no matter what I do I cannot change my height. Similarly, I can work hard to increase my endurance or speed as a runner but I will never be as fast as Usain Bolt no matter what I do. This parable suggests we will be judged by God not for what we do, but what we do with what we have been given. For those who have been given more, more will be expected. But each of us is called to use whatever we have been given for God's purposes in the world.


When the master leaves for his journey he entrusts each of his servants with a different number of talents (a large sum of money). He doles out the talents according to their ability. The servant who received five talents had either more gifts or had previously demonstrated more ability in the past. The other servants received fewer talents but were each expected to use what they had been given wisely. When the master returned, the first two servants had doubled the master's investment. This pleased the master, and they were each given more responsibility. The last servant hid his one talent out of fear of the master. He was reprimanded and punished by being thrown into the outer darkness.


There are many different ways this parable could be interpreted. It could suggest God's encouragement to use our gifts in the world rather than inaction due to a lack of self-confidence. Or it could suggest sharing God's word and being willing to risk rejection by others. Some might also find justification for bold entrepreneurial business tactics that invest in high-risk, high-reward opportunities.


Whatever the specific application, the parable suggest using what we have been given for God's work in the world. For those given the talent to sing, sing for God's glory. For those who can speak or write, do so to lift up God's word. For those skilled at making things, build things to help others. For those with the gift of compassion, share you love with others. We all have been given gifts by God for specific reasons. We must decide how to use our gifts, but when we use them for God's purposes we participate in God's kingdom work. I can think of no better use.


Prayer: Thank you Lord for creating me the way I am and giving me the gifts I have. Let your spirit inspire me to share my gifts for your purposes, in Jesus' name, AMEN.


For another interpretation of this parable check out: Economic Oppression and the Seductive Lure of Debt

It's How You Use It

Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? ⁴⁶Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. ⁴⁷Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸But if that wicked slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ ⁴⁹and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. ⁵¹He will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:45-51

This passage comes from the end of the gospel of Matthew among a series of apocalyptic and end-times parables and sayings. At this level, Jesus' words remind us all that we must be prepared for the second coming and because we will never when this will happen, we must live our lives faithfully. This kind of discourse was extremely popular in Jesus' day as many believed the end of the world was imminent. But, Jesus' words have meaning beyond warning us of the end, they also speak powerfully to our calling to be stewards of God's creation,


A steward is a caretaker of property who has been entrusted by the owner. This parable depicts slaves, or stewards, who are put in charge of the master's household while the master is away. The slaves have a choice: do want they would normally do if the master were home, or do whatever they want. Jesus says: "blessed is that slave whom his master finds at work when he arrives." While certainly we would all seek to avoid being cut into pieces and the weeping and gnashing of teeth, there are deeper and more rewarding reasons to work while the master is away.


God has entrusted us with all of creation. God has given each of us gifts, talents, and passions. How we use these gifts is our choice. We can use them for our selfish purposes or squander them. We are free to do this. Or we can use what we have been given to further God's work in the world. When we understand ourselves to be stewards of our gifts, rather than owners, we will be compelled to use them for God's work.


When we see ourselves as stewards, we understand we have a larger purpose in God's work in the world. We find our meaning and purpose by activating our gifts and talents for human need. This is good stewardship. This is why we were created. Not to avoid punishment, but to participate in the gracious, merciful and beautiful work of God in the world. We were made for this and God is counting on us. The choice is yours.


Prayer: Lord, help me to use the gifts you have given me for your work in the world. Help me move beyond my own selfish desires and self-imposed limitations and see my role in your redeeming work in the world. Use me Lord as your instrument of love, grace, and mercy in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Paying Taxes

Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. ¹⁶So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. ¹⁷Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” ¹⁸But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? ¹⁹Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. ²⁰Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” ²¹They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” ²²When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away. Matthew 22:15-22

One of Jesus' favorite defensive tactics against his religious opponents was to answer questions with questions. In this story, he knows the Pharisees are trying to trick him and he does not fall for it. They are trying to get him to say something either blasphemous or treasonous. If he only speaks about paying taxes to the emperor and does not acknowledge God, then the Pharisees could claim he doesn't acknowledge God as creator of all things. On the other hand, if he gives all credit to God and doesn't encourage people to give to the emperor it would cause a revolt and he would run afoul with the powerful Roman army. Needless to say, Jesus outwits the Pharisees and other opponents at every turn.


The deeper truth is that all things are from God. Yes, we find ourselves under the rule and authority of human governments and leaders, but ultimately God is in charge. Jesus is not advocating revolt or not paying taxes, but he does remind us all that the final authority on all of these matters is God.


In Jesus' day, the tax system implemented and enforced by the Romans was corrupt and exploitative. Tax collectors took bribes and graft at the expense of people's property and homes. This left many wondering whether paying taxes was justifiable for those seeking to follow God. While, the revolutionaries would have wished a more forceful response from Jesus, his response acknowledges the precarious position of the Jewish people in his day as well as the ultimate authority of God. There may be times to protest unjust laws and oppressive governments when they are conflict with faithfully following God, but in this case Jesus mission to the cross superseded it. In our time, we acknowledge the authority of the state in our lives, but seek to live by the higher authority of God.


Prayer: Lord, help me to live in the tension of earthly and divine authority. Let me know the difference between following the law and following God's law, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Possessed by Possessions

Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” ¹⁷And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; ¹⁹Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁰The young man said to him, “I have kept all these; what do I still lack?” ²¹Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” ²²When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Matthew 19:16-22

The story of the rich young man exemplifies the difficulty of following Jesus and the gravitational pull of wealth and possessions. This story is situated toward the end of Matthew's gospel, after he had developed a large following and well earned reputation as a healer, teacher, and prophet. The young man comes to Jesus seeking guidance for a righteous life. His dialogue with Jesus reveals that he has strived to keep all the commandments. He asks: "what do I lack?" Jesus then tells him if he wishes to be "perfect" to go sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor. This was too high a burden for the man and he "went away grieving." He went from Jesus upset because he knew he was not righteous and he would have to give up everything to become righteous.


Jesus' question to the young man bears further examination. Jesus asks: "If you wish to be perfect..." The word "perfect" here does not suggest a life without moral blemish, rather a complete and whole life; a healthy life, filled with God's presence. He cannot be whole with God with an abundance of possessions and wealth. The issue for the young man is the power and control his possessions have over him. His possessions possess him, and unless he can exorcise himself from their possession, he cannot be right with God. Anything apart from God can have the power to possess us. This is the nature of idolatry. For the young man, it was his possessions and wealth and the lifestyle they afforded which led him away from God. Others who have an abundance may not face the same call from God, but many people do. Money and things get elevated to a special status and have the spiritual capacity to capture our attention and spirit.


After the young man left, Jesus and his disciples engaged in further dialogue about the power of wealth and possessions.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁵When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁶But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:23-26

Jesus plainly states the difficulty for wealthy people to be righteous before God. Wealth here is most likely defined as having slightly more than the basics to live, rather than a life of luxury. To this assessment, the disciples ask: "then who can be saved?" This is the question the rich young man did not understand. Jesus tells the disciples, and us, that for humans it is impossible but with God all things are possible. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot fulfill the law on our own or be righteous. The rich young man asks Jesus: "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" His focus is completely on himself rather than God. It is only God who can make us righteous. On our own we will hoard our possessions and wealth and relegate God to an afterthought. But, by the grace of God and the power of Spirit, we have been made righteous and can live with and for God.

Prayer: Lord, help me to put you first in my life and not be possessed by wealth or possessions. Let me always remember the bounty you provide each day, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Where Your Heart Is

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ²²The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; ²³but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! ²⁴No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Matthew 6:19-24

We live in a consumer society that defines success, directly or indirectly, based on the amount of possessions or wealth a person has. This is mindset is instilled in us at a very young age and is reinforced through extremely effective advertising and marketing. The siren call of materialism sucks us in before we are even aware of it, and without a lifestyle of active resistance, we will find ourselves living an empty and idolatrous life. The problem of materialism is there is never enough to satisfy our appetites. There will never be a time when a person can be content or at peace. Instead, we race after the newest and best thing, mortgaging our financial futures for fleeting pleasure and losing our soul in the process.


Materialism is not new to the human condition. Jesus knew how people struggled to find peace, contentment, and spiritual purpose. His prescription is strong medicine for the sickness of affluenza: generosity. Jesus instructs us that we cannot serve God and wealth. We have to decide because both will compete for first place in our lives. The only way to move beyond our materialistic appetites is through behavior modification.


We cannot think our way to change we must act our way to change. Jesus says: "where your treasure is, your heart will be also." He doesn't say put your treasure where your heart is, but the opposite. Wherever we invest our wealth will get our heart. This is a natural connection. If all of my money is in the stock market, I will monitor it very closely. By contrast, if I invest in a local charity or service organization, I will be more likely to volunteer or serve. The antidote to the idolatry of materialism and greed is generosity. We cannot wait for our hearts to decide to be generous however, we must give first. Becoming generous through giving will change our hearts and change our lives. This is the only cure and Jesus, the great physician, knows our hearts and what we need to become whole. Let us give generously and allow God to change our hearts!


Prayer: Lord, give me the courage and strength to be generous with all you have given me. Change my heart and allow me to keep my focus on your purposes in the world, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

An Intimate Meal

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. ²There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. ³Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. ⁴But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ⁵“Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” ⁶(He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) ⁷Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. ⁸You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” ⁹When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. ¹⁰So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, ¹¹since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. John 12:1-11

After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, they were both in grave danger. Jesus was recognized by many as the Messiah God had promised. People were believing and trusting. The Jewish religious leaders were threatened by Jesus and had made the decision to destroy him. Lazarus was a problem too, for as long as he was alive there was indisputable evidence of Jesus' ministry. So Lazarus must be destroyed as well.


Amidst this backdrop, we find Jesus, Lazarus, Mary, and Martha enjoying their last meal together. The meal celebrated Lazarus being raised from the dead and Jesus as the Messiah. This was a jubilant occasion shared between friends who loved one another. It was also known by Mary that is was the last chance to say goodbye to Jesus. As they gathered around the table, she took expensive perfume and anointed Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair. This was an act of service and love. It also acknowledged Jesus' journey to the cross. She was anointed him in preparation of his burial. In ancient Israel, dead bodies were anointed with spices and ointment to cover up the smell. Mary anoints Jesus in advance because she understands what God is up to. She understands Jesus must travel to the cross to achieve God's plan. And just as Lazarus was raised from the dead, so will Jesus be raised.


As theologically important as this moment is, I am more deeply struck by the tenderness shared between Jesus and Mary. Yes, Jesus dies for our sins and by defeating death and the grave opens up for all people the promise of eternal life. This is the essence of the gospel and cannot be overstated. But in this story it is the intimacy and closeness between them all (except for Judas) that is striking. Mary doesn't just accept Jesus as her Messiah and Savior, she loves him. She cares for Jesus and seeks to serve him. Her outpouring of love is directly related to her gratefulness. She knows what God is doing and the only fitting response is love. So it should be we us as well. God has given us grace, mercy, and love through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Yes, we should have faith and believe, but God wants more than our intellectual assent to theological propositions. God wants our heart and our love. May we love God with all our heart, mind, and spirit!


Prayer: Lord, fill my heart with love for you. Help me to believe and trust your promises are fore me and are real. Help me to live my life for you and share your love in the world, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Political Calculations

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. ⁴⁶But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done. ⁴⁷So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. ⁴⁸If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.” ⁴⁹But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! ⁵⁰You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed. He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, ⁵²and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. ⁵³So from that day on they planned to put him to death.” John 11:45-53

The raising of Lazarus was definitive proof that Jesus was the Messiah. All those who witnessed Lazarus, dead four days, coming out of the tomb believed in Jesus because of it. This word spread fast, as one might expect, and found the ears of the Pharisees and other religious leaders. This would be a pivotal moment for the Jewish leadership. Would they, finally, give credence to the belief that Jesus was the Messiah? Or would they obstinately insist Jesus was a fraud who needed to be destroyed?


The text suggests that for a moment they considered their options. If they allowed Jesus to go forward with his ministry, then all the people would believe in him and it would upset the political peace with the Romans. This could possibly lead to a revolt and the Romans destroying the Temple and all of Jerusalem (which happened later in 69 BCE). Or they could destroy Jesus and keep the peace with Rome. This became the preferred option. If the Jewish leaders were right, they could save Jerusalem and the Temple. If they were wrong, they would be responsible for handing over the Messiah God has promised and sent for them. In the end, they made a decision based on political expediency rather than principled faith.


It is tempting to judge the Jewish leaders harshly for their political calculations and lack of faith. Yet, when faced with difficult decisions and choices between competing needs, we often follow the same path. It is much more tempting to choose the easy path even when we know it is wrong. The religious leaders knew that acknowledging Jesus as Messiah would cause pain. It would mean a repudiation of their own leadership positions and a potential crackdown by the Roman army. If they chose to persecute Jesus they could keep their lifestyle and maintain the status quo. They will possibly lose either way, but they could be right and keep their privilege. How many would choose differently?


How often do we face such choices? Do we take the risk of leaving a comfortable job we hate to follow the nudge of God to an unknown venture? Do we speak out against injustice when it might risk the loss of friendships? Do we choose the lesser or two evils or find a different path? Life is full of choices and our character is formed by the choices we make over time. The path of faith puts love of God and love of neighbor at the center of our choices. We may make choices we regret or miscalculations, but if God is at the center of our discernment we will make good choices more often than not. When we put ourselves and our own self-interest at the center of our decisions, we will cross the moral line over and over again. The choice is ours and ours alone. What will you choose?


Prayer: Lord, help me to make choices that are faithful and God pleasing. Help me discern the difficult decisions with the power of your Spirit, in Jesus' name, AMEN. 

Jesus Wept

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. ³⁴He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” ³⁵Jesus began to weep. ³⁶So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” ³⁷But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” John 11:32-27

Jesus' journey to the cross was gut wrenching and challenging. He knew what God's plan meant for him. He knew the pain he would endure on the cross, but also how his death and resurrection would change the world forever. The truth is Jesus is not only the savior of the world, but also fully human. He had personal relationships and friendships with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Jesus' journey to the cross led him to wait two days to come back Lazarus, in order to show God's glory, but it wasn't without a cost. When Jesus saw the pain and mourning in the eyes of Mary he was "deeply moved" and began to weep. Jesus wept for Mary and for himself. He wept because his journey to the cross would also mean the loss of those he loved. Jesus wept and showed his compassion for human relationships, suffering and grief. Jesus wept and showed us God's heart.

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. ³⁹Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” ⁴⁰Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” ⁴¹So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. ⁴²I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” ⁴³When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11:38-44

Jesus' grief for Lazarus and support for Mary and Martha show us God's heart for the hurting. We need this reminder for all the pain, heartache, and loss we experience. We are not alone; God is with us. Jesus' raising of Lazarus demonstrates that death does not have the final say in life, God does. There is nothing impossible for God. Jesus raises to new life a man who had been dead four days. He raises him up with the powerful words: "Lazarus come out!" Lazarus is no longer bound by the power of death, through Christ he has been raised. This is the promise for us as well.

Through Christ, we hear the command to "come out" of the tomb of death and despair. Through Christ, we achieve victory over sin, darkness, and evil. Through Christ, we can claim the victory of life. Jesus wept for those he loved. He wept for Lazarus, Mary and Martha and he weeps for us. And like Lazarus, we too will share in the promise of new life through the death and resurrection of the Lord. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord, help me to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those in joy. Help me to give compassion and love to others as you have given to me, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

The Resurrection and the Life

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. ¹⁸Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, ¹⁹and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. ²⁰When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. ²¹Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²²But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” ²³Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” ²⁴Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” ²⁵Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, ²⁶and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” ²⁷She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”  John 11:17-27

After Jesus heard the news of his friend Lazarus' illness, he stayed away for two days. By the time he arrives, Lazarus has already been dead for four days. When Martha hears of Jesus' arrival she went to him (Mary stays home) and confesses disappointment that he hadn't come sooner and the belief that even after death he could still do something. Martha continued to believe that through Christ all things were possible. When Jesus assures her that her brother will rise again, she professes faith in the resurrection "on the last day." She believes and trusts that death is not the final answer and Jesus is at the center of God's work. Jesus tells her "I AM the resurrection and the life" and offers the promise of eternal life for all who believe.

Even in the midst of her overwhelming grief, Martha believes and trusts this promise. She understands fully who Jesus is and the mission God is accomplishing through him. This faithful confidence after the loss of a loved one is inspiring. It would have been easy for Martha to become bitter toward Jesus. After all the people he had healed, the one person he doesn't take time for is his friend Lazarus? No wonder Mary stayed home. Her reaction is more understandable. But Martha persists in believing in Jesus, trusting that he could even overcome death. As Christians, we confess that through the death and resurrection of Christ, death has been defeated and we have the promise of eternal life. Martha believed this before it happened. Her faith was amazing.

Jesus said: I AM the resurrection and the life. Jesus is the resurrection and through Christ we have the promise of eternal life; full redemption and reconciliation with God and the promise of reunion with those who have gone before us. Jesus is also the life. In Christ, we have the full presence of God in our lives. Walking with Christ in our life allows us to cling to the eternal promise in the midst of suffering and loss and not lose hope.

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust in the promise of the resurrection and not fear death. Let me live the your presence each day and walk in newness of life, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Lazarus is Dead

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ²Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. ³So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” ⁴But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” ⁵Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, ⁶after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was... ¹¹After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” ¹²The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” ¹³Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. ¹⁴Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” John 11:1-6; 11-15

We know very little about Jesus' life prior to his public ministry. The gospel of Matthew and Luke share his birth story and a few details from childhood and that is basically it. The story of Lazarus in John's gospel hints at strong friendship between Jesus and Lazarus, as well as Mary and Martha. When Lazarus is ill on his deathbed, Mary sends word to Jesus. She knows he can cure Lazarus, but she also knows how much Jesus loves and cares for him. This is why Jesus' response is so befuddling. Rather than go immediately to Bethany (as most would for a friend or loved one) he waits two days, during which Lazarus dies. While it is tempting to jump to the conclusion of the story when everything works out in the end, it is important to dwell with this text.


Jesus tells the disciples that Lazarus' illness will not lead to death, but will be for God's glory. He then tells the disciples that Lazarus is not merely sleeping but is dead. These two, seemingly contradictory, sentiments encompass the core of Jesus ministry. In Christ, death is not the end of the story. Death is defeated on the cross and Lazarus' death will be sign of promise revealed on the cross. As the chronology of John's gospel makes clear, it will be only a few days after Lazarus' death that Jesus will die on the cross. Both Jesus and Lazarus are dying, but death will not be the last word. We no longer have to fear death for it is swallowed up in the victory of Christ's resurrection. Thanks be to God!


Prayer: Lord, help me believe in communion of saints and the resurrection. Help me trust that through Christ death has been defeated and I have nothing to fear, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Speak Up and Speak Out

As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. ³⁰There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” ³¹The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!” ³²Jesus stood still and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?” ³³They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” ³⁴Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:29-34

In order to receive quality health care people need to have advocates willing to speak up to ensure a patient's needs are being met. I have seen first hand how the regular presence of a loved one in a hospital or nursing home is an important factor in the care the patient receives. Being present, asking questions, taking notes, and getting help when it is needed, all make a difference. But patients themselves are key to the health care they receive. The ability to speak about our symptoms or pain helps nurses and doctors do their work. They know their body and their symptoms better than anyone and need to speak up and speak out when the occasion calls for it.

In this story, we see two blind men who are advocates for their care. They believe (rightly) that Jesus can heal them and restore their sight. When they learned that Jesus was walking by, they shouted for their healing. When told to keep quiet they shouted even more loudly. They believed they deserved to be healed and would not tolerate being told to keep quiet. They did not believe that others deserved healing more than they did and truly believed Jesus could heal them. When asked by Jesus what they wanted, they spoke unequivocally about what they wanted Jesus to do. They had a voice and used it. When Jesus heard their persistence and saw their faith, he was moved with compassion. He touched their eyes and they could see. Persistent belief and speaking up for themselves paid off, as their lives were transformed by Jesus.

We all suffer and struggle in our own ways. While it may be tempting at times to minimize our pain in relationship to others, we must resist the temptation to make comparisons. We all need healing and wholeness in our lives. We need to own this for ourselves and be our own advocate for healing. We must let our doctors, nurses, and caregivers know what we need. We also need to let God know and seek God's healing in our lives. We can cry out to God in the midst of suffering and despair. We can demand God hear our cries and answer our prayers. We can shout out in faith for God to deliver us from our suffering. God hears our cries and loves to provide for us. We have been given a voice and God wants us to use it.

Prayer: Lord, give me courage and conviction to use my voice for my own needs and the needs of all who suffer. Help me to speak up and speak out for the healing of the world. Lord, hear us as we speak and respond with power, in Jesus' name AMEN.

Faithless and Perverse

When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, ¹⁵and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. ¹⁶And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” ¹⁷Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.” ¹⁸And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. ¹⁹Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” ²⁰He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:14-20

There is great mystery in prayers for healing. I have heard many stories of people praying for healing for themselves or a loved one where healing took place. I have seen it and believe in the power of prayer. There are also countless times when people faithfully prayed and asked God for healing and it didn't happen. I often say, prayer is powerful and mysterious. Prayer does not work like a magic genie that grants wishes. Prayer connects us to God in powerful ways and is an agent of change, but things don't always work out like we hoped they would.

In this story, the disciples were trying to heal a boy who struggled with epilepsy. I am sure they fervently prayed and sought to heal the boy with everything they had, yet nothing worked. Many can relate to this situation where you have given all you can and seen no change. It would be easy to lose hope in such situations. Jesus was the hope for the boy and his healing reminds us that through God all things are possible.

Jesus is quite harsh in his critique of the disciples for their inability to cure the boy, calling them a "faithless and perverse generation." Jesus calls them out for their lack of faith as the reason they could not cure the boy. This is an instance where I would have preferred Jesus to have displayed more empathy. Yes his point is valid, we all need to grow in our faith, but we are not always capable of superhuman faith. Life beats us down and grinds us up. We lose hope and faith because of all we face. The good news is true healing and hope are found in Jesus. Just as he cured they boy of his terrible affliction, Christ brings true healing into our lives, restoring faith and hope. Like the disciples, I too struggle to trust and believe all things, but thanks be to God for my savior Jesus Christ!

Prayer: Lord, help me to not become discouraged in the midst of suffering and pain. Remind me of your unfailing love and grace, given freely to me each day, and allow me to trust in your promises, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

The Compassion of Jesus

He left that place and entered their synagogue; ¹⁰a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. ¹¹He said to them, “Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? ¹²How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” ¹³Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Matthew 12:9-14

The ongoing tension between Jesus and the Pharisees centered around his authority. Jesus taught in a way that did not conform to the religious customs of the Jewish people, he made statements about himself the Pharisees considered blasphemous, and he healed on the Sabbath. At each turn, Jesus did something to anger the Jewish leaders to the extent that they are ready to "destroy" him. In this story, it is not so much that he healed on the Sabbath as it was his rationale. By demonstrating the lawfulness of healing on the Sabbath, Jesus undermined the strict interpretation of the law the Pharisees enforced. For the Pharisees this could not be allowed and Jesus needed to be stopped.


Jesus' healing ministry was not concerned with convention, custom, or following rules. His primary concern was people. The man with the withered hand is healed by Jesus and is restored to full health. This would allow him new opportunities to work and enjoy life. He may have been forced to live as a beggar prior to the healing, but after he could make his own way in the world. Jesus' first concern was to care about the man and not how healing him may violate Sabbath regulations. In doing so, Jesus reveals his heart. He had deep compassion and love for people, especially for those who suffered.


It is comforting to know that when we struggle or suffer we are not alone. Jesus' ministry demonstrates God's heart for the hurting and the promise of salvation. Through Christ's death and resurrection we have the promise of life eternal and through Christ's presence we can be healed and whole. Praise be to God!


Prayer: Lord, give me compassion to care for all who are hurting. Provide healing, peace, and comfort for those who suffer in mind, body, and spirit. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Do You Want to be Made Well?

After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ²Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. ³In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. ⁵One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. ⁶When 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?” ⁷The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.” ⁸Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” ⁹At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. John 5:1-9

Jesus asks a man who was at a pool of healing and who had been ill for 38 years: "do you want to be made well?" This seems like a strange question doesn't it? Who wouldn't want to be made well? Why else would he be there? Yet Jesus' question moves beyond the obvious level of an ill person becoming well. Jesus' question goes to the heart of what it means to be healed. It takes not only a healing element, but also a desire to be healed and the belief that healing is possible.


When Jesus asks the man if he wants to be healed he doesn't actually receive an answer. Instead the man shares why he hasn't been healed. He shares his frustration that despite many efforts he has been unable to been made well. To be made well in mind, body, and spirit frees people to live transformed lives. Once healed, we are compelled to live differently and are given a calling and responsibility to serve and love others. This man, after 38 years, may have wanted to be healed but also may have been anxious about what a healed life would look like. Perhaps he couldn't answer the question because he become so consumed by his illness he could no longer imagine life without it.


People find themselves in all sorts of unhealthy situations, whether personal health conditions or unhealthy relationships. They may know life is unhealthy but they remain stuck. We all know addictions like smoking are bad for us yet people are almost powerless to change. Others may be stuck in abusive relationships because the imagined alternatives could be even worse. As human beings we cling to what we know even if it hurts us. We resist the very change that could transform our lives into so much more. Jesus asks: do you want to be made well? Do you want the abundant life (John 10:10) that Jesus promised or the life you know?


Part of the healing Jesus provides for us is the vision of a transformed world. We are not simply destined to suffer and die. Christ came to give us abundant and eternal life. When we trust this promise and respond in faith, we can experience true healing. This may take the form of cured illness, but even more important is an enlivened and healthy spirit. True healing is spiritual. When we believe we are a child of God, created for a purpose, and loved by the creator, we will no longer settle for an unhealthy and unfulfilling life. Jesus came to make us well and offers us the gift of grace and love. Do you want to be made well?


Prayer: Lord, heal my spirit so I may know your presence. Cure the pain of my soul so that I may experience abundant life here and now, and trust the promise of eternal life with you. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Spiritual Blindness

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. ¹⁴Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. ¹⁵Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” ¹⁶Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. ¹⁷So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.” John 9:13-17

When Jesus healed the blind man (John 9:1-12) he didn't stop to ask what day it was first. He saw a man who was blind and gave him sight. It was an act of compassion and love. The man who was born blind not only had the power sight, but his whole life was transformed.

This was unacceptable to the Pharisees who believed that no person who followed God's law would ever heal on the Sabbath. In fact, for them Sabbath healing made it clear that Jesus was not from God in any way. The narrowness of their thinking limited their understanding of what God can do. They became so convinced of their religious categories and customs they sought to punish Jesus for healing. They would rather the man remain blind than have any work done on the Sabbath.

When religion prioritizes legalistic rule following over compassion for people, it is no longer from God. Jesus calls this mentality spiritual blindness (9:41) because the Pharisees are unable to see what God is doing in front of them. They were so insistent that Jesus was wrong they spoke with the man's parents to verify he was born blind (9:18-23) and questioned the man a second time (9:24-34). Even after these conversations they could not accept Jesus. They dismissed the formerly blind man by saying: “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” Rather than open their eyes to see the truth they dismissed the blind man out of fear and ignorance.

When we think we know it all, we are spiritually blind. When we think we know what God can and cannot do, we are spiritually blind. When we dismiss the powerful stories of God shared by others, we are spiritually blind. When we are no longer open to the new ways God is working in the world, we are spiritually blind. The man Jesus healed was open to God working in his life. He refused to believe the lie about sin causing his blindness and was ready to believe in Jesus. His physical limitation was no limitation at all because of his faith. May we all be so blind that we might see God in our lives.

Prayer: Lord, open the eyes of my heart to see you working in my life. Help me to remain open to your love and presence and to understand that through you all things are possible, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Who Sinned?

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. ²His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. ⁴We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. ⁵As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, ⁷saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. John 9:1-7

Healing was central to the ministry of Jesus. The act of physical healing is not disconnected to spiritual healing that often accompanies it. Jesus heals mind, body, and spirit illustrating not only his concern for eternal salvation, but deep compassion for people's lives. In this case, Jesus heals a man blind from birth, giving him the sight he had not had before. But Jesus also addressed the underlying assumption of his disciples and the crowd about the spiritual cause of blindness.

When Jesus is asked "who sinned?" to make the man blind he refutes the link between physical affliction and human sin. God does not punish us with blindness for sin, nor are any other physical or mental limitations to be seen as a sign of punishment for sin. There is no connection between human suffering and punishment from God. While we naturally seek to understand why something has happened or what God's role might be, Jesus makes clear it is not a matter of divine punishment. In fact, Jesus said the man was born blind so "God's works might be revealed in him." This suggests not that he was born blind as a punishment, rather his healing allows himself and others to see God's glory. The healing of the man's sight allows him to see again, but also reveals Jesus as the light of the world.

Jesus healing the sight of the man must have made an immediate and profound impact on his life. For him to see for the first time the beauty and wonder of God's creation must have been overwhelming. Just as significant was the assurance that his previous blindness was not a punishment from God. If the blind man had the same assumption the disciples had about his blindness being a punishment from God it would be difficult to overstate the spiritual pain this must have caused. I cannot imagine going through life feeling way and how relieved and liberating it must have been to hear Jesus' words. His healing addressed his physical limitation of lack of sight but also addressed the spiritual and emotional pain of being punished by God. The transformation was so complete that some who had known him could no longer recognize him as the same person (9:9). His story reminds us Jesus is concerned for the healing of our whole self and has deep compassion for who suffer in any way.

Prayer: Lord, heal my mind, body, and spirit so that I may be made whole through your love. Help me to have compassion and love for all who suffer in any way, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Handling Conflict

If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. ¹⁶But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. ¹⁸Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. ²⁰For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

²¹Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” ²²Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:15-22

This side of heaven, conflict between people is unavoidable. People do not always agree, feelings get hurt, wrongs are committed. How we handle conflict is the key. Most people hate conflict and seek to avoid it. When we deny there is a conflict resentment builds up and relationships suffer. Other times, people will respond passive aggressively by sending subtle and indirect signals, while harboring judgment and angst. Conflict can of course be destructive, but there are many times that dealing with conflict allows for open conversation and new solutions. The cost of not dealing with conflict is high, leading to strained relationships, resentment, and emotional baggage.

Jesus understands the human condition completely and offers a blueprint for dealing with conflict in Matthew 18. The first, and most important, step in dealing with conflict is having a 1-1 conversation. If you have been hurt or someone has "sinned against you" we are to go directly to the person and share our concern. This insight cannot be underestimated. Too often, when we are hurt we tell others but not the person directly. We share our story and seek to win others to our point of view. In families or churches, this leads to rumors, factions, and division. It is a toxic behavior to not discuss concerns directly with the person. Yet, this is often exactly what people do. We tend to avoid directly speaking with a person who has hurt us because it is hard to do. It forces us to name our feelings and share them directly. Another way to interpret Jesus' insight is if you cannot or will not share your concerns directly with the person then you should not involve anyone else. Jesus offers two choices: share your concerns directly or let them go. Complaining about others cannot be the first step. Jesus instructs us to only go to others after directly confronting the offender and having no results.

Following the wisdom of Jesus in regards to interpersonal conflict would generate far less negativity in our lives. This is a great insight for relationships, but is not a complete remedy. The other instruction Jesus offers for conflict is forgiveness. Jesus tells Peter that if another member of the church sins against him he must forgive "seventy-seven" times. This number may seem extreme but it underscores the need not only to confront offenders directly, but to forgive them. Confronting people directly allows us to share our feelings and work toward a shared solution. But we must also let go of our hurt and anger. Forgiveness allows us to move past our pain and heal. Forgiving others is not about letting people off the hook, as much as it is releasing anger, resentment, and pain from our lives. When we refuse to forgive we allow the offense to re-victimize us. Forgiving others allows us to heal and makes space for reconciliation.

Jesus tells us to forgive repeatedly and confront people directly because he understands the emotional damage of mishandling conflict in our relationships does. God created us for relationship with God and one another. In our relationships there will inevitably be times when we hurt each other. How we handle our pain and hurt goes a long way toward the quality of our life and our capacity to love. Handling conflict in mature and healthy ways allows to grow into the person God is calling us to be. This is true for us as individuals and as a church. We are called to do God's work in the world. Getting stuck in petty squabbles and holding grudges does not allow us to become the person God created us to be. Jesus' insights about human conflict are powerful and offer us a concrete process that will reduce negativity in our lives and free us to share God's love. Let us take heed!

Prayer: Lord, help me to share my hurt and pain directly with those who are responsible. Help me to actively address situations of conflict and address them in mature and Spirit filled ways. Help me to forgive those who have hurt me as you have so freely forgiven me, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

From the Heart

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, ²“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.” ³He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

¹⁰Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: ¹¹it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” ¹²Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” ¹³He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. ¹⁴Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” ¹⁷Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? ¹⁸But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. ¹⁹For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. ²⁰These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.” Matthew 15:1-3;10-14;17-20

The question about clean or unclean was of utmost importance to the Jewish faith. Any behavior or practice that was considered unclean would defile a person which required steps to make someone ritually clean again. In this story, the Pharisees take offense when Jesus' disciples are not following the handwashing practices of the elders before eating. Now while it is true that washing one's hands before eating is a good idea, Jesus challenges the legalistic and narrow minded interpretations of the law. Jesus is much more concerned with what comes out of the mouth than what goes into the mouth. The words we speak reveal our heart which is of far higher importance than person hygiene practices.


The real issue Jesus seeks to address in this story is hypocrisy. He calls the Pharisees as "blind guides" because they cannot see the truth for what it is, but instead lead people away from God. The Pharisees elevated their own traditions and interpretation of the letter of the law above what was originally intended by the Spirit. The laws of the bible were not created in a vacuum, but were given for particular reasons for a particular time. Washing your hands before you eat is good practical advice to avoid illness, but is not on the same level as not murdering or stealing.


Jesus continually challenges the Pharisees because they focus on small things and miss the big picture, and because they are respected leaders, they lead others astray in the process. Jesus' approach is to examine the heart of a person and to address what is inside of them. He is not focused on behavior modification or adherence to rules and customs. Rather, he is focused on the transformation
of lives. It is not enough to blindly follow religious customs or traditions. In fact, following rules and customs can create the illusion of righteousness before God, when in reality God cares so much more about what is within us. Jesus wants our whole hearts and nothing less. When we humbly seek to follow the way of Jesus and give our whole heart to God, we will be transformed by God's grace and love. The way of Jesus is so much more than rule following but open for us a beautiful and life-giving path for our lives.


Prayer: Lord, help me to focus on you and following your ways. Keep me humble and open to the ways you are working in my life, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Healed and Made Whole

When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; ²and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” ³He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ⁴Then Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” Matthew 8:1-4

People with leprosy were untouchable. The disease was thought to be so highly contagious that those who contracted it were often forced to leave their communities and relationships behind and form colonies. It is also a painful and disfiguring disease which historically has been most prevalent among people of poverty. In Jewish custom, those with leprosy were considered permanently "unclean" and ineligible to worship. Anyone who touches a leper would also become unclean, so they were avoided. It was also widely believed that a person with leprosy must have done something to deserve it. Thus, when Jesus chooses to heal the man by touching him it would have caused the crowds to gasp in amazement.


The man with leprosy asks Jesus to heal him, believing he could make him well again. Jesus heals the man by touching his hand and declaring "be made clean!" The man is immediately healed of his affliction and sent to see the priest so he can worship in the Temple. Jesus attends to his physical healing and his social and spiritual healing as well. Because of Jesus' compassion, he can now be included in community and no longer suffer the pain of the disease and the accompanying social marginalization.


As powerful as the healing of the man was, it must have had an even deeper impact on the crowds who were gathered. Jesus took the time to heal a leper, a man everyone else had given up on. He heals him, not just by speaking a powerful word (which could have done the job) but by touching him. Jesus becomes untouchable for a leper. He takes on the mantle of being unclean for the sake of an invisible and despised person. And so it is with us. We are all lepers in our own way. We all fall short and are sinful and broken people. Yet, Jesus looks upon us, diseased though we are, with compassion and love. "Be made clean" are Jesus' words to us. Jesus came to include all people in God's family and no one is beyond redemption or restoration. This is the promise of gospel and is true for you and all people.


Prayer: Lord, cleanse me from all my sin and brokenness. Heal my physical, social and spiritual pain so I might live the life you call me into. Allow me to see all people as beloved children of God, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Grace not Judgment

Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. ³The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, ⁴they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. ⁵Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. ⁷When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. ⁹When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. ¹⁰Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” ¹¹She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” John 8:1-11

One of the most natural human tendencies is to judge others. We judge how people act, how they parent, how they spend their time and money, how they dress, and on and on. We judge others silently even more than we ever let on. And there is a perverse side of us that enjoys seeing others who we can judge as worse than ourselves. The truth is, in God's eyes, we all sin and fall short. We all deserve judgment from God and no one is truly better than anyone else. Without God's grace we are all in big trouble. So why then do we persist in judging when we should know better?

The story of the woman caught in adultery exemplifies how Jesus understands human brokenness and sin. There is no denying that adultery is a sinful behavior. The text makes it clear the woman was guilty (although the man is not implicated for his role in the adultery which is quite telling). The Pharisees' and scribes' approach to sinful behavior is punishment. Punishing wrongdoers allows us to feel superior and in control, but does not bring change or transformation. Jesus' approach on the other hand, does not deny the sinful behavior but offers grace rather than punishment. He refuses to condemn her and tells her go and "do not sin again." This is a moment of pure grace and one that would certainly shape her life from then on. He also does not allow the self-righteous crowd off the hook, but forces them to reflect upon their own sin. No one is perfect and we all deserve God's wrath, but by the grace of God we have peace with God.

Judging is God's work not ours. God has given us the gift of grace, through which we have peace with God and the promise of eternal life. We did not earn it and do not deserve it. When we judge others for their behaviors, choices or lifestyles, we deny God's grace and subject ourselves to judgment from others (cf. Matthew 7:1-5). If we truly receive God's grace our response to brokenness and sin would be graciousness and mercy rather than judgment. As humans, our instinct is to judge and condemn but the Spirit working within us can help us to remember God's grace and share it.

Prayer: Lord, help me to truly understand and receive your grace and love. Help me to understand not only my deep need for forgiveness and mercy, but also your deep love for all people. Help me to not judge others, but share your love and grace, in Jesus' name, AMEN.