Study 2 - 2007: February 12th to 18th

Having Authority.
Reading – John Chapter Ch 5:1-18.

“Near a sheep gate in Jerusalem there is a pool with 5 porches, in Hebrew it has called Bethzatha. A large crowd of sick people were lying in the porches-the blind, the lame and the paralysed. A man was there who had been ill for 38 years. Jesus saw him lying there, and he knew that the man had been ill for such a long time; so he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” The sick man answered, “Sir I have no one here to pit me in the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am trying somebody else gets there first.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk. Immediately the man got well; he picked up his mat and started walking. John Chapter5 verses 2-9(Today’s English Version).

All professional and amateur golfers at some stage in their career go through a testing time. It can be an injury, a loss of form or confidence or perhaps a crisis such as a death of a family member. The golf swing and putting a score on the board can create times of despair and frustration for all. Some professionals have given their career away from such struggles, realizing there is only room for a small crop at the top of the tree. It’s so well known that we all know of examples; Ian Baker Finch and Bill Rogers, two British Open Champions. Then there are players like Bernhard Langer who has had a career fighting the yips with the putter. Then there is us; who find golf so overwhelming at times that you see the throwing of clubs, swearing and anti-social behaviour.
Where do we turn to in times of help? Well, in golf the professional coach is a good place to start, but what about life?

There are testing times, sickness, crises and loss of life that sets us back. We find some help in doctors, psychologists and friends and our own body fights to help us recover from particular injuries.

Has anyone the ability to speak a word and solve our problems with life? Well, this passage suggests Jesus has.
The miracle recorded in John Chapter 5 above is told in such a simple way that surprises us.
A man who had been sick for 38 years was unable to get better because of his disability; he spent his time sitting by a pool. How the pool brought healing when disturbed by a movement from God, for only one person is not explained.
But Jesus asks him, if he would like to be healed when he misses out on an opportunity? Jesus then gives an exhortative word to the sick man to get up pick up his mat and go home.

This is not the only time Jesus speaks with authority to help someone with their problems. He enabled the dumb to speak and the deaf to hear, at his word, the sea and the wind calmed, at his word forgiveness and a new life is given.
The unique power of Jesus Christ, is his ability to speak and for things to happen. This is how God created the world in Genesis Chapter one, by his word.

For God to intervene in our golf and with a word to perfect it would spoil the game and rob it of its challenge and chance to test our character. God will never do that, but when it comes to life, Jesus des something for us we are not capable of. Jesus shows us the power of his word to heal, to save, to renew and forgive.

Prayer, Gracious God, thank you for the power of Jesus to speak and for his word to heal, save renew and forgive. Help us to seek in Christ that which we cannot do for ourselves. Amen.