Read: John 5:1-15 “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.” John 5:8-9 (NIV) I have a routine each day, not that I have to do each of the things in turn, but as I go through my morning it follows a pattern. I’m sure each of us follows some sort of routine. When holidays come, or family comes home, my routine is disturbed – I love it, but it all just happens differently.
Every day for 38 years a man had been coming to the pool of Bethesda. This pool was known by the sick and infirm to heal the first person touching the water after it had been disturbed. It was said that an angel’s wings touched the waters, disturbing them. So many sick and ailing sat there day after day just to be the first to touch the water to be healed. In the meantime, all those who sat there begged for money, food and survival. It was what they did, day after day - their routine! This man had the same routine for 38 years and obviously made enough money begging to make a living.
When Jesus asked: “Do you want to get well?”, the man didn’t leap at the chance rather he was more cautious telling Jesus no one was there to help him when the water was stirred. For, after 38 years being there, if he was well, how would he earn a living? Jesus asked no more, rather told him to ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ No therapy or physio recommended. No take it easy, just a ‘Get up!’
The muscle and tone of his legs would have fully wasted away, but with Jesus anything is possible! But Jesus wasn’t just worried about his physical healing, He wanted the man to be spiritually healed and become a man of God. Begging wasn’t the routine he should continue; the man needed to now earn a living and live according to God’s ways. ‘Pick up your mat and walk,’ says Jesus to us as well. He has a new way of living for each of us. Live a new routine with Jesus guiding and leading!
Prayer: Loving Saviour, daily you offer me forgiveness and a renewal of my life. Help me not to fall into a routine but live a life of newness with you. Amen.
Read: John 4:43-53 “‘Go’, Jesus replied, ‘Your son will live.’ The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.” John 4:50-51 (NIV) In 2010 our family was travelling by subway to a baseball game in the Bronx – New York Yankees vs Philadelphia Phillies. We had our Yankees shirts on and felt quite at home amongst the other NY Yankee supporters.
Then a voice came over the loudspeaker and we didn’t quite get it, but immediately the carriage emptied of all NY followers – one person said that the trainline is not running to the game now. So, everyone jumped out of one train and into the doors of the train next to us, which was about to leave. What do we do? We each grabbed the children by hand and followed, without even questioning the train we were getting on. It was frantic, but we trusted this man we didn’t know, that he was leading us in the right direction. How often do we take a big breath and just follow blindly someone we don’t really know and hope that they will take us in the right direction.
We hear of other religions and TV evangelists, we hear advertisements on the best weight loss regime, we hear that everyone is getting iPhones so that must be the best. So, when Jesus says that He is the only way to heaven, do we take Him at His word and just follow Him? In this miracle, the royal official was desperate for his son’s life. He begged Jesus to heal him. Then Jesus responds in a scolding manner, saying people only believe if they see signs and wonders. Still the official begs and when Jesus says the boy will live – the man believed. He journeyed home finding that at the exact time Jesus said, ‘your son will live’ was the very time his son got better. Not only was the official’s son saved, but the whole household! They took Jesus at His word. Jesus speaks to us through His Word, in our prayers and through the Holy Spirit. Believe His Word and be assured that in Jesus, we have all we need for everyday living and beyond. Jesus’ Word brings life!
Prayer: Help me Lord Jesus to hear your voice speaking to me and guiding me. I will take you at Your word that you know what is best for me – help me in my unbelief! Amen.
Read: John 2:1-11 “Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’” John 2:6-8 (NIV) When living in Adelaide, the Barossa Valley became a wonderful place to visit when we had overseas visitors. Each winery has different wines with unique flavours and for different tastes. It is fun to discover which one is to your liking.
St Paul does tell us in 1 Timothy 5:23: “Stop drinking only water and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” (NIV) Of course we need to take this in the context of the day – the water around was not filtered nor spring fed. It was not always the best to drink and caused stomach illnesses. This miracle of Jesus turning the water into wine was the first one recorded. The weddings in Jesus’ day could last up to a week and it was up to the families to make sure there was enough wine and food for all the guests. Those getting married must have been close to Jesus’ family as Mary (Jesus’ mother) was helping with the serving. She would have been horrified for the family that the wine had run out. It would have been a huge shame on them.
Remember back to Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem with all the visitors and all the things that happened – Mary kept and pondered over all these things. So, it was not surprising for Mary to tell the servants to do everything Jesus may tell them to do. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we also followed all the directions that Jesus tells us to do in the Bible. Maybe during this Lenten season and as we get closer to the cross – Do whatever Jesus tells you! He told the servants to fill the jars to the brim and we are told they were huge jars. Jesus doesn’t do little things – He gives in abundance, full to overflowing. As we f ill our lives with Jesus and His words of life, remember that He blesses abundantly. You will be filled to overflowing with His grace and love!
Prayer: Dear Jesus, fill my life to overflowing with your grace, love and peace so that I may overflow with these blessings and pass them on to those around me. Amen.
Read: Luke 17:11-19 “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan.” Luke 17:15-16 (NIV) “Ten unclean and nowhere to go. Ten men cleansed as clean as snow. One returned to give God thanks, but nine went away. God gives gifts to us every day. Favors His people in every way. Hope restored and pain relieved. Do you ever give thanks for a gift received?” ~ Medical Mission Sisters I often wonder why I remember the words from songs I heard as a child, but when I hear the words to other songs today – they don’t stick. The song above was played quite often on a record when I was growing up and it had quite a rousing tune (maybe not by today’s standards - reminds me now of ‘Sister Act’). As you can see it was all about the ten lepers who came to Jesus asking for cleansing so that they could return to society.
They were told by Jesus to show themselves to the priest, and on the way, they were healed. Ten percent of those healed returned to thank Jesus. The Bible has a lot to say about ‘giving thanks.’ So, obviously it is an important part of our Christian living. In fact, it’s one of the most powerful things we can do! Why? Because a thankful person is focussed on God… and all the good things He does in our lives and in those around us. People have a need to be appreciated and be encouraged by words of appreciation. Imagine then how God would feel when someone remembers that it is God who actually gives and provides us with all we need for daily life. Jesus heals and helps every one of us each day. Don’t forget it is God who brings these blessings.
Jesus asked the one leper who was cleansed where the other nine were. It wasn’t like Jesus wasn’t going to then heal the other nine, but He responds with joy to the one who comes and thanks Him. Jesus mentions the man’s faith… for it is through our faith that we recognise that every good gift comes from our Heavenly Father. T hank God today for all the blessings you have received!
Prayer: Thank you, dear Jesus, for all you do for me, my family and my friends every day. You bless me, help me and give me the greatest gift – life everlasting! Thank You! Amen.
Read: Luke 14:1-6 “Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?’ But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.” Luke 14:1-6 (NIV) Just this last year, we had a young woman come to stay with us for an extended weekend. She was a friend of our daughter and told us that she just needed to have some time to have a Sabbath and Noosa was a great place to rest, recuperate and read God’s Word. Have our lives become so busy that we can’t take a Sabbath (time for God) every week – rather we need to book it in as one would a holiday?
I remember as a youth, no shops were open on a Sunday and closed at lunchtime on a Saturday, which allowed people to have a forced break from shopping at least! Sabbath in Jesus’ day was regimented. The Pharisees and leaders of the Law required that no one do anything on the Sabbath – no cooking, cleaning, working, or preparing anything. These laws were to give people a day of rest from their everyday work and remember that it was God who saved them. The Old Testament people were prone to forget God which is why God had remembering the Sabbath as one of the Ten Commandments. (Maybe we need reminding of this!) When Jesus came, he brought a new law to spend the Sabbath in spiritual rest and in God’s work – God would come to His people and bring them His life and forgiveness.
It was a day for God’s people to rest in Him. Jesus came to turn all the laws upside down and bring them back to the original purpose of living as God intended. God wants us to spend time with Him but not to the detriment of helping those in need. This is what Jesus was teaching His disciples. The man with ‘dropsy’, or excess fluid was in danger of a heart attack and needed help – not tomorrow when it wasn’t the Sabbath, but today. Jesus asks us to listen, to rest and to be with Him. He also asks us to help those in need. Find your Sabbath day and spend it with God and listen to His leading!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, use my hands in service to you. You have given me the opportunity to spend time with you, also help me to see the needs of those around me and help them as you would. Amen.
Read: Luke 13:10-17 “When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’ Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” Luke 13:12-13 (NIV) This story gets straight to the heart of Jesus’ ministry. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4:18-19 NIV) In this healing miracle, the woman is described as bound and needing to be set free from her crippling illness. She needs liberation from the spirit that has bound her for eighteen years.
When Jesus performed miracles, He was very clever in using His healing actions to also teach His disciples and those around Him (and the Pharisees) the new law of freedom with God. In the Old Testament the Israelites were bound by the 613 laws that were given to the people at that time. Laws that bound them from doing things rather than freeing them. The Sabbath was meant as a time to refresh the body and the soul, but according to the Pharisees, the Sabbath was a day to do nothing and if you did anything you were breaking the law. Good laws should give boundaries for living, a security to work within. Jesus was trying to show that in God there is freedom for all those who are captive in sin. God is not bound by the laws of people. How are you bound?
Are you bound to your work, sport, family? It becomes a burden when things are done out of obligation rather than with joy and love. Take a step back, review your own situation and try to set yourself free from all that binds you. Find time to be released into the love, joy and peace of a loving Heavenly Father who doesn’t want to constrain you with laws, but free you in your faith by His grace. Jesus came to earth to set us free and forgive us from all our wrongdoings. Let go of the guilt. Let go of the burdens and find release. Live in the freedom that Jesus gave on the cross!
Prayer: I am unbound. I am set free from everything that constrains me – thank you Lord Jesus! Help me to share the grace and freedom that only you can give. Amen.
Read: Luke 11:14-23 “Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: ‘Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.’” Luke 11:17 (NIV) T he only thing that can keep Satan out is to keep Christ in!! There is a story about Christian converts in Southern Asia who were once Buddhist. Before they were converted, there had never been a murder in the village, never any thefts or fights. But after conversion, the people began to act ‘evil’, and crime started to happen. Years after the missionary who converted them had left, he ran into one of the people from the village. The person told him about all that had happened in the village. The missionary expected that the former Buddhist was going to blame Christianity for all their problems.
Instead, he said that it was all proof that God was working in their lives and the truth of Jesus Christ. For as long as Satan is served, he keeps his peace. In healing the demon that was mute in the man, Jesus was charged with being a demon himself by some witnesses, but Jesus stated that it makes no sense for a demon to cast out a demon. Someone who is working for God is filled with God. The devil’s weapons cannot be used against God. There is no middle ground, for Jesus says, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11:23) In our world today, one of the greatest lies is that of neutrality or indifference.
This indifference does not realise the evil of evil, or the good of good! Casting out the evil is not good enough Jesus says, one must be filled with God and all that is good. The devil will fight back, but the reality is that Christ is so much stronger, and that Jesus won the victory over the devil once and for all on the cross. At our baptisms we were named and claimed by Jesus, and nothing can take us out of His hands. Our place is with God, and we have a place reserved for us in Heaven. But now, we live in His grace and presence on Earth. Keep your life filled with Christ!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for filling my life with you and every good thing. My life has been claimed by you so let my focus be always on you, for there is no middle ground. Amen.
Read: Luke 7:11-17 “When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and said, ‘Don’t cry.’” Luke 7:13 (NIV) A mother’s and father’s hearts have to be strong when dealing with little ones who get hurt, otherwise their hearts would break. I recently read the saddest and shortest story ever. It was by Ernest Hemingway: For Sale: Baby shoes. Never worn. Just reading this causes my heart to break on behalf of these poor parents. I am sure we have all experienced times of heartbreak, heartache and when it seems that we have no more tears to cry.
Yet, we know that there is a loving God who has experienced losing a child in the most horrific way. I wonder if God cried when Jesus died! Jesus has the heart of God: loving, caring, compassionate and wanting all to come home to Him. When He was on earth, He tried to show His love of people and demonstrate that He understood their hurts and concerns. Jesus was walking around, teaching, preaching and healing when He came across a funeral procession. A widow’s only son had died. She had already lost her husband and now her son and she was destitute and without anyone to care for her. She was heartbroken and obviously filled with extreme grief. Jesus’ heart went out to her and just touching the bier (the platform holding the coffin), He told the young man to get up.
The widow’s son was now no longer dead and so he got up and started talking – makes me wonder what he said to everyone around him! With joy, Jesus gave the young man back to his mother. There were no more tears of sadness, rather tears of joy. The people praised God for His care for all His people. When we have our sorrows, bring them to one who understands and knows what it is to lose someone. Someone who knows your grief and heartache. Our God is a God of compassion and love! “God has come to help his people.” (Luke 7:16b)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you know grief. You know what it is to have a child hurt and killed. Help me to bring my tears and grief to you, knowing you hear, understand and hold me in your loving arms. Amen.
Read: Luke 5:1-11 “Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’” Luke 5:5 (NIV) There is something about fishing that you either really enjoy, or you don’t. There is not much of a middle ground. To catch a fish requires patience, quietness and perseverance. If you don’t have these qualities, maybe fishing is not your thing to do. When I was a little girl and we went for holidays to Marion Bay on Yorke Peninsula, South Australia we always brought our fishing reels. It was September, so rather chilly, but on most days, you would f ind at least one or more of the Gerhardys trying their best to catch a fish or squid. I enjoyed the fishing. It was peaceful, quiet and you could do nothing else but sit there with your thoughts and hopefully a fish or two. To be a professional fisherman would require a huge amount of patience and perseverance.
It seems that these disciples-to-be had a lot of both of these qualities. But after a whole night of fishing and nothing to show for it, they were done. They were obviously men who listened and learned for they knew that Jesus was preaching and teaching important things to all the people and that He spoke with authority, for Simon called Jesus, ‘Master’. I think I would have done a bit more arguing when Jesus told them all to go out again, but because Jesus said so – they went! What a miracle to then have their nets filled to the brim with fish, and overflowing. What does surprise me is Simon’s response, ‘Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man!’ Instead of joy, Simon was afraid and fearful for he felt he was sinful and unworthy when in the presence of one who can command nature. But Jesus assured Simon not to be afraid for he will now help Him in the Kingdom work for God. Note the fishermen’s next move – they immediately left everything and followed Jesus. Listen and be obedient to God’s leading and guiding!
Prayer: My loving Saviour, thank you for guiding, teaching and leading me with patience. Help me to be obedient to your calling and to listen for where you are leading me. Amen.