A Stumbler's Walk | FREE

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. - John 8:32 

Free. 

It is a great word. A powerful concept. An incredible feeling. But only those who have been in bondage (of some sort) truly know the depth and meaning of the phrase, "I am free!"

Are you free?

Earlier in chapter eight, John gives the account of a woman who knew bondage; to sin, to the lustful appetites of men, and to a religion devoid of compassion or grace. 

Men with fire in their eyes and rocks in their hands were ready to take her life. (My guess is that some of these very men had shared her bed at one time or another. What Jesus wrote in the dirt is your guess as much as mine, but I'm thinking it was a list of names that caused the vigilantes to drop their weapons and slink away).

Jesus: "Woman, where they? Has no one condemned you?" 
Woman: "No one, Lord."

Think about it; if the criteria for rock throwing was (is) perfection - as Jesus said, "Let him who is without sin… be the first to throw a stone," - then the only one who met the criteria was Jesus. Jesus alone had the right and moral ground to condemn this woman. 

Jesus alone had the right to throw rocks. 
Jesus doesn't throw rocks. 

Jesus: "Neither do I condemn you…"

Freedom… from condemnation!

Jesus: "… go, and from now on sin no more."

Freedom… to live a new life!

Jesus didn't expect sinless perfection out of the woman from that day forward. He is saying, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed," (v.36). 

Those who have known the bitterness of bondage, and have then tasted freedom, never want to go back. And though we may fail, though we may fall back into our chains, whether it be occasionally or often, Christ's words of powerful grace still ring true: "You are free!"

Free from condemnation.
Free from fear.
Free from the voices that say you are less than.
Free from _________ (fill it in; you are free!)

Jesus, you are the truth that sets me free!

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | OPEN EYES

Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?

- John 9:2 

At best it is a silly question. How could a man sin prior to being born? A vindictive kick or punch thrown while in the womb? But it's not merely a silly question. It is worse.

The man is blind. He has never experienced a color, seen a sunset or the face of his mother. And the disciples look for someone to blame. Why do I say it is worse than just a silly question? Because it is a reflection of the way they view God.

These guys have walked, talked, prayed and camped-out with Jesus. They have heard and seen things we can only imagine. Consider just the last few chapters: They have witnessed Jesus set free ("… truly free!") a woman condemned by her sin. They have just seen him become living water to a woman with a parched soul. They were right there when a guy who had never once walked in his 38 years got up and walked at Jesus' word. They basked daily in the glow of The Light of the World, yet their minds were still in a dark fog.

Bottom line: They didn't understand the heart of God.

Scholars call it Retribution Theology; and sadly, we all buy-in at some level. It holds, in short, that God repays us based on our actions. Rewards and punishments are doled out according to "how good" we are. That is damaging - and damning - enough, because it is ANTI-GRACE. To make matters worse, the practical result is that we attempt to jump through hoops to get God's attention and approval. "Look at me… I did so well." And when we fail - whether by tiring of the endless hoops, or just flat failing - an ill-tempered God is all too ready with immediate and direct punishment. The result? A relationship with God that is based on performance, failure and fear. (Not to mention the ugly cover-up of self-righteousness and comparison that results).

That is not the message of Christ. It is not the gospel of grace. It is not the heart of God.

I don't know why the guy was blind. What I do know is that after an application of spit-mud (who knows?) and a quick bath, the man could see! (And that's where the story really gets interesting). We seldom see in the gospel narrative the "after picture" (as in before/after) of the recipient of a Jesus' miracle. But Jesus tracks this formerly blind guy down. And the miracle is completed as the man's heart is changed every bit as much as his eyes.

God has a plan! We may not see it. Frankly, I don't think we could handle it if we were able to see more than a step or two down the path. God has a plan for you! And it is based on his grace and power, not on your performance. That is freeing!

I once heard that a great theologian closed his last lecture by answering a few questions. The final one came from a student who asked, "Dr. Barth, what is the greatest theological insight you've ever had?" The old man stepped toward the door, and reaching for the light switch he answered, "It is this, 'Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so…'" He turned out the lights and left the class in stunned silence… but not darkness.

God, where I am blind, open my eyes to the goodness of your heart.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | SACK LUNCHES

Jesus then took the loaves…

- John 6:11-13 

A massive crowd is hanging on Jesus' every word. And the disciples are growing concerned. It's been a long day, the people are hungry. This crowd could turn into a mob.

Peter: “There is a boy here who has five little barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

Boy (Earlier that morning): Mom, I'm heading out… all my friends are going to see this guy from the other side of the sea."

Mom: "Don't forget your lunch."

Boy: "Ok, did you pack me enough for a few of my friends, in case their moms forgot?"

Mom: "Son, you know we don't have much. There's only enough in the sack for you and one friend, tops."

Jesus (Late in the day): "Give me the sack."

John 6:11-13: Jesus then took the loaves… distributed them. So also the fish, as much as they (5,000 men, plus women and children) wanted. And when they had eaten their fill… they gathered up twelve baskets (of leftovers).

Boy (Later that night): "Mom, I'm home. You won't believe what happened!"

Mom: "Did you have enough to eat?"

Boy: "Mom, You won't believe what happened!"

Never doubt that what God asks from us, with his blessing, is more than enough to accomplish what he desires. To put it another way, when we give what we have, God blesses it. And what he blesses always accomplishes his purposes. And we get to tell an incredible story!

God, I don't have much, but it is yours.

For now...
D

A Stumbler's Walk | GET UP

"Do you want to be healed?"

John 5:6 

It seems like a silly question; almost patronizing. The man has been an invalid for 38 years. Countless times throughout the decades he has been hauled to that pool, hoping one day would be the day.

Today is the day. Though it doesn't come as expected or hoped.

Legend had it that once in a while an angel would stir the surface water of the Bethesda Pool (excavated in the late 19th century and just as described in the Gospels). The first person in the natural spring pool, it was said, would be healed from whatever malady they possessed when they entered the water.

What a sight it must have been. Day after day they came, by whatever means possible. A mixture of waning hope, dying expectations, and cruel possibilities. This particular man had an additional problem. As close as he was to the water, even if an angel stirred, he could only watch. He had no way into the pool. So close to promise, yet never realized.

Paralyzed body. Paralyzed spirit. Paralyzed hope. 

He did not know, but the Promise himself walked up to the pool that morning. (Ironic, that healing supposedly came through the waters of the pool, and now the giver of living water (remember the well from chapter four?) shows up.

"Do you want to be healed?"

It's not silly or patronizing. The fact is we are often most comfortable in our discomfort. We hold to our infirmities and find identity in them. Sometimes it is easier to see ourselves as victims of circumstance than to humbly face our disabilities and turn to God for help.

God may not always heal (others, ourselves, circumstances, etc.) the way we think he should. He is not bound by our expectations. But he has an amazing way of turning weaknesses into strengths.

Therefore, it is possible that the most miraculous healing of all, is the one that doesn't look like a miracle. It is when God changes a heart, strengthens a spirit, and gives new purpose and direction. God can do whatever he wants in any way he wants. Our job is to turn toward him and away from our preconceptions.

My version:
Jesus: "Do you want to be healed?"
Man: "There's no way into the water."
Jesus: "Get up."
Man: "OK."

I wonder if after 38 years, he walked off like a wobbling newborn giraffe, or like an Olympic champion. Maybe a bit of both.

God, laying by the pool is comfortable because in doing so, I can pretend I want change. Instead, let me hear your voice say, "get up!"

For now...
D

A Stumbler's Walk | WATER

If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you…

- John 4:10 

We often miss the best God has to offer when we settle instead for what is simply good.

In the fourth chapter of John, Jesus meets a woman at a well. It is the hottest time of day in the deserted village center. The woman is a social outcast. She is that woman others talk about in hushed whispers. Frankly, she has earned the reputation. She has lived a hard life, a decadent life. Though seldom lacking for company, she is alone.

She is not the kind of person that God blesses; or so we would think. Thankfully, grace doesn't ask the worthiness of its target. If the recipient were deserving, grace would cease to be grace.

The woman went to the well for her daily water. What she received was so much more. That's the way it is when we meet Jesus. He seldom offers what we think we need. Instead he offers more. Like the woman at the well, we may argue, bargain and try to dance our way around our need. All the while, there is Jesus with the offer of living water.

We often miss the best God has to offer when we settle instead for what is simply good.

God, I never want to be satisfied with mere water.

For now...
D

A Stumbler's Walk | NO CONDEMNATION

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

-  John 3:17 

Even those completely unfamiliar with the Bible are familiar with a few things found within. 

Among these are: "Judge not…," (usually quoted out of context - but that's for another post), "The Golden Rule," and John 3:16. (Does anyone remember the multi-colored afro guy that used to hold the sign up at sporting events?)

There may be no better synopsis of the gospel than, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." In this one verse we find God's motivation: love; his action: the sacrificial gift of his Son; our response of faith: believe; and the result: life.

The gospel is good news. It is actually better than that. It is the best news! It is the news of a gracious God who cares intimately and intensely for us. It is the news of this God doing for us what we can not do for ourselves.

And yet, the verse following "For God so loved the world…," gets right to the heart of an issue that many of us deal with - usually quietly, secretly. What is it you ask? Condemnation. The word itself casts a bit of a dark shadow.

Many faith-people deal with a sense of condemnation from time to time. We feel guilty and unworthy. Worse, we feel that God's love is conditional; that it is based on what we do and don't do.

We know this is not true theologically, biblically; but we can't escape the sense. We sometimes go about our days with the feeling God will love us and be pleased with us only if we do more (or stop doing some things). We feel that we must win God's approval and blessing. This is a damaging lie, and a self-defeating place to live.

"God didn't send his Son into the world to condemn… but (to) save…" (John 3:17). Paul emphatically states, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ…" (Romans 8:1).

To tell someone to stop feeling condemned is like telling them to stop being depressed. It just doesn't work. The only way to work out of a sense of condemnation is to know the heart of Christ more intimately. We do this by spending time in his word and in prayer; by investing in relationships with believers, and by doing the things we know to do - small steps of daily obedience. Condemnation is a dark place. But remember Jesus - the light of the world - meets us in the dark places.

One last scripture from the Apostle Paul: "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death," (2 Corinthians 7:10, NASB). There is a massive difference between conviction and condemnation. The first turns our face toward God. The second causes us to hide our face from God.

God, I turn to you.

For now...
D

A Stumbler's Walk | WINE

Fill the jars with water…

- John 2:7 

Jesus' first recorded miracle seems odd; almost insignificant. He turned water in to wine at a wedding. In comparison to sea-walking, storm-calming with just a word, feeding thousands with a two fish happy meal, and raising a dead man… well, it pales. Unless you are the groom.

The groom was traditionally responsible for the wine, both its quantity and quality. Here is a man on the happiest day of his life. All should be smiles and celebration, but he has a sinking feeling and a knot in the pit of his stomach. He's been told the wine is running low and the reception is only half over. He (and his new bride) are about to suffer the ultimate in public humiliation.

"Fill the jars with water…" No one asked for Jesus' plan. They just did it. Six Gatorade sized wash jars are filled to the brim. "Now take it to the master of ceremonies." The MC's reaction? "Usually people serve the best first, then follow up with the cheap stuff when everyone is tipsy. You have saved the best for last!"

The miracle may seem insignificant - again, unless you are the groom. Only the servers, groom, Jesus, his mom and his little group even knew it took place. At face value, it is a very personal and pretty cool thing. 

I don't want to stretch too far, but it is worth thinking on some of the biblical symbolism. Biblically, six is the number symbolizing man - created on the sixth day. Six also signifies incompleteness; seven being the number of completeness. It is not trivial that there were six stone jars that needed to be filled. Six common jars, used for common purposes, became the vessels of a miracle. Do you see where I'm going with this? You and I are common pots. In the hands Jesus, we can be the vessels of miracles.

It is significant that the jars were filled with what was on hand - water - and entrusted to Jesus. The water of the day was usually less than desirable. Jesus once said to a woman at a well in the heat of the day that he had "living water" that he would cause to spring up inside us. So again, common pots filled with common water… the result? The best wine.

Wine is symbolic in scripture of the Holy Spirit and newness. Jesus spoke of the new wine of the Spirit in Matthew 9. Jesus is still in the "water-to-wine" business.

In 1989 a bottle of Chateau Margaux, 1787, was on auction at a dinner in a fancy New York City event. It was at the time the most expensive bottle of wine ever. Each pour was valued at $37,500. However, no one ever tasted the Chateau Margaux. Its cork was never smelled or the first pour swilled; its merits and bouquet never pontificated. Instead, it was broken against a tray when being brought to the front of the room. The bottle, valued at nearly $400,000, and once owned by Thomas Jefferson, spilled out on the fancy New York City carpet.

We are common jars. By faith we are to fill ourselves with what we know, the best we know. And it still feels so very common. Then, at a time of God's choosing, we are poured out. And amazingly, he has produced in us a Chateau Margaux for others to taste and enjoy.

Like the groom of Cana, we sit back and smile in amazement. Because we know the vessels that winemakers will be trying to emulate in the future were just common wash jars. And the Chateau Margaux… it was just water. 

But in the hands of Jesus…

God, In faith I will fill what I have with what I have, and I will leave the results to the Winemaker.

For now...

D