Domes - Our Monthly Newsletter
Dunbar UCC
May 13, 2007
John 5:1-9
Incident at Bethzatha
- Sometimes things happen to us that we can’t control. We can’t stop the war in Iraq. We can’t buy a gallon of gas for under $3.00 a gallon. We can’t stop the clock that keeps ticking.
- Some things we can’t control. But we have some control. We decided to come here this morning. We chose to eat, or not eat before we came here. Buddhists say that we can even learn to control our thinking -- we can think good thoughts about others, or we can allow our anger to grow into rage, and then violence.
- But in life, and especially in the Bible, a lot of things happen in the gray zone. It’s not always clear when we have control, and when we don’t. The apostle Paul thought he was in control, arresting Christians -- until the light from heaven flashed AND CHRIST ARRESTED HIM. Paul was in control -- then he wasn’t. And then there’s this man in our Gospel reading today, sitting by the healing waters of Bethzatha.
- For 38 years, he hasn’t walked, so he’s waited for a miracle to happen at this magical pool. That’s how Jesus found him. Sitting there, waiting.
- Jesus said, “Do you want to be made well?” But the man was ambivalent, or afraid. Because Jesus asked him if he wanted a different life than the one he’s had for the past 38 years and the man couldn’t say “yes” or “no.” He gave an excuse for why his disability, but he wouldn’t say: “Yes, Jesus, please heal me.” Life has been easy for him, sitting by this beautiful pool, and accepting the sympathy and gifts of family and strangers. What would he do with his health? He’d probably have to work and take more responsibility. And here was Jesus now upsetting his peace. “Do you want to be well?” Jesus said. “Of course I do,” said the man, “but look at me! I can’t get in those magic waters and I’ve been trying for so many years, but people get in front of me, or I get to them too late, or some days the angels don’t show up, or nobody’s around to help me.....” The man had many reasons for staying just as he was.
- And then Jesus ruined his peace, and his easy life. Without the man’s permission, Jesus said, “Get up -- I’ve healed you.” The man got up and walked away. He didn’t thank Jesus -- didn’t say anything to him -- didn’t even ask who he was. Instead, he reported Jesus to the authorities and got him in trouble for working a healing on the Sabbath, and telling the man to carry his mat -- which was also against the law on the Sabbath. And Jesus still asks us today: “Do we want to be healed? Do we want to accept responsibility for our life, for our country, for our world?” Maybe not. It’s so easy to pretend there’s nothing we can do.