John 5:1-15; Jesus and Bob Newhart?

Bob Newhart has a great skit that you can find online called "Stop It" where a psychologist counsels a young lady to end her paranoia with the words, "Stop it!" When I read Jesus saying, "Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you", I wondered if Jesus wasn't a proto-Newhart? Was he really just fussing at this guy to get him to be more spiritual? Was he saying that sin leads to physcial consequences like sickness?

The John 9 scene where Jesus bluntly states that the blind man did not get that way due to sin seems to shed some light; there Jesus was clear that sin and earthly suffering are not always directly related. Job can attest to the same.

I think in this case, the entire phrase Jesus speaks needs to be looked at. He actually said, " “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." Well again? Maybe this guy was not born a paralytic but had become such due to illegal or unethical activity. After all, it is odd that it does not say "he was born a paralytic" but gives the number of years. If so, then "stop it or else" might refer to his physical life. At the same time, Jesus knew there are things in life (this or the next) much worse than paralysis. Maybe Jesus was speaking to his spiritual health. He had just used physical situations to teach spiritual truths (John 2 temple clearing, John 3 birth and baptism, John 4 water and eternal life).

So I'm not superclear on whether Jesus was telling this particular guy to avoid a particular sin due to physcial or spiritual consequences. What I feel confident about is that in John 4 Jesus basically told the Samaritan woman to not miss her chance at getting to know the Messiah. Now in John 5 he gives one Jerusalem invalid a second chance and follows it up with "don't blow it." Jesus is the God of second chances; the question to me is will I be wise enough to take advantage of second chances or will I totally miss Jesus-given opportunities?

Maybe Jesus would not have made a "Stop It" video; maybe his would have been "Wake Up!"

Acts 12; Fair?

So why did James die and Peter receive deliverance? From my point of view, it makes no sense. I wish I could move on to something more profound and demonstrate the answer. Honestly, I have no clue. I accept that God knew what he was doing. I accept that somehow James' martyrdom was better for the kingdom than his deliverance. I accept that Peter went on to great works and was saved for that. But if I am James or James' wife or James' children, the whole thing looks unfair.

I know that fair and equal are not the same. At least I know that on a good day. Yet my heart often doesn't listen to my head and in my heart the word "unfair" screams out at me. It does the same thing when I see privilege and blessings go to some people that have not worked as hard as I have or when a plan does not work out for me while it does for someone else. Usually what is at stake is my pride and personal desires, not the kingdom. I've learned that when my pride gets injured I can put together really good sounding arguments but I know inside that they are just a smokescreen for the pain.

The truth is that I don't have the right to scream unfair about life. I was born into middle class educated America. I sit this morning in my home and will soon depart for a good job. I have four healthy, wonderful children and an amazing wife. I do not have any major illnesses. It is only a small percentage of the world that can claim any of those blessings. They all look at me, at my blessings, at my privileges and scream "unfair". And they are right.

An old professor used to tease our class and wrap up different discussions with the remark of "Well, that is part of the job description of being God; you get to make up the rules as you go and are not limited." So I'll sit here this morning in my blessings and try to shape my heart to where it is grateful under any circumstance. I'll use the words of Job as my own and try to see my life the way others do. Job 2:10, "Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?"

Romans 9:1-18; Shaped by Mercy

Two thoughts seem to wrestle in my mind for preeminence when I read this section.

First, the question comes to me of "do I care this deeply for the people around me?" Paul was willing to be cursed so that others might know Christ. Do I feel the same? Do I have this depth of mercy and concern for others, especially others that I do not know personally? I stand convicted before the text.

Second, I'm back to the issue of working again. My right to stand justified before God and claim sonship is not based upon my effort or desire; my "being fit enough" to stand before God is totally a gift from him. What right do I have to pride? What right do I have to think that I have achieved anything?

So between those two thoughts, I start this day humbled. I am very blessed to be who I am and that should shape me into a man of mercy.