John 5 has Jesus healing a guy whose been an invalid for 38 years. Instead of being cheered, he is attacked, first for Sabbath-breaking, then for blasphemy, when he claims divine authority and equivalency for His powers.
In the verses for Sunday, Jesus is addressing these leaders of the Jewish establishment who have condemned him. How are they to know that what he says and what he does are truly of God?
Answering that question provides us with a key to our own reasons for believing in Jesus. How do we, in fact, prove, or explain, or witness to, his existence?
What makes this so pivotal for me, is that it addresses one of those things I am most uncomfortable with in my faith. I am uncomfortable sitting down with someone and sharing my faith. If, in the course of working with someone, questions of my own faith journey arise, that is an easy crossover. I am happy to talk about my relationship with Christ. But how do I lead off a conversation with the express purpose of 'manipulating' the direction toward Jesus? That is so not me.
Jesus provides a very powerful exposition of how that is NOT the means of testifying about Him. God has a bigger plan. It is how Jesus' life worked out, it is how our lives are called to be worked out as Jesus' followers and successors in the ministry of the church.
Join us Sunday, as we look to Jesus' answer, how he faces off with the Jewish leadership who stand in opposition to him, how he provides the context of God's work in His, and our, lives.
Peace, hope to welcome you at 10am.
Pastor Peter Hofstra
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