November 5, 2023 – All Saints Text: John 5:1-15
Dear Friends in Christ,
How are you going to die? Isn’t it something we all think about? Haven’t we all had dreams about it? In my dream, Toni and I have taken the grandkids to the Willis Tower Observation Deck in Chicago – 103rd floor – highest in the U.S. Since I hear from grandparents that grandkids can get you out of your comfort zone, they talk me into going out into one of the glass boxes that protrude out the side. I am scared of heights, and I know that the floor of these boxes have cracked twice. But I do it for the little cherubs. Then they get me to jump up and down and before I remember that these boxes were built by Chicago union labor, I am hurtling toward South Wacker Drive. Hello Jesus.
My other dream is a little more realistic. When driving on a two-lane road I always expect the car coming toward us to cross the center line. If it’s a semi I just pray he has no medical emergency. Because of this I usually hug the right side. Fine in flat central Illinois, but in my dream, we are in the mountains of Colorado. Yep, you guessed it, we get too far to the edge and it’s sunshine on my shoulders as I am standing around the throne of the Lamb.
What is your dream? Today is our observation of All Saints Day. The subject of death is prevalent, but it isn’t all sad even when we ponder . . .
“HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DIE?”
Apart from our dreams, death is more likely from cancer, as we have 2 million new cases a year in the U.S. Or heart disease, the leading cause of death that affects every 1 in 13 Americans. Death is inevitable, but for the Christian it is a going home.
John 5 is our text. Jesus is in Jerusalem for one of the annual Jewish festivals. He goes to a pool called Bethesda. Half of the pool was used to wash the sheep for the temple sacrifice, the other half for people. This was no ordinary pool of water. Mysterious and at different times this pool would stir. The people believed it had healing qualities, but only for a moment. Because of this many of the ill and infirm would gather there.
When Jesus gets to the pool, he sees a man who has been coming for 38 years. That’s 13,879 days! He waited. He hoped. He asked for help. Nothing. When Jesus asked, “Do you want to be healed?” (v. 6), the only thing he says is that no one can put him in the water. But Jesus says, “Get up, take your bed, and walk.” (v. 8). And he does!
Jesus cared about this man’s physical well-being. But that is not His only concern. A short time later He sees the man in the temple. Jesus says, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you.” (v. 14). What does Jesus mean?
To understand what He meant, we must first understand what He didn’t mean. He didn’t mean that some sin caused the man’s affliction. Jesus is not saying that at all. What Jesus is saying is that living with his physical ailment for 38 years has been difficult, what would be even worse is to have no hope of salvation in your life. What is worse is to not know that God has unconditional love for you. What is worse is to be eternally separated from the God who created you. What is worse is to live without the forgiveness and peace God offers you by Jesus’ death and resurrection. All of that would be worse. Jesus’ point is that no matter what else may be going on in your life, physically or otherwise, to be spiritually infirmed would be worse.
Jesus addresses the man’s physical needs, but more importantly he addresses his spiritual needs. One thing that is easy to skip over is the man’s response after Jesus asks if he wants to be healed. If you lived with something for 38 years and were asked if you wanted to be healed, wouldn’t you respond “Yes, yes, alleluia!” Don’t you think he asked for help all these years? Only to be turned down. Discouraged. Depressed. A man with no hope.
Jesus brought the man hope that day at the pool of Bethesda. Healed him. Breathed new life into him spiritually. And why not? God has created every one of us with body, mind, spirit. Maybe you are suffering physically, or spiritually, or mentally. Thinking about your death or what could be. Trying to cling to hope, but having a tough time. On this All Saints Day remember those who suffered before you. The hope they had they are now living in heaven with the Hope-giver Jesus. Jesus’ hope transcends all circumstances – spiritually, physically, and mentally.
In Hebrews 2 we read: “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things.” (v. 14). These words remind us that if anyone understands our physical well-being, our spiritual well-being, and our mental well-being, Jesus does. Why? Because He was one of us. But not only was Jesus like us in His human nature; in His divine nature He also came to love us, to redeem us, to save us, to forgive us, to give us hope and an eternal future – spiritually, physically, and mentally.
The man healed went away and told others with joy. Let us do the same. Death for the Christian is just the beginning. The hope that becomes reality with Jesus in heaven.
Amen.