HMP Stafford - 26th May 2019
John 5.1-15
The healing of the man at the Pool of Bethesda.
The healing of the man at the Pool of Bethesda.
In the earlier part of the
year I had an ongoing nagging chest pain following a cough. I eventually went to the doctors and because
I am a man of a certain age they put me through a battery of test.
After some weeks and
several blood tests, which they were concerned about, the surgery phoned me and
asked me to make an appointment because the doctor wanted to discuss the
results. I booked in, turned up and waited until I was called. The first thing
the doctor said to me, ‘hello and what can I do for you?’ At first you think, well you asked me to make
an appointment to discuss my results, isn’t it obvious why I am here?’ But of course, the doctor is seeing lots of
patients and so it is the right question, even if to us it seems obvious.
‘What do you want me to do for you?’
Asking what appears an
obvious question with an equally obvious answer is what at first it seems Jesus
is doing with the man sat by the pool of Bethesda.
“Do
you want to get well?”
It is rather fun to imagine this scene being played out
today and being recalled.
There was Josh, sitting in
his usual spot, been there like for years and years and years.
Then
this man came up to Josh, who was obviously unable to walk, and he asks him,
‘do you want to get well.’
Well
hello – of course not, I love sitting here day after day, week after week and
month after month and year after year – of course I don’t want to get well –
this is my life and it is all I know. Why should I want to get well – why do
you think I sit here by this pool in the hope of healing? For the good of my health!
But it’s a similar question
Jesus asked others – like a blind man who came to him.
Jesus asked him, ‘what do you want me to do for you.’
We might want to say,
‘isn’t it blindingly obvious?’
And yet Jesus knew that
healing would bring in a whole new way of life.
It would create new
opportunities, fresh challenges and real responsibilities.
On most Thursday night I
help with a local Riding for the Disabled Group.
Some have physical
disabilities, others have learning challenges, all to varying degrees. One of the things you learn
very quickly is who needs more help when it comes to dismounting. I often lead round a young
man who has learning difficulties but who is very capable of jumping off the
horse himself – and he takes umbrage if someone tries to help him. So, we
watch carefully and gently keep a hand ready to steady him should he lose his
balance.
Others we have to literally
lift of the horse.
But whatever it is we
mustn’t assume, and we need to give as much choice and control as we can to the
person we are helping.
‘What
do you want me to do for you?’
‘Do
you want to get well?’
And today Jesus is here and
is asking that question of us all.
Because each and everyone
one of us is imprisoned – and I use that word intentionally.
Each one of us if we are
truly and brutally honest are ensnared, trapped, bound and in the grip of
something.
And Jesus comes and says to
you and he says to me, ‘do you want to
get well.’
Do want to change – do you
want to have life and have life in all its fullness?
Are you ready to face the
challenges this will bring?
Are you ready to face those
who say, ‘o, a leopard can never change its spots?’
And today, right here and
right now Jesus can bring you into that new place, that new life, that new hope
– that place with new responsibilities.
Our youngest son is just on
the spectrum of being Asperger’s, although he was never diagnosed, nor was his dyslexia
and dyspraxia. However, in hindsight and with a little more knowledge about
behaviour we have come to realise what was going on and that he wasn’t just
being a very naughty boy, which is what we were often told.
In school the other
children knew how to aggravate him so that he would become disruptive and
perhaps sit under a table and refuse to come out.
Or he would lash out
angrily – then very often say, ‘they made me do it.’
We tried to get him to
understand he always had a choice on how he reacted.
I remember my mum used to
say to me when ever I used that phrase, ‘well everybody was doing it’ – ‘well
if they all jumped of a cliff would you do the same?’
Now those with Asperger’s, and
dyslexia and dyspraxia I know face real challenges.
And they need to learn
coping strategies.
And to a varying degree we
all need to learn strategies to help us live fruitful lives and not just sitting
by the pool waiting for someone else to help us.
St Paul offers us a very
good strategy that begins with the mind.
Romans 12.12 Don’t
let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould
your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God
for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true
maturity.
Because it is our minds, in
that private sphere, that we need to pay very careful attention.
See if this rings as true
for you as it does for me…
It begins with something seen
or read…
Then you begin to play
around with the idea in our thoughts – allowing the image to grow and develop
And then sometimes that is
followed by the action
In the Letter of James, we
read…
We
are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. Our desires make
us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead.
In the Eastern Church they
talk about a serpent coming into your home.
At first the head appears,
and you do nothing. Then more of the body slithers in – but you still do
nothing.
Then before you know where
you are the whole serpent is in your home and whispering in your ear just as he
did to Eve, ‘did God really say – and why should you take any notice of what
God or in fact what anyone says.’
‘You know you want to do
this, and it feels good and will make you happy.’
'So, just go ahead and do
it.'
And Jesus comes and asks, ‘do you want to get well.’
Then Jesus will bring you
healing but here is what you must do next time that old serpent pokes his head
into your life…
Cut it right off there and
then and don’t give it any house room.
Jesus used very dramatic
language on one occasion – 'if your eye caused you to sin, pluck it out.'
He was not advocating
mutilation but seeking to drive home the point that we need to be on our guard
and in particular about the eye gate.
‘Do
you want to get well?’
Well do you?
Or are you gong to sit
there day in and day out, by the pool because you think no one will help you?
Well let me tell you do
have people who can help you.
You do have people here who
can lead you to the great physician.
You do have people here who
will help you pick up your mat and walk.
You do have people here who
will walk alongside you and help you to recognise when that serpent pops up his
head and will help you find ways of cutting it off before it grows and starts
to drip is poison into your life.
I am sure it took this man
some time to make the adjustment into his new life – and it takes time for us all
to adjust to a new life in God.
In fact, it takes all of
our lives. None of us will stop being tempted – none of us will stop needing
forgiveness.
And here is an extra bit of
good news.
Imagine if Jesus had gone
to that pool a year later – and to his surprise he sees this man there and
unable to move once again.
Do you think for one moment
that Jesus would say, what are you doing here, I healed you a year ago, why are
sitting here? Well, tough, you had your chance and you blew it.
Of course, Jesus wouldn’t
say that.
How do I know that -
because I accepted Jesus and his healing of all my sins and wrong doing on the
1st January 1975.
And since then I have still
messed up – I have fallen short – I have allowed that old serpent to come
slithering into my life and whisper in my ear and drip his poison.
But here’s what I have
learned, that Jesus is always ready to forgive.
Because as we read in the
Letter to the Hebrews 4.15
‘For
we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did
not sin.’
‘Do
you want to get well’?
Well do you?
Today you can begin a new
journey or began a journey you began some while ago, but with a fresh heart and
mind to start over.
Serpent or Saviour – that’s
our choice this morning.
You can stamp on the
serpent and turn to the Saviour – or you can welcome the serpent and turn away
from the Saviour.
It is our choice – so,
which one are you going to choose?
Serpent or Saviour?
And remember Jesus said ‘… if the Son sets you free, you will be free
indeed.’
Break Every Chain.... https://youtu.be/EtyVdC7E6Wo
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