Transforming Power

        Nehemiah 2:11-18, 3:1-2,      John 5:1-15

                                                                                          
                 “TRANSFORMING POWER”
           (Third in a series: “Seven Signs in John”)

 Do you want to get well? The sick man was so discouraged
and depressed he heard fewer and fewer things.
Do you want to get well?  Jesus asked.     

The man had been an invalid for 38 years.  His disease had

become a way of life. He said:   “No one has ever helped me.”  

He had given up hope on ever being healed or helping himself. 

The man’s situation seemed hopeless.

(If you haven’t read John 5:1-5, do so now.  Verse 3 says:

A great number of disabled people used to lie -

(by the Bethesda Pool near the Sheep Gate)*

the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.

They waited for the moving of the waters.  From time to time

an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. 

It was believed that the first one in the pool after each such

disturbance would be cured of whatever disease she or he had. 

 

Now you understand why the man, in response to Jesus’ question:

Do you want to get well?  Was: No one has ever helped me
 get into the waters after they have been disturbed.  (John 5:7)

Hopelessness is what many people feel. 
According to a Sociologist at University of California Berkeley:
            1/3 of homeless are mentally ill,
            1/3 of homeless are Drug Afflicted,
            1/3 of homeless are Knocked off their feet.
            All have excuses: “No One Helps Me.”

No matter how trapped you may feel,

God’s Transforming Power can minister to your deepest need. 

Don’t let your problem or hardship cause you to loose hope. 

Two Reflections on Jesus’ Transforming Power in John 5:1-15.

Jesus’ Glory is Revealed as the Great Physician.

The Power of His Word Healed an Official’s Son,

as we learned last Sunday (John 4:46-54)
Here we see Jesus’ Authority on behalf of another,
When he said:  Get Up and Pick Up your mallet.
(A poor person’s mattress was a straw mat.)

Jesus cannot be confined to working a certain way.

Christ’s will was that the man would be WHOLE.  

Notice this time Jesus finds the lonely person, unlike the

story last week where the Official went to Jesus.  The good
news is Jesus didn’t wait to for those in need to find him. 

Jesus found the friendless, those who had no earthly help.

Jesus gave the paralytic full attention. 
Jesus touched him with Transforming Power.

Healing was SHEER GRACE and Jesus’ Creative Power.

The healed man was confronted as why he was carrying a

pallet on the Sabbath.  Read Nehemiah 13:15-22
to understand the seriousness of Violating of the Sabbath.
Law of Moses: The Ten Commandments says: (Exodus 20:8)
Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.

Jesus returned to Jerusalem to celebrate one of Three Feasts*

mandated in the Old Testament Law: Feast of Weeks/First Fruits

(Pentecost) because it came 50 days after Feast of Passover. 

Feast of Tabernacles (Of Lights, today called: Chanukah)

The religious leaders focused more on the “breaking of the Sabbath”

than the miraculous healing of the former paralytic.

They saw carrying a mallet as work.  When confronted he replied:
The man who made me well, told me to pick up your mat and walk. 
In response to who told you to do this, the man said: 
I have no idea. (John 5:9-13)

Jesus demonstrated the true meaning of Sabbath and Pentecost

when his Transforming Power led to healing the paralytic.

Later Jesus found the healed man and brought the Physical and

Spiritual dimensions together.  The man then went and told the

leaders, who had questioned him, that it was Jesus who healed him.

Jesus was confronted by those leaders, still focused on the law,

not the healing.  Jesus responds:

“My Father is working until now and I myself AM working.” 

God works on the Sabbath (John 5:21)

            God gives life when children are born.
            God saves people on Sabbath.
Jesus identified himself with God, his Father.  There was
no doubt that he was making himself equal to God.  (John 5:18) 

The religious leaders realized that Jesus claimed:

a unique relationship with the Father, and began
finding ways of arresting him.

Previously, after Jesus healed a man with withered hand, he asked:

                      Which is lawful on the Sabbath:
            to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill? (Mark 3:1-6)

Implicit was the claim:  He was Lord of Sabbath, Son of God,

Workman of God and had Authority to Forgive Sins.

Earlier a paralyzed man was carried to Jesus by some friends,

lowered through a roof, because they could not get through

the door for the number of people seeking Jesus’ healing power.

That was when Jesus said:  Your sins are forgiven.  (Mark 2:1-12)

Unlike those who carried their friend to Jesus,

No one helped the invalid at the Bethesda Pool.

         Notice the STEPS:     

            Jesus asks if he wanted to be cured.
            Jesus tells the man to get up “Action”
            He was to attempt the impossible to walk.
            That was the road to achievement and healing.

Jesus’ Glory is Revealed as the Great Physician.

The second reflection Jesus’ Transformational Power is:

The man’s Response to Jesus’ question Do You Want Healing?

After 38 years of no one ever helping him.  Lying by the pool

was a way of life.  He had no hope of ever being healed and
he had no desire of helping himself.  No doubt there was
self-pity.  After all his situation was hopeless.       

Do you face a situation you see as hopeless?

Do you have self-pity, maybe rightly so, “no one cares...?”
Sometimes it is harder being well than remaining sick.

Transformation leads to Responsibility.
            It is easier to remain hurting: “Pathology”
            Believing everyone is against me. “Co-Dependency”
            Those are called “Practical Pathology” (Earl Palmer)

You may think “I don’t feel hopeless or have self-pity,

I don’t need anyone or God’s Transformative Power.” 
That may be true.  Have fun and enjoy your life but
sooner or later, you will have to do something when
you are terribly offended by... or feel powerless…

Was the man disappointed in the manner in which he

was healed?  He had wanted to get into the bubbling water. 
That had been his life desire and hope for his cure.

 We may say: “I sort of hoped it would have been different.”

Sometimes we demand from God ... and call it Faith.
It is Impertinence.  John records this Sign for the church.
“When we pray, we may not get what we ask for.
  We will get what God asks for.”  (Palmer) 

What is Your response to Jesus’ question:

             Do You want to be healed:
            Physically, Spiritually or Emotionally?

IF YOU want to be healed,

Are YOU willing to do what Jesus tells you to do?

Do you want to Experience God’s Transforming Power.

Then say: “I am willing to trust and follow you.
                   Tell me what you want me to do.”

This was the third miraculous sign that Jesus performed.

Demonstrating Jesus’ Transforming Power.

In preparation for next week's blog:  fourth miraculous sign

Demonstrating Jesus’ miraculous provision, Read John 6:1-5
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         *BACKGROUND:  Was the Jewish Feast Jesus attended:

Pentecost, Passover or Tabernacles?  It is not clear. 
I opt for Pentecost.

If you have Bible with map the Jerusalem in Jesus’ day, 

note that the Pool near the Sheep Gate is in the upper right
corner.  This Sheep Gate was discovered in 1871 and is used
today for selling of sheep.  We saw the shepherds selling and
buying sheep on a couple of our visits to Israel.

Note the historical connection with Nehemiah and the Rebuilding

of the wall around Jerusalem. 

The High Priest and his priests build the Sheep Gate
“Trapezoidal in form, 165-220 feet wide by 315 feet long
divided by a central partition–thus John’s ‘five porticoes’ (v.2)
Stairways in the corners permitted descent into the pools. 
In this hilly area the water may have come from underground drainage.
some of it, perhaps, from intermittent springs.”  (Raymond Brown)

As I wrote last week, *"The Chosen" is a dramatic rendition of Jesus and his disciples.  It can be seen on Prime or The Chosen's app:  The Chosen.tv./app!, The episodes dramatizing the Scripture passages in this blog are Season 2 episode 4.

 

                       

 

 

 

                            

                                  Psalm 19, John 4:39-54

                             "POWER OF THE WORD"
                     (Second in a series: "Seven Signs in John")

A Mother, driving in rain, used the power of words to teach her
son a lesson.  She said: "The rain is like sin and the windshield wipers,
are like God’s wiping away our sin."

Last week we reflected on the first Sign in John revealing Jesus' dazzling glory.
This week's scripture refers to that first sign. 
     Once more Jesus visited Cana in Galilee
      where he turned water into wine. (John 4:39)
                                                       
Jesus was returning from his visit to Jerusalem in Judea. Choosing to take
the direct route, leading him through Samaria, a region most Jews avoided
because they despised Samaritans. There he met a woman at the well.
The result of their conversation was that many believed in Jesus because of
the woman’s testimony. They urged Jesus to stay with them.
He stayed for two days. Then he resumed his trip to Galilee.

(Read John 4:7-26 for the full story.) Verses 41-42 say:

"And because of his words many more believed.
We no longer believe because of what the woman said
but because we have heard for ourselves and know
that this man is Savior of the World."   What an affirmation!
 
"Now he left for Galilee. (Now Jesus had pointed out that a prophet
has no honor in his own country.) John 4:43-44) Mark 6:4 and Luke 4:6:24
explain why Jesus used that statement and why he was despised in Nazareth.

The Second Sign of Jesus’ dazzling glory was the Power of His Word,
resulting in a growing belief in Jesus. Notice the Progression in John 4:39-54.

Believed enough to ask Jesus to help a man’s son.

A government official, in Herod’s government, heard and seen that Jesus had healed
many people. Learning that Jesus was back in Capernaum, Galilee he traveled
20 miles to ask Jesus to come to his home and heal his dying son.
He believed enough make the effort of begging Jesus for help.

The official treated Jesus with respect, reverence and not contempt, as most
Jews were treated by those in the royal court. He calls Jesus, "Sir"
putting himself under Jesus, even though he legally had authority
over Jesus and could have commanded him.
Instead, he begs Jesus to come quickly.

Believed Jesus’ assurance that his son would live.

Jesus responded: "You may go. Your son will live.
The man took Jesus at his word and departed."  (John 4:50)

The man:
Believed Jesus and took him at his "bare" word.
Acted by returning the 20 miles to his home.

He believed and so did his whole house.

While he was still on his way, his servants met him with the news that
his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time his son got better,
they said to him, "the fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.
                                                                                  (John 4:5-52)   

Faith is a gift that grows as it is used. The father realized
The Timing and Completeness of Jesus healing (1:00 p.m.).
Instantaneous healing resulted in faith in Jesus for himself and
his whole household. (John 4:53)

The Effect of Faith and Efficacy/Power of the Word
restored life to a child and gave life to a family.

The woman in Samaria told others of what Jesus had done in her life.
Her faith in Jesus spread and many believed in Jesus because of the
testimony of the women. (John 4:39)

The miracle of healing was more than just a favor to one official
in Herod’s service, it was a sign to all people. John’s Gospel was
written to all humankind urging faith in Christ.

The official had faith that Jesus could do what Jesus claimed.
The official believed, then saw the miraculous sign. Jesus said:
Unless you people see miraculous signs and
wonders you will never believe. (John 4:48)

In contrast to, signs, the Samaritans believed because of what Jesus said:
the transforming Power of his word.

Do you believe Jesus can take care of your problems?
If so, act by asking him.
Act as if Jesus can make a difference.

After asking Jesus, in prayer, live as though you
believe Jesus will do what he says.
　
Jesus’ miracles were not mere illusions, the product of wishful thinking.
Although the official’s son was 20 miles away, he was healed the moment
Jesus spoke the word. Distance was no problem because Jesus Christ has
mastery over space. We can never put so much space between ourselves
and Christ that he can no longer help us.

Jesus took the official from believing simply because of "signs"
to believing Jesus’ word. True faith came when the sign demonstrated
that Jesus was a man of his word.

That word had and continues to have the power to heal and change lives 

for him and his families. He was taken from faith because of a sign

to faith in Jesus the life-giver.

Two Themes:

Faith and Power are life giving.
Lack of faith in Jerusalem, despite signs Jesus performed,
contrasted to faith of Samaritans based solely on his word.

Nicodemus, a religious leader secretly came to Jesus saying
Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who came from God.
For no one could perform the miraculous signs
you are doing if it were not for God with him.
Jesus responds: No one can see the Kingdom of God
                          unless he is born again.
Jesus led Nicodemus from believing because of signs to
"Believing in Jesus, which leads to eternal life." (Jn. 3:1-16)

Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman:
The water I give will become a spring...welling up to eternal life.
"Water that gives life." (John 4:14)

Jesus spoke and the boy - Lived.

"God spoke" and there was creation. (Genesis 1:2-31)

John 4:54, after the healing of the official’s boy, says:
This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, Demonstrating the Power of the Word.

Life Giving will be developed in the next section of John.
The Third Sign: John 5:1-15.

(Read the passage in Preparation for next week’s blog.)

As I wrote last week, *"The Chosen" is a dramatic rendition of Jesus and his disciples.  It can be seen on Prime or The Chosen's app:  The Chosen.tv./app!, The episodes dramatizing the Scripture passages in this blog are Season 1 episode 7,8 and Season 4 episode 4.

                                                          

                                                            

                                                    Read John 2:1-11

                                    "SUPER ABUNDANCE"

                            (First in a series: (Seven Signs in John)

There is nothing more embarrassing than running out of food or drink at a party

you are hosting. That is why so often there is a great deal of food left over after
all the guests leave.  If you found there was not enough food or drink for all your
guests, you likely would send someone to the nearest 24hour store to buy some.

Hospitality is a significant element and sacred duty in the Middle East Culture.
Once one enters a house or tent, the host will do everything to make that
person’s time very enjoyable.  There is always coffee or some other
form of drink and usually an abundance of food depending on the occasion
and time of day. In this story, it is easy seeing how running out of wine would
be a major embarrassment for the newly wedded couple.

There has been much speculation as to why the shortage.
     1. Were they not properly prepared?
     2. Was there a lack of concern for guests?
     3. Possibly they were poor and having additional guests, although we read:
        “Jesus and his disciples were invited," may have caught them off guard.
     4. Guests brought food or drink to a Destination wedding which lasted
         a week. Maybe the disciples didn’t bring food or drink for the festivities.

Banquets were prepared for many guests. The week was spent celebrating with
the married couple. Often the whole town was invited. It was considered an insult to refuse an invitation to a wedding. Thus, careful planning was needed to ensure everyone had a good time and there was enough to eat. Whatever the reason, running out of wine could lead to embarrassment. Mary, likely a relative of the bride’s parents, interceded and asked her eldest son to find a solution.

John's primary theme of this story was not:

     1. That the wine ran out.

      2. Mary's intervention-compelling Jesus into take action.
      3. It was not even that the water was turned into wine.
      4. Or the reaction of the steward.

John's primary theme is this was the first time Jesus revealed some of his
dazzling glory which resulted in his disciples believing in him. (John 2:11)

Throughout this Gospel, John records Seven Signs(miracles) Jesus did reveal who he was.

(This Blog is the first of seven on Signs in John. I will publish one each week.)

What does this passage reveal to us about Jesus?

There are Three Qualities:

Jesus enjoyed life and being with people.

Jesus had just launched his ministry, the greatest in the history of the world.

Yet he took time to attend a wedding and take part in the festivities.
Let me give a little background to this wedding:

There was a wedding in Cana and Jesus was there. (John 2:1)

Cana was about 17 miles from Nazareth, where Jesus grew up.
Galilee, where Jesus began his ministry, was about 25 miles from Cana.
It is believed that the wedding was for Mary’s niece.
Thus, Jesus’ presence. There is something special about this story
that brings joy today.

For Andrew and Phillip, (Read John 1:35-43), former disciples of
John the Baptist and the first to follow Jesus, the contrast to John the Baptist,
an Essen who lived an austere life, must have been remarkable seeing
Jesus enjoying festive occasions because they involved people.

Jesus used festive occasions as opportunities of demonstrating God's kingdom.

We too can use celebrative times to demonstrate the joy of God's presence.
Balancing our lives between times of pleasure and work is best accomplished
by bringing Jesus into both.

Jesus empathized and cared for people.

Jesus acts to avoid embarrassment for his relative by responding to a
heartfelt need.  His mother, Mary, was not likely asking Jesus to perform
a miracle, for up to now he had not performed any, she was simply
asking her eldest son to find a solution to the problem and find some
more wine. Jesus' answer is sometimes difficult to understand:
     "Dear woman, why do you involve me? ...                     
      My time has not yet come." (John 2:4)
Maybe that is the point.  Although Mary did not know what Jesus
was going to do, she trusted him to do what was right.

Those of us who believe in Jesus sometimes run into situations we do not
understand and may do the same: trusting that Jesus will do what is right. 

Jesus was more than human, he is the Son of God, thus: 
We can cast all our cares upon him because he empathizes and cares for us.
                                                                                                    (I Peter 5:7)

Jesus' solution may be entirely different than what we expect.
Like Mary, we may submit and allow him to deal with the issue as he sees best.

Jesus' first miracle was not in the presence of a large crowd nor
was it spectacular.  It was responding to a need in a simple family setting.

Jesus responded with superabundance.

Abundance replaces Scarcity. Jesus transforms the ordinary
into something extraordinary.  From ritual comes rich blessing.
The six stone jars were normally used for ceremonial washing. When full,
the jars would hold 20 to 30 gallons. According to Jewish ceremonial law,
people became ceremonially unclean by touching objects of everyday life.
Before eating, the Jews would pour water over their hands to cleanse
themselves of any bad influences associated with what they had touched.

Not only was there superabundance of wine (120 gallons),
but it was A vintage wine. "Everyone brings out the best wine first and then
the cheaper wine," (or watering down the wine as depicted in the Inn scene
in the movies “Les Misérables” and "The Chosen"*) after the guests have had too much to drink, but you have saved the best until now." (John 2:10)

People look everywhere, but to God, for meaning and excitement.
For some reason, they expect God to be dull and lifeless. Just as the wine
Jesus made was the best, so life in him is better than life on our own.
Why wait until everything runs out before trying God?  
Why save the best until the last?
 
When the disciples saw Jesus' miracle, they believed.
This was a growing belief.  Fulfillment of John 1:50
"You believe, Nathaniel, because I told you I saw you
 under the fig tree.  You shall see greater things than that."
Jesus revealed his power over nature and how he would go about
his ministry by helping others, speaking and acting with authority and
being in personal touch with people.

Miracles are not just superhuman events, but ones demonstrating
God's power.   As we will see, almost all Jesus did was renewal of a
fallen creation, the result of disobedience to God. Believe in Jesus not
because he is superhuman but because he is God who comes
bringing new life to all the poor, the affluent, the weak,
the strong, the crippled, the orphaned, the blind,
the deaf or any in need of re-creation.

Taste God's grace - Enough for All - not knowing where it comes from.

The Messianic Banquet described in Amos 9:13-14:
“Such abundance of crops that people won't be able to harvest them all.”
And in II Barach 24:5 "Earth shall yield its fruit ten thousand yield.
     Each vine shall have 1000 branches.
     Each branch shall have 1000 clusters.

     Each cluster shall have 1000 grapes.
     Each grape shall make 120 gallons of wine."

If Jesus brings joy to a possible disastrous situation, “They have no wine.”
 Imagine what Jesus can do for the issues we face in life.

If Jesus was concerned about a small wedding feast -
how much more is he concerned for our needs.

Where do you need to see water turned into wine in your life right now?
 

Jesus revealed who he was and who God was:

     A God who wants to be with us.
     A God who meets our needs.
     A God whose grace never will run out.
     A God who responds with superabundance

Where is the wine level (zest for life) in your life right now?
Full? Half Full? Empty?
What is draining you?  What areas seem like stale water in an old jug?

Do you want Jesus to give you Living Water? If so. where?

Is it self-esteem, family, work appearance, spiritual life, physical life
or mental life?  If so, ask Jesus to come into your life and turn that
stale water in joyous wine.

Jesus said: "I have come that you might have life and

that you might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

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*"The Chosen" is a dramatic rendition of Jesus and his disciples.  It can be seen on Prime or their app:  TheChosen.tv./app!, Season 1 episode 5.

Postscript: Some of you have asked why I chose “On The Vine”
as the name of my blog.  It comes from Jesus’ words recorded in John 15:5:

"I AM the Vine, You are the Branches. If (you) remain in me and I in (you),    
(you) will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

My goal is to remain daily in Jesus, The Vine, and any “fruit” in my life

come from him. That fruit is described in Galatians 5:22-23

    “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

      goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Photo is a banner designed by my wife, Jeannie, and sewn by stitchers in the church where it hangs.  

                                                   

Super Natural V

                                                  John 14:5-14

Thomas, the disciple’s, question is in response to what Jesus had just told his followers, Don’t let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, and trust in me…I AM going to prepare a place for you.  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I AM.  And you know the way to where I AM going (John 14:1-3).

This is one of the most important scriptures in the Bible.  How do we know the way to God?, Through Jesus.  Jesus is the way because, the Word (God) became human and made his home among us…And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (John 1:14). This is John’s the narrative of Jesus’ birth.  John 14 records some of the last teachings of Jesus before he was arrested and crucified.  There is a similar theme between John 1 and 14. 

As Jesus united his life with ours, taking on a human body, so as we unite with Jesus, we are united with God.  Jesus is saying: “Trust me and I will take you to the Father.  All the benefits of being God’s child will be yours.  Some people say that “Jesus is the only way to God is too narrow.”  In reality is so wide that whole world, if they choose to follow Jesus, will know the way to God.  Let us thank God for providing a sure way into his God’s presence.

The disciple Philip says:  Show us the Father, and we will be satisfied. Jesus responded:  Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.  Don’t you believe that I AM in the Father and the Father is in me?  The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me and does his work through me…Believe because the work you have seen me do (vs. 8-11).  Jesus is the visible, tangible image of the invisible God.  (Colossians 1:15-23) He is the complete revelation of what God is like.  To know Jesus is to know God.  Those searching for God, truth and reality need only look to and follow Jesus.

Jesus says:  I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works.  This verse is used as the theme of this Advent and Christmas Season.  The disciples did what they had seen Jesus do, heal a lame man and raising someone from the dead.  It was the “Promised Holy Spirit” who lead them into truth and empowered them.

Jesus gives us the same message and promised Holy Spirit.  As we tell Jesus’ story and how he has impacted our lives, the Holy Spirit will help us to know what to say.  When we see a need, we are invited to pray for God’s healing, direction, forgiveness or provision for the person or situation.  Ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.  (vs. 14)              

Question:  Jesus said:  I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life … Follow me.   Have you ever tried going your own way, rather than following Jesus?  What were the results?  In troubled times what promises of God give you hope and courage?  

Prayer:  Ever-loving God, you came into this world clothed in our garments of flesh.  Clothe me in your Spirit, that others will recognize you in me and receive your greatest gift of love.  I pray in the name of Jesus, your greatest gift. Amen.