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From the manse…
Sermon Notes
**Sunday teaching – part 2**
At the beginning of times, there was chaos and darkness. But it says that the Spirit hovered over the waters. Right before the world came to be, there were Spirit and water. The Spirit – ‘ruach’ in Hebrew, meaning breath, wind – was the starting point of that newly created world and all its natural elements. In John 3:1-5 (thousands of years later), Jesus tells that man, Nicodemus, that only through water and Spirit will humans be able to find a new beginning in life, a new creation and access to the Kingdom. This is a journey from darkness and chaos to a place of peace. Can you see that Jesus is not teaching about going to heaven after one’s death? He’s talking about a new life here and now, as a reborn from the Holy Spirit. Well, this is part of my sermon this coming Sunday!
Meditations
The Healing of the Crippled
John 5:1-9
We begin our journey into John 5 by reflecting again on the life of the famous Scottish figure, Eric Liddell, known as the “Flying Scotsman.” Liddell was an Olympic gold medallist in Paris 100 years ago and a devoted Christian who famously refused to run on Sundays, prioritising his faith over worldly honours. His story mirrors the themes of faith, perseverance, and divine purpose that we find in this passage from John’s Gospel.
The Scene at Bethesda
In John 5:1-9, we see a man who has been paralysed for 38 years, lying by the Pool of Bethesda. This pool was believed to have healing powers when its waters were stirred, yet the man had no one to help him into the pool. Jesus approaches him and asks, “Do you want to be made well?” This question, as Tom Wright suggests, is not just about physical healing but also about the man’s willingness to embrace a new life and purpose.
The story is about God’s Kingdom on earth.
The healing at Bethesda powerfully illustrates the Lord’s prayer: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus’ actions show the breaking-in of God’s kingdom, where the marginalised and helpless are brought to the forefront. As C.S. Lewis said, “Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.” This miracle is a microcosm of the greater redemption and restoration that God’s kingdom promises: the restoration of a person and people becoming humans.
Karl Barth, the Swiss theologian, said that Jesus’ miracles are signs pointing to the ultimate reality of God’s kingdom. They are not just acts of compassion but are deeply symbolic of the new order Jesus is inaugurating. The kingdom of God is about reversing the world’s brokenness, and this healing is a testament to that transformative power.
Miracles are the tip of the finger.
The story is about Missional Purpose.
The missional purpose of this passage is profound. Jesus’ question, “Do you want to be made well?” challenges us to consider our own readiness to participate in God’s mission. Tim Keller often highlights how Jesus’ interactions with individuals are invitations to join in the kingdom’s work. The healed man is not just restored physically but is given a new identity and purpose.
Alan Hirsch, a missional church thinker, would argue that this passage calls the church to engage with those on the margins to be agents of healing and transformation in the world. The church’s mission is to reflect the kingdom’s values, prioritising compassion and justice over legalism and exclusion.
The Man’s Response
It’s interesting to see that the man does not initially express faith or gratitude. Instead, he explains his difficulty, highlighting his helplessness. This response, as noted by commentators like David Guzik, underscores the idea that Jesus’ healing is not dependent on the man’s faith but on Jesus’ authority and grace. The kingdom of God operates on principles of grace, not merit.
The Sabbath Controversy
The healing occurs on the Sabbath, which later leads to controversy with the religious authorities. This detail is crucial, as it reveals Jesus’ challenge to legalistic interpretations of the law. Jesus prioritises human needs and divine mission over rigid observance. As Tom Wright notes, this act on the Sabbath is a declaration that God’s work of restoration knows no bounds and is not confined by human traditions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, John 5:1-9 invites us to reflect on the nature of God’s kingdom and our role within it. It challenges us to see beyond physical healing to the more profound spiritual renewal that Jesus offers.
As we consider the missional implications, we are called to be active participants in God’s redemptive work, reaching out to marginalised people and offering them hope and healing.
Click here to watch a video drama of John 5.
May we, like Eric Liddell, prioritise our faith and embrace God’s missional purpose, trusting in His grace and power to transform lives.
The Unexpected Healing*
John 4:43-54
Treasure hunting is a nice game. Most people like it. The participants get excited when they find the clues. Sometimes, the clues seem to be more interesting than the treasure itself. But we all know that the game aims to find the treasure rather than to get the clues.
This gospel passage shows Jesus performing the second sign or miracle. The first sign wasn’t far from that place when he turned water into wine. The problem is that people tend to enjoy the sign rather than what the sign is pointing to.
In this passage, John tells us a powerful story of faith and healing. It’s about Jesus’ encounter with a royal official whose son was seriously ill. Let’s unpack the meaning of this text and its relevance to our lives today.
The Setting
Jesus had just spent two days in Samaria, where many people came to believe in him. Now, he was returning to Galilee, his home region. The Galileans welcomed him, having seen the miracles he performed in Jerusalem during the Passover festival. However, Jesus made a curious statement: “A prophet has no honour in his own country.”
This seems contradictory at first. If the Galileans welcomed Jesus, why would he say he had no honour there? I’d suggest that Jesus was pointing out a deeper issue. The Galileans were excited about the miracles, but did they truly understand who Jesus was and what he came to do? In other words, did they enjoy the clues (miracles) rather than the treasure (the purpose of the miracles)? It is like playing a treasure hunt, mainly for the clues and not for the treasure.
The Royal Official’s Request
Into this scene comes a royal official from Capernaum. His son was deathly ill, and he had heard that Jesus was in Cana. Desperate for help, he travelled about 20 miles to find Jesus and beg him to come and heal his son.
This official’s actions demonstrate a mix of faith and doubt. He believed Jesus could heal his son, but he thought Jesus needed to be physically present. How often do we put similar limitations on God’s power in our own lives?
Jesus’ Response
Jesus’ initial response might seem harsh: “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.” Jesus was actually addressing not just the official but also the crowd. He was challenging the shallow faith that depended only on miráculous signs.
The official, however, wasn’t discouraged. He pleaded again, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” His persistence shows a deepening faith and a willingness to push past Jesus’ apparent rebuke because he genuinely believed Jesus could save his son.
The Miracle of Faith
Jesus then does something unexpected. Instead of going with the official, he says, “Go, your son will live.” This was a pivotal moment. The official had to choose whether to believe Jesus’ word or insist on his own understanding of how the healing should happen.
In a beautiful act of faith, the official took Jesus at his word and left for home. He chose to trust even when he couldn’t see the result. Jesus sought this kind of faith—not just in the official but in all who followed him.
The Confirmation
As the official was on his way home, his servants met him with the good news that his son was alive and well. When he asked when the boy began to get better, they told him it was at the seventh hour the previous day – the exact time Jesus had said, “Your son will live.”
This confirmation led the official and his entire household to believe in Jesus. It wasn’t just about the miracle anymore; they recognised Jesus for who he indeed was. The treasure was more important than the clues.
Lessons for Our Lives
- Faith Beyond Signs: Imagine you are a tourist in London for the first time, and you see a sign for Big Ben and the House of Parliament. Imagine you’re taking photos and selfies in front of the signs and then going back home without even passing by those tourist attractions.
Jesus challenges us to have faith that goes beyond the sign… the miracle. While God can and does perform miracles, our faith should be rooted in who Jesus is, not just what he can do for us.
- Persistence in Prayer: The official’s persistence in seeking Jesus’ help reminds us of the importance of persevering in prayer. Even when the answer isn’t immediate or doesn’t come in the form we expect, we should continue to bring our needs to God.
- Taking Jesus at His Word: The official demonstrated great faith by believing what Jesus said without immediate proof. In our own lives, do we trust God’s promises even when we can’t see the results right away?
- Faith that Transforms: The official’s encounter with Jesus didn’t just heal his son; it led his entire household to believe. When lived authentically, our faith can profoundly impact those around us.
- God’s Timing: The healing occurred when Jesus spoke the word, even though the official didn’t know it at the time. This reminds us that God is always at work, even when we can’t see or feel it.
Conclusion
This passage from John’s Gospel is more than just a miracle story. It’s a powerful lesson about the nature of true faith. Jesus wasn’t looking for people who wanted to see miracles; miracles are just signs that signpost to a bigger and better reality. Jesus was looking for those who would trust him completely, even when they couldn’t see the immediate results.
The royal official’s journey from desperate hope to solid faith is a model for us all. He came to Jesus with a need, persisted in the face of an apparent rebuke, and then took a leap of faith by trusting Jesus’ word. His faith was rewarded with his son’s healing and a deeper understanding of who Jesus was.
In our lives, we often face situations that test our faith. Like the official, we may come to God with our ideas of how He should answer our prayers. But true faith means trusting God’s methods and timing, even when they don’t align with our expectations.
As we reflect on this passage, let’s ask ourselves: Do we trust Jesus’ words as thoroughly as this official did? Are we willing to step out in faith, even when we can’t see the outcome? And are we seeking Jesus not just for what He can do but for who He is?
May we, like the official and his household, come to a deeper faith in Jesus – a faith that transforms our circumstances, lives, and those around us.
Let the clues lead you to the treasure, the signpost to the right place, and the flesh to the Word. Listen to him and believe.
*(Sermon notes Preached on Sunday, the 4th of August of 2024.)
The Shepherd
June 2020
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
Psalm 23 was written by King David. He starts the Psalm with a metaphor: the image of a Shepherd and the sheep. The picture describes how God cares for his people. It is a description of sheep journeying with the guidance of the shepherd. At some point in this journey, the shepherd provides rest in green pastures, near quiet waters, giving restoration and strength. The shepherd also guides the sheep through paths of justice.
The journey, however, presents some setbacks. The sheep must cross the valley, a place surrounded by hills and mountains. The high hills and mountains, at some point in the journey, prevent the sunlight from shining over the path. There are, therefore, some dark spots and shadows throughout the valley and the sheep become vulnerable. The valley is a picture or a symbol of a difficult situation. There is anguish, suffering and loneliness; it is such a terrible place like death.
In life, we all go through the valley from time to time. Nobody is free from it. The only difference is in who walks along with us. David says that it is the Lord who is going with him. Because of that, it’s possible to have peace, to have hope and comfort in the middle of darkness. In addition to that, David declares that the Lord is not with him empty-handed. He carries the rod and the staff along with him to protect, guide and comfort. In other words, darkness will not be able to destroy those who walk in his company.
We learn in the Bible that Jesus Christ is the good shepherd; that He is God, who came to this world to bring the hope of a new life with him. He said about himself, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11). This is what he did. The Bible also says that the Good Shepherd:
“was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed.”; and “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep, before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:5 and 7).
The Bible also says that the good shepherd knows his sheep, indicating a personal knowledge (John 10:14).
So, back to Psalm 23, David said, “I shall not be in want”, why? Because “The Lord is [his] shepherd”. The point is that, before being a giver, he is the Lord, the owner. Once you follow the Lord, the good shepherd, you will have peace and strength to endure the problems of life. You will lack nothing. Every time you experience loss and sorrow, anguish, sadness and oppression, going through the dark valley, he will be there for you. And then you can say with confidence:
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Now I want to invite you to give yourself to this Lord, the Good Shepherd. Which means to trust the Lord all your life, everything you are and everything you have. How to do that? You can do that through prayer, making a commitment with Him. You can pray like this, “Lord, I want to give myself to you; I want to trust you and I want you to come and live in my heart. In Jesus name, amen.” Do it, sooner rather than later, and God will give you the peace that exceeds all understanding.
Knowing God
May 2020
I would like to highlight this important theme: “God’s Knowledge”. It’s an essential and relevant theme for every Christian, especially for these times of pandemics and isolation.
J.I. Packer wrote a book called ‘Knowing God’. It became a best seller in the Christian world in the 1980s.
At some point in his book, Packer says that knowing God is really important, but more important than that is the fact that He knows me. The prophet Isaiah says that we are engraved on the palms of God’s hands (please read Isaiah 49:16). This is amazing, isn’t it? It means that we are never out of God’s mind. We may feel lonely, isolated anddepressed, but the reality is that he remembers his covenant with us every day. Packer then goes on to say that we know God because first, he revealed himself to us in his book, the Bible.
How does God know us? Well, he knows us as his friends, as his children and as his people. This love for us motivated God’s heart to send his only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us (please read John 3:16). Packer says this, “There is no moment when his eye is off me, or his attention distracted from me, and no moment, therefore, when his care falters.” I consider this a privilege for us, Christians. How to explain his astounding love and grace? He watches over you and me for our good.
Please, reflect: What comfort do you take from knowing that your name is engraved on the hand of God?
I hope God will give you this hope, in that, despite all setbacks, difficulties and anguish, he is there for us, because he loves us.
May God, the Holy Spirit, fill your heart with joy and hope.
God bless,
Drausio
Under His Wings
A meditation on Psalm 91
April 2020
God will keep you safe! That’s the promise. However, how should we understand that promise? What does it mean?
Psalm 91 is a well-known chapter in the Scriptures. Satan knows it quite well, and he uses it to try to persuade people to take wrong decisions.
How do I know it? He used this text with Jesus and brought him the wrong suggestion. See Luke 4:11-12: ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘“He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered, ‘It is said: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
Some people are saying that “if God loves you, he won’t let you suffer.” Some people see Psalm 91 precisely that way. Is this true? This is what we are going to see.
If you are a Christian and if you believe that because you are a Christian, God will not let you suffer, then I must say you will be frustrated, and you will want to pull back from God. You will say, “the promises in Psalm 91 don’t work.” This is precisely what Satan wants you to think.
However, this is not at all what the Psalm is saying. See, for example, Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
See the word “together”: It’s a combination of good, not so good and bad events and circumstances that “together” will help you to figure out God’s purposes for your life. So in the long run, all things will have moved in the direction of God’s glory and our good.
There’s another interesting passage, Luke 21:16-18. Jesus tells his disciples that they will be persecuted and bad things will happen to them. It shows that, yes, even good people suffer, but this is all part of a purpose. It’s just a small part of a big plan, God’s plan.
What Psalm 91 is teaching us is that God will keep us safe through trouble, not from all trouble. It means that from time to time, we have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but there’s nothing to fear because he is with you. God will make you safer through trouble.
How to be sure of that? How to be sure that God is not going to punish me? In verse 4 he says, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” It’s the image of a mother bird covering her children to protect them. Jesus used the same picture. See Matthew 23: “how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” It means the mother bird is a substitute. When the heat comes down from the sun, the mother gets the heat, not the babies. The same with rain and cold. When a predator comes, it eats the mother, not the children.
This is not just protection but also sacrifice. Jesus Christ on the cross took what you and I deserve for our sin. So you can know that we will not be punished because of our sins. We are kept safe. Romans 8:1 says, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ.” We are kept safe, no matter what happens.
Finally, God says in the Psalm, “Because he loves me, I will rescue him, I will protect him.” Do you love God? Do you want to love God? You can trust God. He will cover you; he will protect you. In him, you will find refuge.
From Fear to Faith
The message of the prophet Habakkuk
March 2020
600 BC — During this time in history, Judah, the southern Kingdom of the nation of Israel, had just experienced a time of peace and prosperity, a time of reform and restoration during the reign of King Josiah.
There was economic prosperity, social stability and spiritual revival.
Josiah reigned for 31 years. But after his death, he was succeeded by his sons. It turns out that there was a shift in the government. Judah was no longer a prosperous country. There was no more peace within the nation, and people have turned to violence and injustice against one another.
Corruption and evil practices started to take place in the land.
And in the midst of this chaotic situation, we find the prophet Habakkuk. He saw injustice and violence around him.
He prayed to God; he made his complaining very clear. And when Habakkuk spoke to God, God talked to him, and he answered the prayer, he revealed himself to the prophet. That experience was a turning point for Habakkuk. No quick solution, but hope; no fear, but faith.
- Faith is not the end of the problems, but the awareness that God is there.
- He is with us even if we find ourselves in the valley of the shadow of death… He is there, and there is no fear.
- Habakkuk wasn’t a prophet speaking truth to the king, preaching the gospel against a nation. He instead had a dialogue with God.
- A frank dialogue by the way. He questioned God. Why do you allow these things? Why?
God reveals his plan for a new Kingdom.
- God’s answer was not in the past (‘I did it because…’) his answer points to the future, to what he was about to do, the end of injustice, the start of his Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven … this is a message of hope. It’s not punishment, it’s not some sort of curse, but it’s about God’s Kingdom.
- We are living a situation these days where, it seems, the powerful became almost powerless. It looks like we are all in the same boat. The virus doesn’t choose the poor instead of the rich, the powerful instead of the powerless, and so on. So many things in life these days are now meaningless. But God is still on his throne. Faith, hope, love and relationships are so important.
- God points Habakkuk to a new era. He points to Jesus Christ, the initiator of a new creation.
- Hab 2:4 – The turning point.
“See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright – but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness.”
Important things to consider:
– He had an honest dialogue with God.
– He had to wait and seek the signs of the Kingdom.
– He had to grow and get stronger.
– He had to accept the fact that – the just will live by faith – This is the turning point.
(verses 3:17-19)
“Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the sheepfold and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to tread on the heights.”
There is a shift in these verses. After God’s revelation: the just will live by faith…
- There are no more questions.
- He says he rejoices in the Lord.
- The prophet has moved from a place of anger to a sense of awe; from perplexity to praise; from confusion to confidence in God; from worry to worship.
Habakkuk exchanged his fear for faith. He stopped feeling like a victim and
started a process of renewal; he got stronger, his joy lifted, and faith increased.
Habakkuk shows us how to have faith in God despite how we feel at the moment; he explains that during difficult times faith in God will sustain.
Not only does the book of Habakkuk show us how to have faith in God despite how we feel in the face of problems, but it reveals the very character of God himself. He is sovereign and in control of the world. He also is a God who listens and responds to his people.
May God bless you. Wherever you might be, your situation or even who you are. Amen.