SERMONS

By Rev. Stephen Gituma

August 14^th, 2011

Text:  John 5: 1-18

Intro: Without healing there can be no peace, joy or happiness! For this reason People will do anything to get well. In our today’s text, John  tells  the story of Jesus going to the holy Temple in Jerusalem for the feast of the Jews. Near the entrance (sheep gate) there was a pool, known as Bethesda in Aramaic.

A great number of people with different disabilities used to lie at that pool. People who were blind, lame, and paralyzed. Jesus noticed one particular lame man who had been lying there for 38 years. And Jesus asked him, “Do you want to get well?” (ver.6-7).

For this man, the situation was hopeless, without knowing who Jesus was and stuck in self-pity, he responded by giving excuses, saying, “Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes ahead of me.” The good news for us this morning is that when Jesus laid eyes on that man, his life was changed forever.

Therefore, Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I am here today to tell you that, no matter how long you have suffered, no matter what you are going through, when Jesus lays his eyes on you, your life will never be the same again.  It will  be changed forever! For you will be able to walk with your head up again as a beloved child of God.

However, note this; Jesus was not interested in any of the lame man’s excuses! The same case applies to you and me today. Jesus Christ wants us to answer this simple but important question. He already knows all the details of our pain and suffering. And his desire is to see us turning around and focusing on him! Listen to what he is asking you today, “Do you want to get well?”  

Perhaps you are asking in your heart, “What do he know about all I have suffered?”  I may not know what you have gone through or what you are going through right now, but God knows every detail of your whole life.  And I believe God is able to change your situation!   

The painful truth about life is this; unfortunately, none of us were born from perfect parents, nor grew up in a perfect family or Society. For that reason, we all have been hurt in one way or another. We have been hurt and wounded by others, including our own families, friends and even by the Church. And the sad thing is, these painful experiences have robbed us of a sense of peace and joy and belonging, leaving us with a sense of hopelessness, helplessness, loneliness and even bitterness. This has caused some of us not to have healthy and meaningful relationships with others and for some – even with God.

Many have been crippled by hurt, anger and doubts. By this I mean some have been crippled by the pain of their childhood abuse, broken marriage, loss of loved ones; loss of a  job etc. Many are depressed, their spirits have been crushed and for many years they have continued to suffer both emotionally and spiritually as they have watched others around them going on with their lives.

May be you are one these wounded people. I am here to tell you this, God has a sense of humor, and he must sometimes see us and smile the same way we smile at a small child who is struggling to put on their shoes to walk. God is inviting you into the path of healing; God wants you to start walking. And Hey! Don’t leave your mat behind! God knows this is possible if you only step out and take a step of faith – forgiving those who have hurt you in one way or the other. Without forgiveness, there can be no true healing.

After inviting the lame man into the path of healing, Jesus told him to do an extra ordinary thing, to “pick up his mat and walk” (5:11). Otherwise leaving your mat behind is a bad sign, for it signifies that you intend to  return  back to the same situation  again.

Today God is asking you and me to do the same, to pick our mat and walk! Perhaps some of you may be afraid to take this step of faith; to get in touch with those wounded areas of your lives.  Listen, the word of God is clear about this, Psalms 147:3 tells us that God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. And in Isaiah 43:1b, the Lord our God says” fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”.

If you trust that God is able to take care of what you are going through, like the psalmist you will be able to say, “My flesh may fail but God is the strength of my heart and portion forever” (Psalm73:26). So, the question God is asking you today is, “Do you want to get well?” As I said, Forgiving those who have hurts you is the starting point. Forgiveness is not necessarily for the people who have hurt and/or wronged you, but it’s for our own health.

The question “Do you want to get well?” is an invitation for us, to stop looking through the window and instead starting looking at the mirror.  (i.e.  look at ourselves and  see how beautiful, how handsome we are!) It doesn’t matter who you are, not even the color of your skin, race, language, country, or sexual orientation. What matters is that we are all children of God and God Loves us equally. Palms 139:14, reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made! Therefore, nobody should ever put you down.

One of the questions which I kept on asking myself is this, how come that for 38 years, no one could help this man into the healing pool? Don’t forget that the pool was near the gate to the holy Temple?

I believe there were a couple  of reasons:

1). Traditionally, sickness was associated with sin and sinners were considered outcasts who deserved no help. Yet, those who believed that failed to see that the God of Love and Mercy was kind enough to send an angel to stir the water for their healing.

2). Today, we live in a world where we cherish individualism, to the extent that if Jesus wanted to visit us, we would appreciate if he would make an appointment before knocking at our door.  This sense of individualism keeps us separated from one another and separated from helping one another.

3).  As you all know, it is our human nature to blame others for any failure. From the time of Adam and Eve to present day; human beings will always have a reason for why they have failed to do this or that, why they cannot enjoy life, why they cannot feel safe anywhere in the world, why they cannot trust each other.  For example, spouses will blame each other, children will blame their parents, and parents will blame their children, Republicans will blame the Democrats, and Democrats will blame the Republicans, the public will blame the President and the government; the list goes on and on! As a result, we all continue foolishly suffering. We cannot make any meaningful moves in life; because we spend most of our time pointing fingers at each other.

It may seem difficult to admit it, but the truth is, many Christians find themselves in this situation, even when their sincere hope and desire is to experience a sense of love, peace, truth, justice, joy, connections, fellowship, and freedom in the Church. Without these essential elements, the Church fails to be a true family of God. As a result many people never come to  experience God’s Spirit in the Church.

It is my believe that the Church is called upon not only to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ; but also to bring transformation of people lives by loving, caring and seeking justice from every form of oppressive situation. Therefore as followers of Christ Jesus, we are called to imitate Christ, by offering words of healing, comfort and encouragement to others and to one another. The Bible says “pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. ” Proverbs 16:24  (NIV). However, God is inviting you today, first to get well first and then to go out and live a healthy life. Christ is asking you today, “Do you want to get well?” May God give you strength to take that step of faith. Amen.