How we come to be free
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Fourth Week of Lent
John 5:17-20
Jesus said to the Jews, “The works that the Father gave me to accomplish and that I perform testify that the Father has sent me. But you have never seen his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life … How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?”
The question is rhetorical. The answer is, “We cannot.” Believe.
I feel Jesus’ tears falling on my head as he holds my face in his hands and implores me to “seek the praise” that comes from God. Do not be afraid, my son. Come and see.
When I watch Pope Francis laughing, and know how he surprises a stranger on the phone time after time and just listens, I am less afraid. Come and see.
Jesus was busy, and Jesus was very spiritual. He spent lots of time alone with his Father. Still, he had breakfast and lunch and dinner with tax collectors! When a man or woman asked him to stop and heal, he stopped and healed. He laughed and prayed and ate and prayed and slept and prayed, and woke up again and prayed.
Jesus said his life “testified that the Father has sent me.” He told his disciples, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” That was true for everyone. And he prayed it would be true for us too. For me and for you.
When he was only twelve, Jesus held the “teachers of the law” spellbound with his unexpected questions and imaginative answers. His theology was incomparable, logical and creative. But he wrote nothing down. He spent his time with the folks. And he told them stories that made God come alive and assured them that they were free.
In the midst of Roman occupation, they were free. With hundreds of Jewish rules to follow and penalties that extended even to death, they were free. In the midst of their selfishness and lust and fear, they could trust God’s mercy and forgiveness, and they were free. So are we.
Jesus wept. “You do not want to come to me to have life.” If you do these things in the greenwood, what will happen in the dry? Yes, they crucified him, and I do too. We choose death, not life. But God is more real than that lousy choice, and God is love. And Jesus is the one who wins, not the devil. He is here, and in him I can choose today to seek the praise of God. Come and see.
Your freedom seeks me in the dark dark night, Lord. I wake up from my dream and know how close you are, and when your hand finds my face I weep with joy. Putting aside all, you come to be with me. And I can put aside all and follow you. You made me to be free, and I am. Free.
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1462
