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.

Giving Witness

Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?” ²⁸Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, ²⁹“Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” John 4:27-29

The encounter between the woman at the well and Jesus illustrates the transformational power that meeting Jesus had on people. The woman has a long exchange with Jesus that concludes with Jesus revealing to her that he is the Messiah she has been waiting for (4:26). Once she realizes the impact of this truth, she immediately leaves to share the good news with her community. She was so excited to tell everyone about Jesus that she even forgot to bring her water bucket with her! Her response to Jesus stands in marked contrast to those who demanded a sign from Jesus in order to believe. She was open to being changed by God and then mobilized into action. This is the Holy Spirit at work. If we truly understand the good news of salvation, given through Christ, why wouldn't we run off to share it?


As powerful as her response to Jesus was, it is even more remarkable the impact her proclamation had on those she shared the good news with.

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” ⁴⁰So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. ⁴¹And many more believed because of his word. ⁴²They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.” John 4:39-42

The woman at the well shared her story with her community and they believed her! This woman, who had been married five times and had been shunned by her community was now the town evangelist. She shared about the power of her encounter with Jesus and what it meant to her. The people were so moved by her testimony they invited Jesus to stay with them to learn more. This led to even more believing that Jesus was the Savior of the world. All of this took place among the Samaritans who were historic enemies of the Jewish people, demonstrating God's desire for salvation for all people.


God desires all people to be reconciled to God and redeemed through Christ's death and resurrection. Salvation is not limited to a select few or for those the world deems acceptable. No, God's salvation is for all people no matter where they were born or what they have done. The woman at the well believed God's love was for her and she shared this good news with all she knew. How will you respond?


Prayer: Lord, let me receive your love and grace fully, so that I may rejoice and give thanks. Help me to share the good news of all you have done for me, and trust that through the work of Spirit, lives can be transformed. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

The Woman at the Well

Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” ¹⁷The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; ¹⁸for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” ¹⁹The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. ²⁰Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” ²¹Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. ²²You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. ²³But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. ²⁴God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” ²⁵The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” ²⁶Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.” John 4:16-26

Jesus met the unnamed Samaritan woman at the well during the middle of the day (John 4:6). This detail is significant because the normal custom for those getting water was to go to the well either in early morning or evening. When Jesus meets her at the well they were most likely the only people there. She goes to the well by herself because she had been shunned by her community. We are not told the circumstances of her previous relationships, but having five husbands and living with one who is not her husband would have been quite scandalous at the time. She goes to the well when no one else would be there to avoid further shaming and judgment.

When the woman meets Jesus she does not lie about her story or pretend to be something she wasn't. Instead she has an open conversation with Jesus and sees what God is doing through Jesus. She also confesses her hope that the Messiah will come and bring liberation not only to the Jewish people, but to Samaritans as well. In other words, this ostracized and shunned woman knows she has a place in God's kingdom. She has not allowed what others have said about her to change her belief that the Messiah would come for her too. She reminds us that our worth depends upon what God says about us and no one else.

Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well is remarkable in many regards. She displays great spiritual insight, perseverance and belief that through God all things are possible. She believes the Messiah will come for her and her people; that God's plan of salvation is for all people. For this faith, Jesus reveals to her his true identity. He reveals that he is the Messiah she has been waiting for. While so many others have either misunderstood who Jesus was or rejected him altogether, Jesus reveals the fullness of God's promise to the woman at the well. No one is excluded from God's love, no matter what their life has been like. God sees our heart and knows us fully and for those ready to receive it, Jesus speaks transformational truth to our hearts.

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember that no matter what we have done we are loved by you. Help me to see in others the child of God you created and extend the same love and grace you show me to others, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Living Water

A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” ⁸(His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) ⁹The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) ¹⁰Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” ¹¹The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? ¹²Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” ¹³Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” ¹⁵The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” John 4:7-15

As this text suggests, Samaritans and Jews did not have good relations with one another in Jesus' day. They were of different cultures and religious beliefs and had many wars between them. Jesus was traveling through Samaria to return to Galilee and stopped for water. An interaction between and Jew and a Samaritan would be remarkable enough, but Jesus interacting with a Samaritan woman transgressed cultural norms on two fronts. Yet, this pattern of moving beyond cultural boundaries was central to Jesus' ministry. His ministry is not confined to the children of Israel, and as such he powerfully reminds us that he came for all people and not a select few.

Jesus tells the woman to that if he knew who asked him for a drink, she would ask him for living water. This is the water the fully and completely quenches our thirst. Water can satisfy our thirst for a moment, but we will always need more. Living water quenches the thirst of our soul through the saving grace of Baptism. Living water hydrates our spirit and sustains within us a well spring of God's loving presence. The Samaritan woman may not yet understand who Jesus is or what he is all about, but she is believes Jesus can provide living water for her spirit and asks Jesus to provide it.

Jesus came to give living water for thirsty and weary souls. He came so our lives could be liberated by God's saving love and transformed by God's presence. If Jesus is offering living water, I say: "fill 'er up!"

Prayer: Lord, help me to seek the Living Water you so lovingly supply. Help me to be filled with the presence of Christ and share God's love with a world thirsty for God, in Jesus' name, AMEN. 



Blasphemy or Truth?

So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” ²⁵Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; ²⁶but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. ²⁷My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰The Father and I are one.” ³¹The Jews took up stones again to stone him. ³²Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” ³³The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.” John 10:24-33

A central tenet of the Jewish faith is the belief that God is transcendent and holy. God is so powerful that no human being could stand face-to-face with God and live. When God chooses to communicate to humans it is always through an intermediary. In the Old Testament, we see God communicate through a burning bush, clouds of fire, angels, prophets but never directly. God is totally holy and inaccessible. For this reason, many in the Jewish faith will not use God's proper name (YHWH) in speech or writing, but instead use LORD or Elohim as placeholders for God's name. This is why there was such a strong reaction to Jesus' words about himself: "the Father and I are one." On its face, this statement is blasphemy, but it is also true.


I do not blame the religious leaders of Jesus' day for being skeptical about someone claiming to be the messiah or one with God. We should all take these types of claims with a grain of salt, and there were many who falsely claimed to be the messiah. That being said, if the theological foundation of any religion claims to know what God can and cannot do this is the real blasphemy. God is God and we are not. God can do anything God pleases and there are no restrictions. So while it is true, prior to Jesus, God interacted with humanity through intermediaries this does not mean God cannot communicate directly or in person. The closed and narrow-mindedness of the Jewish leaders kept them from seeing God was doing a new thing in Jesus. God was entering into the world in the flesh. God was showing the world love, mercy and grace. Jesus demonstrates this through a series of "signs" and ultimately on the cross. Jesus does not blaspheme God, rather he speaks a truth that had not previously been revealed.


The truth is God continues to work in our world and in our lives. This can be recognized if we have eyes of faith, but is often overlooked or disregarded. Jesus' challenge to the Jewish people of his time is the same challenge for us: remaining open to what God is doing. We must look for God's work in our lives and be ready for God to do something new. God is not distant from our lives. In Christ, we understand God to be "Immanuel" or "God with us." God is with us and showing us the truth. If we remain open and faithful, God's truth will transform our lives.


Prayer: Lord, help me to remain open to the ways you are working in my life. Help me to see with eyes of faith and be prepared to see something new from you, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Inherited Faith

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” ³³They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?” John 8:31-33

I have been Lutheran my whole life. Within two months of being born, my parents had me baptized. They brought my brother and I to church every Sunday, where my mother was the bell choir director and accompanist on piano. Both sets of grandparents and other relatives attended the same church, and our extended family is filled with the faithful. I am deeply grateful for being raised in the church and learning about God's grace and love from an early age. I inherited a faith tradition and have become a pastor in the same tradition. That being said, this faith was not my own until I was an adult. I inherited a faith tradition but did not choose it. I was raised Lutheran, but religious custom and family tradition is not, on its own, faith. This we cannot inherit but must receive, as a gift from God. My faith became the center point of my life, not because I was raised in the church, but because I personally and powerfully have experienced God's love in my life. I have experienced the truth and the truth has set me free.


This truth and faith is what Jesus came to proclaim and live. He tells the crowd to continue "in my word" and you will know the truth. This was an unwelcome message to those who inherited their Jewish faith. They were told they were God's chosen people by birthright. That as descendants of Abraham they had been given God's full blessing. Jesus challenges them to move beyond faith as custom, tradition, and inheritance and move toward faith as truth, love, and obedience to God. The tension between Jesus' proclamations and Jewish tradition come to a boiling point because Jesus challenged the fundamental assumptions of faith as inheritance. Rather than accept the truth and change, they would prefer to believe a lie. No matter how hard Jesus tries, or how patient he is, some will never accept the truth.


Jesus is the "way the truth and the life" (cf. John 14:6) and whoever follows him will have eternal life. Faith, unlike an inheritance, is not given to a special few, or disseminated by birthright, or a matter of education or good works. Faith is a gift from God, activated by the Spirit and received by those open to it. It is a gift intended for all people and not just some people. Faith is a matter of trusting God and being set free from all that binds us.


Prayer: Lord, help me to know the truth and be set free. Allow your Spirit to work within me so I might grow in faith, love, and obedience to your will, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Fear of the Unknown

About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. ¹⁵The Jews were astonished at it, saying, “How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?” ¹⁶Then Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. ¹⁷Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. ¹⁸Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him. John 7:14-18

The Jewish people had been promised a messiah who would deliver them from their oppressors and restore the kingdom of David. There were signs to look for that were given by the prophets, but many who had previously claimed to be the messiah turned out not to be. So, in some respects, we can understand why the religious leaders were skeptical of Jesus. They questioned his authority because they do not recognize where it came from. They did not understand how Jesus could heal the man and where he received his knowledge from. They had become so convinced about their understanding of God they could not see God's truth standing in front of them. Because they did not understand they feel threatened, which is a natural human response.


Human beings like to be in control. We would rather go through life as routine drudgery than put ourselves in the position of having no control. Yet, control is an illusion and idolatry. A health scare, job loss, stock market plunge, violence, or even extreme weather are reminders that we are not in control. This is why we seek to buffer ourselves with various products and devices to guard against the unknown because we are truly anxious. The truth is we are not in control and we do not understand. Life is mysterious and baffling and there is very little we can do about it. The flip side of this truth is God is in control and God wants the very best for us. Our desire to control and our anxiety over our lack of control, is all connected to our lack of trust in God. The only way to combat anxiety is to surrender our need for control, to give our trust to God. This may not help us understand but will relieve our need to. This is liberating and transformational. It is also a life-long process which requires divine intervention.


Prayer: Lord, help me to place my trust in you. Help me, in the midst of things I do not understand, to believe you are with me. Help me to confess my anxiety and surrender it to you, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Bread of Life

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35

Bread is a gift from God. I know being gluten-free is all the rage these days, but I still am weak for the smell and taste of fresh bread. Bread comes in all shapes and flavors, but in its various forms it is a staple in diets across cultures and religions.  However, as satisfying as bread can be, even in massive quantities, it can never fully satisfy. If I eat an entire loaf of bread today, I will still be hungry tomorrow. This is the nature of our physical appetites. We can only temporary satiate our physical need for nourishment and each day we must fill and re-fill our body with nutrients.


When Jesus calls himself "the bread of life" he is not talking about physical needs or nourishment from food. Rather, Jesus is speaking about the spiritual hunger we have for meaning and purpose, and our deep desire to experience love and acceptance. Jesus offers us peace with God. This peace allows us to rest contently knowing we no longer have to strive for more or struggle to be accepted. In Christ, we have God's grace; in Christ we have God's mercy.

Jesus, as the bread of life, not only allows us to receive God's grace and mercy, but also provides us with ongoing spiritual nourishment.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. John 6:51

The flesh, or body of Jesus, was given as a gift of grace upon the cross, but also continues to be given to us at the table. When we receive Christ's presence in the Lord's Supper, we are not only reminded of God's grace but receive his presence in bread and wine. While the physical elements of communion may not fill our physical needs for nourishment, they fill us with God's grace and equip us to share God's love in the world.


This was a difficult and challenging teaching for those who heard it then (6:60-71) because it made clear that God's presence was breaking into our world. The Jewish faith had always claimed that God was transcendent and distant from humanity, while Jesus claims the exact opposite. In Jesus, God is made known and can been seen and even tasted. He came to satiate our appetites and make us whole. He is the best and most filling bread we could ever have.


Prayer: Lord, help me to receive the Bread of Life that satisfies my soul. Help me to receive Christ's presence so that I may be nourished with God's amazing love and share God's love with others, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

On the Sabbath

At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a sabbath. ¹⁰So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, “It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” ¹¹But he answered them, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’” ¹²They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” ¹³Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had disappeared in the crowd that was there. ¹⁴Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you have been made well! Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you.” ¹⁵The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. ¹⁶Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath. John 5:9-16

The Sabbath is God's gift to humanity. We are given the opportunity to rest one day a week. We are given relief from the grind of work and the responsibility that comes with it. God takes the seventh day of creation to rest and we are to follow suit each week. One would think human beings would rejoice in such a gift, but most cannot stop their work or productivity so God made observing the Sabbath a command. God's commands us to rest because on our own would will not and can not rest. Taking Sabbath rests requires trust in the provisions of God, rather than anxiously accumulating more and more. Taking Sabbath is a gift and it develops faith and trust in those who observe it.

To help people live into the gift of Sabbath, the Jewish faith developed detailed rules and regulations to help people rest. Most of these are intended to address the loopholes that anxious human beings devise to pay lip service to observing Sabbath. But as time went on, this Sabbath rules became elevated in importance to such an extent that love of neighbor became a "work" to avoid on Sabbath.

In this story, Jesus challenges strict Sabbath observance by healing a man who had been ill for 38 years. Strictly speaking, healing on the Sabbath was work, but Jesus demonstrates there is never a wrong time to help a hurting person. It is not that Sabbath observance is unimportant, but a legalistic and narrow interpretation of the commandments that does not preference love of neighbor is problematic. In other words, faithfulness to God is not as simple as following rules, we must seek to love God and love neighbor fully.

It is precisely this kind of tension and nuance the religious leaders of Jesus' day could not tolerate, which eventually led them to persecute and kill Jesus. God's calls us to live in this tension, requiring us to remain open to the Spirit's leading and discerning the most faithful path forward. In this instance, it meant Jesus healed and hurting man, but it other cases it may mean slowing down and allowing rest to permeate our harried lives.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to slow down, rest, and trust in your grace. Help me to follow your ways to love you with all I have and love others, in Jesus' name AMEN.





Eyes of Faith

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. ²He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” ³Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” ⁵Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. ⁶What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ ⁸The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” ⁹Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?”

John 3:1-10

Jesus was a powerful teacher who brought new and groundbreaking insights to the people he met. Time and time again, people left an encounter with Jesus amazed, astounded, and often confused. Jesus spoke God's truth to the people, but they often missed the point. This explains why people missed the whole point of Jesus' coming and the could not grasp the meaning of his teachings.


Nicodemus exemplifies this disconnect, or spiritual blindness, in his encounter with Jesus. He comes to Jesus at night, which makes sense because as a Pharisee he wouldn't want anyone to know he was there. The imagery also suggests the lack of spiritual sight Nicodemus had in being able to understand what God was doing through Jesus. He comes not to aggressively challenge Jesus' teachings or authority, but with a genuine curiosity and desire to understand. Jesus speaks the truth to Nicodemus, but Nicodemus cannot handle it. To see the kingdom of God implies being able to see God at work in the world, which requires understanding who Jesus is and what God is up to. If Nicodemus (and others) see the signs and wonders Jesus performed, but still do not have faith how could they understand?

Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. ¹²If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? ¹³No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. ¹⁴And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. ¹⁶“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ¹⁷Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:11-17



Nicodemus, like many, is seeking to understand God rationally or logically. This is his stumbling block. It is not that God is irrational or illogical, it is simply our human limitations do not allow us to understand God's ways. Nicodemus can see there is something special about what Jesus is doing, but because it does not conform to his prior understandings of God he struggles to believe. He stumbles because he is trying to think his way to new faith, rather than faith (it is a verb now) his way to new thinking.


St. Anselm, and 11th century theologian and bishop, described the intersection of reason and faith as "faith seeking understanding." This implies faith is a starting place for understanding the world. Faith helps us see the world in a new way that unlocks the mysteries of creation. Faith seeks understanding, rather than understanding seeking faith. This is what keeps Nicodemus from believing Jesus and is a story I can relate to as well.


In college I struggled mightily to understand God in order to believe. It didn't work for me and many have similarly struggled. Faith comes not from the head but from the heart. God touches our heart in a way we cannot always explain or describe. With Faith, I can explore the world and seek knowledge in ways that not only makes sense but discovers the harmony and rhythm embedded in this beautiful world God created. I can see God at work in my life and the world, and this knowledge continue to enliven and enrich my faith. May God touch our hearts and open our eyes to see, believe and understand!


Prayer: Lord, open the eyes of my heart and let me see your work in my life. Help me to see and understand, trusting in your love, mercy and grace. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Family of Faith

While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. ⁴⁷Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” ⁴⁸But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” ⁴⁹And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ⁵⁰For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50

In most cultures, and Jesus' was no exception, one's identity is largely determined by their family. Like it or not, we are connected to our family permanently. This is a legal and biological fact, but also makes sense from a survival perspective as well. We often turn to family in times of struggle or suffering. Even in the hardest times, family members help one another and care when others won't. This is why the scriptures often lift up the needs of the widows, orphans, and strangers because they lack the familial support others have.

When Jesus tells the disciples they are his true family, rather than his biological family it is jolting. He offers an alternative framework whereby faith and discipleship are the primary factors that determine whom we are to be committed to. If all Christians are my "brothers and sisters" and are to be afforded the same level of care and commitment I offer my own biological family, then I must significantly increase my level of concern for others. Jesus isn't rejecting his family per se (notice his mother and brothers are not in the room with him when he says this), but he is making clear to his followers that he values them completely.

These disciples left everything to follow Jesus, including their families and support systems. In doing so, Jesus offers them a new family, the family of faith. The family of faith is an open family that does not require, birth or marriage to be included. Instead, the family of faith functions as a group of children all adopted by God; taken in, and permanently included. The family of faith always has room for more and no one is forced to sit at the kids table.

Prayer: Lord help me to see my fellow human beings as my brothers and sisters, and to increase my level of commitment to their needs. Help me increase my empathy for those who struggle and my joy for those who celebrate, in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Our Mouth, God's Word

Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. ³⁶I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; ³⁷for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Matthew 12:33-37

Wow. Those last words really got my attention. Jesus tells us we will have to give an account for every careless word we utter. I can't speak for anyone but myself, but for me this would be a long list of careless words. Words of anger, words of hurt, words of judgment, words of gossip, words of hate, words of indifference, words of spite, words of violence, words that demean or belittle and on the list goes. There are so many words I have spoken that are careless and Godless, how could I ever give an account for the words I have spoken?


The real miracle is that any good words come out at all. This is Jesus' real point I believe. Whenever a kind, generous, thoughtful, uplifting, kind, gracious, merciful, encouraging or loving word comes from our mouth, it comes from God's work within us. Consider each time you could have or wanted to say something hurtful, but chose to say something kind (and not in a sarcastic way). This is God at work within us. This is God's work in the world.


The more God works on our heart, the greater the impact can be seen in our words. If mean-spirited, judgmental, an unkind words dominate my speech how can I truly say God is in my heart? Jesus knows the impact our words make on others and the daily opportunity we have to speak God's word to one another. Let us speak good things to one another and allow God to change our hearts.


Prayer: Change my heart O God, and let my words speak of the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that only comes from you. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Costly Faith

See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. ¹⁷Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; ¹⁸and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. ¹⁹When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; ²⁰for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:16-20

²¹Doing God's work in the world is not without conflict. Jesus' ministry challenged the Roman and Jewish authorities in numerous ways on multiple occasions. Jesus spoke the truth to power and eventually is put to death. Jesus' teaching was in many cases a direct affront to the teachings of the Pharisees and chief priests. He had a large following and many thought he was the messiah they were waiting for. The Romans were most interested in keeping the people inline and peaceful and were always on the lookout for an uprising. Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and his popularity among the people would surely have been noticed. But God's mission called Jesus to the cross. He was to bring God's holy and powerful presence into the world, to show love in its purest form, and expose the sin and brokenness of the world. This is accomplished in the death and resurrection of Jesus. God's love is on display, sin and evil are defeated, and worldly powers are shown to be hollow. God is victorious in Christ, but it wasn't easy.


When Jesus tells the disciples they are being sent out "like sheep into the midst of wolves" he describes their biggest challenge and greatest opportunity. Each of the 12 apostles (minus Judas) played a key role in the development of the church. They were sent into the world to share the message of Jesus and invite others to follow. The church exists today because those sent by Jesus were obedient and faithful to their calling. Each was, like Jesus, martyred for their faith. They were brought before authorities, questioned for their faith, beaten and eventually killed. Along the way however, their testimony changed lives and facilitated the development of the church. Jesus sent them out knowing they would face danger, but also knowing how vital for God's kingdom their work would be.


There are still parts of the world where sharing the Christian faith is dangerous. There are martyrs today who lives bear witness to Jesus' words. For most of us this is not the case. In America, we are blessed to live in a country where freedom of religion is a bedrock principle. We can express our faith and worship freely, without fear of reprisal (although non-Christian groups are often targeted with hate crimes). But just because we can worship freely does not mean were not called to live out our faith in the midst of wolves.


To claim to be a disciple of Christ, we must seek to follow Jesus' example. Jesus spoke God's truth to those in power that all people are God's people. Jesus interacted with people on the margins of society to demonstrate that all people are valued by God. Jesus called out the hypocrisy of religious leaders who cared more about personal comfort and power than faithfulness to God. To be a follower of Jesus requires us to live with conviction and courage. To be willing to stand up for God's truth and stand with the most vulnerable. Yes, there are wolves in our midst, but God will be with us as we go.


Prayer: Lord, give me the courage to live out my faith. Give me strength to be the person you have created me to be. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

No Excuses

Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. ¹⁹A scribe then approached and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” ²⁰And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” ²¹Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” ²²But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Matthew 8:18-22

The ministry of Jesus drew crowds everywhere he went. He healed the sick, the blind, the deaf, and the diseased. He fed multitudes, taught with authority, and cast out demons. People noticed and told others, and in a short amount of time there were huge crowds everywhere Jesus went. Some came for healing or a miracle, others came because they believed God was at work, and others came to see the show. There were also those, after meeting Jesus, who were ready to follow him, or so they thought.


Jesus hand-picked his disciples and invited them to follow him. Those chosen immediately left their lives behind and followed. In this story, two people ask Jesus for permission to follow. In the first instance, Jesus tells the scribe that if he follows Jesus he will be homeless. Scribes were respected members of society and religious leaders. The idea of an itinerant ministry with no home would have been a big change in lifestyle for the scribe. The second potential follower of Jesus wants to first bury his father and attend to his family obligations. Jesus saying "follow me and let the dead bury the dead" comes across as extremely harsh but highlights the ultimate priority that discipleship entails.


Jesus calls each of us into a life-changing relationship, whereby our lives are transformed by God's amazing love and grace. We are given the gift of salvation as a free gift, but we are also given an invitation to live our lives as disciples. To be a follower of Christ, God has to be in first place. There are no excuses with God and God cannot be fooled. God wants our whole heart not leftovers. This requires ordering our life in new ways and establishing priorities that put faith first.


As a pastor I know how busy the lives of the people I serve are. We are busy and have many important responsibilities and tasks to attend to that establishing discipleship practices can seem like another thing on an already long to-do list. I know it and I get it. But the truth is God is not impressed with how busy we are. God is not rewarding us for our efficiency or effectiveness at accomplishing tasks, however God pleasing they might be. No, God has already made a decision about us. We are unconditionally loved by the creator of all things. Our relationship with God is made whole through Christ and we are children of God. No amount of busyness or productivity will change God's mind about you.


What God desires is to set us free from our burdens and to live life abundantly. Life with and for God shifts our priorities and messes up our "plans," but also opens us up to something so much deeper and transforming.Discipleship is not easy. It is costly and countercultural, but it can set us free to be who we were created to be.


Prayer: Lord, help me to move past my excuses and follow you more fully. Help me to prioritize my time and actions to keep you in first place. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Storms Will Come

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!

Matthew 7:24-27

One of the biggest lies Satan tells is: God rewards the good and punishes the evil. This lie implies that when things are going well, God is pleased with us. Conversely, when things are going bad, God is upset with us. This lie distorts reality in many important ways.

When we believe this lie, we begin to see others who are "successful" and assume God is blessing their lives and thus baptize their behavior, whether it is God pleasing or not. The so-called prosperity gospel of TV evangelists glorifies this lie to such an extent that they have massive followers and mega-churches. People want to be successful and rich and how much more enthralling to believe this is God's blessing!

The even more insidious consequence of this lie is that it tells people who are struggling that it is their fault. The lie tells us that it is their fault for health struggles; their fault for financial difficulty, their fault for family problem, their fault for all of life ills and God is punishing them for their sins. This shame and embarrassment that accompanies these struggles also tends to keep people away from their faith communities when they need them the most.

Jesus eradicates Satan's lie. He does not say that those who build their house on rock will avoid the storms. He doesn't say that only perfect people with perfect faith can be accepted. Rather, life brings storms no matter who you are. If you have a foundation of faith, a life built on rock, you can withstand storms much better than those without faith. Christians are not immune to struggles and difficulty, rather we are better equipped to handle them.

We must build a foundation of faith great enough to trust and believe in God in the most trying times. Faith is preventive medicine rather than emergency room care. We lay a foundation of prayer, scripture, serving and giving throughout our lives and become changed people. People of faith have complete assurance, by God's grace, their place with God is secure and complete. The storms will come, but God is already victorious!

Prayer: Lord, help my life be founded on your love and your ways. Equip me to deal with the storms in life in a way that gives witness to your amazing grace and mercy, in Jesus' name, AMEN.



Jesus is Calling

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁹And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18-21

I have always been struck by the immediacy of the disciples following Jesus. They did not ask questions or hesitate, they immediately left their nets and followed. The disciples left their jobs, their relationships, and their homes to follow someone they had never even met before. Their immediate response leads me to think two things: they had great faith and Jesus gave a powerful invitation.

The amount of trust the disciples had in Jesus is hard to comprehend. I would probably need a lot more explanation from Jesus to leave everything behind, and even then I would most likely cling to my own life than follow Jesus blindly. I suppose this is why he chose them. He knew their hearts and their readiness to say "yes" to God's call. What we don't know is what their lives were like before they met Jesus. Perhaps they had a series of dreams or visions from God to prepare their hearts. Or perhaps they had someone encourage them to think of how they could serve God and others. Like the disciples, we all are called by Jesus to be disciples. Each call is different and we are all prepared by our life experience to pursue this call in our own way. We must remain open to God's call in our life and be prepared to say "yes" when the opportunity comes.

The other aspect of this story that strikes me is the power of Jesus' invitation. Jesus doesn't have to say much to cause such a powerful response. He doesn't outline their mission, or detail the benefits of becoming a disciple, or what they will do, where they will go, and for how long. Jesus invites them to follow and they do. It defies human reason and logic to simply walk away under such conditions. Perhaps it is not what Jesus said that matters, but Jesus himself. Jesus, as God incarnate, had a powerful presence that affected the people he met. Perhaps Jesus didn't even need to say anything to cause such a response. He could have simply looked into their hearts and offered a welcoming and loving glance or embrace. When we are in the presence of God we don't need explanations or logic, we simply need an open heart.

The disciples were chosen for their openness and trust, and when given the opportunity they responded to Jesus' powerful invitation. May we remain open and ready to trust God on our journey.

Prayer: Lord, help me to see your presence in my life; help me to remain open to your call; help me to say "yes" when you call me; help me to have the strength and courage to follow you. In Jesus, name, AMEN.