JOHN 5:1-9 | “TO LEND A HAND TO EACH OTHER…”

“TO LEND A HAND TO EACH OTHER…”

JOHN 5:1-9

JUNE 11, 2017

MY FORMER DENTIST, AND A MEMBER OF MY CHURCH, DR. CHUCK HOLT AND I WERE PLAYING GOLF ONE DAY AT THE CHATTANOOGA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB.

WE HAD JUST FINISHED PUTTING OUT ON ONE HOLE, AND WERE MAKING OUR WAY TO THE NEXT TEE BOX.

THERE WAS A GROUP AHEAD OF US TEEING OFF, AND THE GOLFER WHO WAS UP, STOOD IN FRONT OF US.

HE HAD ONE LEG, WAS SUPPORTING HIMSELF WITH CRUTCHES, THE BALL WAS TEED UP, AND HE STOOD THERE WITH DRIVER IN HAND.

A SECOND LATER, HE LET THE CRUTCHES FALL TO THE SIDE, BALANCED ON ONE FOOT, AND DROVE THE BALL 250 – 300 YARDS STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE FAIRWAY.

HE HOPPED ON ONE FOOT FOR A MOMENT, REGAINING HIS BALANCE.  ONE OF HIS PLAYING PARTNERS PICKED UP HIS TEE, THE OTHER HELPED HIM WITH HIS CRUTCHES, AND OFF THEY WENT, BACK TO THEIR CARTS, AND ON TO THEIR NEXT SHOTS.

IT WAS AMAZING… IT WAS ALSO HUMBLING… ESPECIALLY FOR ME, KNOWING THAT THERE WAS NO WAY I WOULD COME CLOSE TO DRIVING THE BALL THAT FAR, OR THAT STRAIGHT!

HE HIT THE SHOT ON HIS OWN; AND WITH THE HELP OF HIS PLAYING PARTNERS, THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE, HE WAS PLAYING THE GAME HE LOVED.

IT’S EASY TO LOOK AT OUR PASSAGE FOR THIS MORNING AND GO RIGHT TO JESUS’ MIRACLE – THE HEALING OF THE PARALYTIC MAN.

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN TELLS US THAT THE MAN HAD BEEN THIS WAY FOR SOME 38 YEARS, WITHOUT TELLING US HOW OLD HE WAS; SO, WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER HE WAS BORN THIS WAY; THE VICTIM OF AN ACCIDENT OR ILLNESS; OR IF HIS PARALYSIS HAD DEVELOPED OVER TIME.

WHAT OUR EYES, EARS, AND THOUGHTS GO TO IMMEDIATELY, ARE JESUS’ WORDS: “STAND UP, TAKE YOUR MAT AND WALK.”

“AT ONCE THE MAN WAS MADE WELL, AND HE TOOK UP HIS MAT AND BEGAN TO WALK.”

BUT THERE’S MORE GOING ON HERE THAN MEETS THE EYE.

FOR ONE THING, THERE’S JESUS’ QUESTION: DO YOU WANT TO BE MADE WELL?

AND FOR ANOTHER, THERE’S THE MAN’S ANSWER, WHICH IS QUITE TELLING.

“SIR, I HAVE NO ONE TO PUT ME INTO THE POOL WHEN THE WATER IS STIRRED UP; AND WHILE I’M MAKING MY WAY, SOMEONE ELSE STEPS DOWN AHEAD OF ME.”

RATHER THAN ANSWERING JESUS’ QUESTION WITH A RESOUNDING “YES,” OR “OF COURSE, I WANT TO BE HEALED!” OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, THE MAN OFFERS EXCUSES AND EXPLANATIONS.

THERE’S ALSO SOMETHING OF AN INDICTMENT, IN WHAT HE SAYS.

“SIR, I HAVE NO ONE TO PUT ME INTO THE POOL WHEN THE WATERS ARE STIRRED UP; AND WHILE I’M MAKING MY WAY, SOMEONE ELSE STEPS DOWN AHEAD OF ME.”

NO ONE TO HELP; BEATEN OUT BY THE COMPETITION.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IS THAT THE POOL OF BETH-ZATHA WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE HEALING PROPERTIES; BUT ONLY WHEN THE WATERS WERE STIRRED UP, AS IT WAS BELIEVED BY THE PEOPLE OF THAT TIME, BY THE TOUCH OF AN ANGEL.

THIS IDEA IS SUPPORTED NOT ONLY IN THIS AND OTHER BIBLICAL WRITINGS, BUT BY OTHER EARLY WRITINGS FROM OUTSIDE OF SCRIPTURE.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE FOUND THE ACTUAL SITE OF THIS ANCIENT POOL, JUST AS DESCRIBED, WITH FIVE PORTICOES BUILT AROUND IT.

THEY ALSO FOUND THAT THIS ANCIENT POOL WAS FED BY NATURAL SPRINGS, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE WATERS BEING “STIRRED UP.”

BE THAT AS IT MAY, THE ANCIENT PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS AREA BELIEVED THAT THE WATERS HAD HEALING PROPERTIES;

AND THOSE WHO WERE SICK, INJURED, CRIPPLED, ETC. WOULD LIE ABOUT THE POOL AWAITING THE MOMENT THAT THE WATERS WERE STIRRED UP, AND WHEN IT WAS, THEY MADE A MAD DASH TO GET INTO THE POOL BEFORE THE WATERS STILLED.

IT IS THIS SITUATION THAT THE PARALYZED MAN IN OUR STORY FOR THIS MORNING DESCRIBES; AND WHY, WHEN JESUS ASKS HIM, “DO YOU WANT TO BE HEALED?”

HE OFFERS EXCUSES AND EXPLANATIONS, AND SOMETHING OF AN INDICTMENT, AS WELL.

WE CAN SEE HOW THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS PARALYZED;

NO WAY TO GET TO THE POOL;

UNABLE TO GET THERE QUICKLY ENOUGH WHILE THE WATERS WERE STILL STIRRED UP; OR AHEAD OF OTHERS;

AND EVEN IF GETTING THERE, NO WAY TO PROPEL HIMSELF INTO THE POOL, AND NO ONE TO HELP LIFT HIM IN.

LAST WEEK, DAVID BROOKS, WRITING IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, CITED AN ARTICLE FROM THE WASHINGTON POST WRITTEN BY H. R. MCMASTER AND GARY COHN, TOP ADVISORS TO THE PRESIDENT.

IN THE POST ARTICLE, THE TWO ADVISORS WROTE THIS:

“THE PRESIDENT EMBARKED ON HIS FIRST FOREIGN TRIP WITH A CLEAREYED OUTLOOK THAT THE WORLD IS NOT A ‘GLOBAL COMMUNITY’ BUT AN ARENA WHERE NATIONS, NONGOVERNMENTAL ACTORS, AND BUSINESSES ENGAGE AND COMPETE FOR ADVANTAGE.”

NOW YOU MAY AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THIS WORLDVIEW, ACCEPT OR REJECT ITS ASSESSMENT, AND THE POLICIES AND DECISIONS SUCH A VIEW IS LIKELY TO CREATE;

WHAT IS TRUE, IS THAT SUCH A VIEW “ASSERTS THAT SELFISHNESS (AND SELF PRESERVATION) ARE THE MAIN DRIVERS OF HUMAN AFFAIRS;”

THAT “THE WORLD IS A COMPETITIVE STRUGGLE FOR GAIN;” AND THAT COMPETITION, NOT COOPERATION, IS THE NAME OF THE GAME.

THIS IS EXACTLY, THE SAME THING THE MAN WHO IS PARALYZED IN OUR STORY FOR THIS MORNING SAYS:

“I HAVE NO ONE TO HELP ME INTO THE POOL WHEN THE WATERS ARE STIRRED UP; AND WHILE I AM MAKING MY WAY, SOMEONE ELSE STEPS DOWN AHEAD OF ME.”

NO ONE TO HELP; BEATEN OUT BY THE COMPETITION.

NOW COMPARE THAT WITH WHAT JESUS DOES.

BYPASSING THE POOL ALTOGETHER, AS WELL AS THE COMPETITION FOR HEALING, JESUS SIMPLY SAYS TO THE MAN:

“STAND UP, TAKE YOUR MAT, AND WALK.”

JESUS HELPS; JESUS HEALS; JESUS LENDS THE MAN A HAND (OR FEET, AS, THE CASE MAY BE!).

IN HIS HISTORICAL NOVEL BASED UPON THE LIFE OF ST. BRENDAN, AUTHOR FREDERICK BUECHNER SHARES THIS STORY:

“PUSHING DOWN HARD WITH HIS FISTS ON THE TABLE-TOP HE HEAVED HIMSELF UP TO WHERE HE WAS STANDING.  FOR THE FIRST TIME WE SAW HE WANTED ONE LEG.

IT WAS GONE FROM THE KNEE JOINT DOWN.  HE WAS HOPPING SIDEWAYS TO REACH FOR HIS STICK IN THE CORNER WHEN HE LOST HIS BALANCE.

HE WOULD HAVE FALLEN IN A HEAP IF BRENDAN HADN’T LEAPT FORWARD AND CAUGHT HIM.

‘I’M AS CRIPPLED AS THE DARK WORLD,’ GILDAS SAID.

‘IF IT COME THAT, WHICH ONE OF US ISN’T, MY DEAR?  BRENDAN RESPONDED.

GILDAS WITH BUT ONE LEG.

BRENDAN, SURE HE’D MISSPENT HIS LIFE ENTIRELY.

ME THAT HAD LEFT MY WIFE TO FOLLOW HIM, AND BURIED OUR ONLY BOY.

THE TRUTH OF WHAT BRENDAN SAID STOPPED ALL OUR MOUTHS.

WE WAS CRIPPLES ALL OF US.

FOR A MOMENT OR TWO THERE WAS NO SOUND BUT THE BEES.

‘TO LEND EACH OTHER A HAND WHEN WE’RE FALLING,’ BRENDAN SAID, ‘PERHAPS THAT’S THE ONLY WORK THAT MATTERS IN THE END.’”

WHEN THE PARALYTIC MAN IN OUR STORY FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN IS ASKED BY JESUS IF HE WANTS TO BE HEALED;

INSTEAD OF SAYING “YES,” OR “OF COURSE!” OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES;

HE ANSWERS THAT HE HAS NO ONE TO HELP HIM; AND THAT HE CAN’T GET TO THE POOL BEFORE OTHERS BEAT HIM TO IT.

JESUS HELPS.  JESUS HEALS.  JESUS LENDS A HAND (AND FEET!).

WHICH, DO YOU SUPPOSE, WE ARE TO DO?  AND IF NOT BECAUSE WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, AS CHRISTIANS;

THEN, SIMPLY, BECAUSE WE ARE CRIPPLES ALL OF US.

AS MUCH AS OUR HELPING OTHERS IS A MATTER OF OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH; AS MUCH AS IT FITS THE DICTATES OF OUR RELIGION; FULFILLING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND CHRIST;

AS MUCH AS OUR LENDING A HAND IS WRAPPED UP IN THE BEATITUDES; THE GOOD SAMARITAN; THE COMMANDMENTS TO LOVE GOD, AND OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES; THE GOLDEN RULE; MATTHEW 25; AND THE REST OF JESUS’ TEACHINGS;

PERHAPS IT’S NOTHING MORE THAN AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT WE ARE “CRIPPLES ALL OF US” THAT IS OUR BEST MOTIVATION FOR HELPING EACH OTHER.

THAT TO LEND A HAND, AND TO ACCEPT ONE, IS A NOD TO THE FACT THAT WE NEED EACH OTHER.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE ALLEGORY OF THE LONG SPOONS?

IT IS A PARABLE ATTRIBUTED TO RABBI HAIM ROMSHISHOK, AS WELL AS OTHERS.

IN FACT, IT’S A STORY THAT IS TOLD IN MANY WAYS, IN DIFFERENT CULTURES, BY DIFFERENT FAITHS, EACH IN THEIR OWN WAY; EACH USING THEIR OWN TERMS, CONSTRUCTS, AND BELIEFS.

THE STORY IS TOLD IN JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY, HINDUISM, BUDDHISM, AND OTHER RELIGIONS.

IN CHINA, THE LONG SPOONS ARE REPLACED BY LONG CHOP STICKS;

AND IN SOME VERSIONS, THE CUTLERY IS NORMAL, BUT THE PEOPLE FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER CANNOT BEND THEIR ARMS.

THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE STORY ITSELF, MIGHT BE ENOUGH TO TELL US SOMETHING IMPORTANT.

THE PARABLE IS ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL.

IN BOTH HEAVEN AND HELL, PEOPLE ARE PICTURED SEATED AROUND A GREAT BANQUET TABLE (NOT UNLIKE HOW THE BIBLE PICTURES HEAVEN IN SEVERAL PASSAGES).

EACH OF THOSE AT THE TABLE IS OUTFITTED WITH LONG SPOONS WITH WHICH TO EAT.

THE PROBLEM IS, THAT THE SPOONS ARE SO LONG THAT THE PEOPLE CANNOT GET THEM TO THEIR MOUTHS.

AS THE PARABLE GOES: IN HELL, THE PEOPLE ARE STARVING;

IN HEAVEN, THEY HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO FEED THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE.

SO, I ASK US AGAIN, WHAT WOULD JESUS HAVE US DO?

HOW ARE WE TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND THE WORLD?

HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, BUREAUCRACIES AND BUDGETS, DECISIONS AND DIPLOMACY, BUT OUR OWN PERSONAL ACTIONS AS WELL?

WHETHER WE RESPOND AS BELIEVERS, OR OUT OF AN UNDERSTANDING THAT AT BEST, WE ARE CRIPPLES ALL OF US, THE ANSWER SEEMS PLAIN ENOUGH.

WERE WE THERE, AND WE ARE, EVERY DAY, WE WOULD HELP THE MAN INTO THE POOL.

WE WOULD MAKE ROOM FOR HIM, RATHER THAN BEATING HIM TO THE PUNCH.

WE’D FEED THE FOLKS ACROSS THE TABLE, AND ACROSS THE WORLD, FROM US.

“TO LEND EACH OTHER A HAND WHEN WE ARE FALLING, PERHAPS, THAT’S THE ONLY WORK THAT MATTERS IN THE END.”