Undeserving May 5, 2013

I am not sure exactly what speaks to us when we read this story. Is it the image of a helpless paralyzed man longing to be healed? Or the image of him laying by the side of the pool for 38 years Is it because he was alone for all those years Maybe the sad tug at our heart is imagining how miserable and disenfranchised that man must have felt – when we learn that every time he dragged or scooted his broken body to the side of the pool – others more able-bodied got in front of him and made it into the water before him. Then again, when Jesus cures the man – perhaps what speaks to us is a sense of joy – as we hear yet again and in yet another way – the good news of Jesus Christ. Previous readings of this story, found me admiring- or at least respecting-- on some level -- the paralytic’s tenacity. It seemed that no matter the weather, the severity of his affliction, or the continual disappointment at never making it to the water’s edge, this man’s spirit of hope prevailed. By the end of the story I was convinced that he possessed what could only be a genuine faith. This time however, and for some unknown reason, the story spoke to me in a different voice. After another careful reading of the words without making any assumptions, without jumping to conclusion, I am convinced that faith had nothing at all to do with this healing. Mainly because there is not one word about faith in these verses. Unlike other stories where people hear about Jesus, or show up in the crowds, or call him the Son of God, or go directly to him and ask for help, the man by the pool didn’t open his mouth to ask, only opened his mouth to tell Jesus why he couldn’t be healed. The paralytic had no belief or faith in Jesus. Truth is the paralytic didn’t even know who Jesus was. The only belief or faith that man did have – was in the magic of the bubbling waters. Furthermore, after the man was up and walking around, he didn’t promise to follow Jesus the rest of his days, or confess his faith in him,,,why he didn’t even have the decency to say thank you! One commentator wrote: Who is this guy? Well, he’s a real bum, that’s who he is! He had no gratitude, no faith, no humility, no nothin’....he didn’t deserve to be healed. That’s not a totally unheard of attitude. We hear it all the time. I worked harder than he did, I deserved that raise – not him /// I’m better than she is at this – I deserve the recognition /// Hey, I’ve been living by the rules, how come she’s got made and I don’t...How come he gets all the breaks when he hasn’t done anything to deserve them? That deserving thing is a slippery slope. I’m pretty sure there are lots of people who probably deserve more and better than the hand they have been dealt. And by the same token I’m pretty sure there a lots of people who perhaps maybe don’t deserve all the goodies they have. But then who’s to say who deserves what—and whose to say how much of what any of us deserve? Which brings us back to the crux of this story. Who among us deserves God’s love – a love so strong and eternal that Jesus came to live among us, die for us – so that we – undeserving people – would be found righteous in God’s sight and given life everlasting. Who among us deserves all that? Which is why we don’t look to the man at the pool. You see, Jesus didn’t heal the man because of who he was, or what he deserved. Jesus healed the man because of who Jesus is. Jesus didn’t die for us because he thought we were such a good and sweet and kind bunch – let alone a deserving bunch – Jesus died for us because of who he is. Yes this is a healing story – but more than that -it is a story about God’s mercy and grace. This is a story about the enormous, unparalleled, unexplainable ...undeserved and unmerited love of God – which is given freely to each and every one of us. I leave you with a few final thoughts. The pool – in this gospel called - Bethzatha – is in the shadow of the Temple. Scripture tells us that it is located right outside the Sheep Gate. Why is it - do you think- that the man chose not to go to the Temple for healing – but chose instead to remain away and outside of the Temple? It is because he would be considered unclean and so undeserving of even entering the Temple. The question for us to ponder is --how many people out there feel and fear that they would not be welcome in the church because they believe they are unclean or undeserving to share the pew with us. How many are desperate for healing and wholeness, but instead of being in here are out there - looking for acceptance --- looking for a soft place to land – and people to care about them....how many are not in here with us, but out there looking desperately for love - in all the wrong places because they believe we will not welcome them..or because they believe we have nothing in the way of healing to offer them. Finally, How much grace has God shown you? Think about that one for a minute...how much grace has God shown you? How many times have you gotten side-tracked, veered completely off the path, ignored the signs, found yourself lost. How many times have you done that which is totally against what you know in your heart to be wrong? How many times have you done absolutely nothing. Then consider the grace God has shown you. The number of times cannot even begun to be counted. And if that is the case – who are any of us to deny that kind of love, mercy and grace to any other human being. Who are any of us – that we have the ability to decide who is deserving of God’s love and healing...and who is not. As we go back out there into the world, remember -- Jesus – as revealed in this story --is the only one who heals us not because we who we are, not because we are worthy or deserving or better than anyone else - but for no other reason than he loves us.