John 5

Three questions that pop out as I read the text from John 5:
1) The invalid believes the pool will heal him.  He wasn't the only one.  Where, outside of Jesus, do we go to find healing?

2) Why does Jesus ask the man if he wants to be healed?  Isn't the answer obvious?

3) What does this passage say about the purpose of healing?

John 2:18-22

Jesus makes the explicit claim that he is the temple of God.  The temple was always known to be the dwelling of God's presence.  Consider its movement over the course of salvation history:

It begins in the Tent of Meeting.  It was portable.  God dwelled inside.  Then Solomon built a temple in Jerusalem.  It was a building of significant magnitude and beauty.  That temple was destroyed.  Another one was built back again.  Finally, comes Jesus, who John said is the Word made flesh, who tabernacled with us. 

Now 1 Corinthians 16:19 tells us that our bodies are temple of the Holy Spirit.  If you are in Christ, the dwelling place of God resides inside of you through the Holy Spirit.

John 2:1-12

You have to love that Jesus's first miracle in John's Gospel is turning water to wine.   At a very basic level he is exchanging the hosts' would-be shame for running out of wine into gladness and honor for holding the best until last.  It is a miracle that represents great care and sympathy toward his hosts.

But more than that, this miracle is about Jesus doing what the law of Moses could not.  Jesus takes the jars for ritual cleanings and he turns them into vessels of joy.  He is not just here to clear the deck from sin.  He has come to bring the greatest prize, life with him.  

Remember that wine is always the sign of joy and gladness.  Don't pretend it doesn't make a party better.  It is supposed to have that affect (when rightly used!).   Jesus is a cup of gladness.  Is he that for you?

Finally, there is a strong biblical motif about weddings and marriages.  There is something about a wedding feast and a bride and a groom that are fairly important to the scope of God's work. I'm just saying'...

Romans 2

From verse 4, "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness  and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"

This seems to throw my versions of "cheap grace" right back in my face.  By "cheap grace" I mean that version whereby we receive grace and then return to living under our own authority.  It is being a Christian through faith, but having no outward signs of it during life.  

Paul is saying that we "presume" upon the riches of God's kindness and forbearance and patience.  We assume that because God has not immediately called down wrath from heaven for our sins, because he has given this period of grace in patience and forbearance, that we can do whatever we want.  We live in a microwave society- instant feedback is the rule we live by.  No more so than with God's grace.  If he holds back his wrath upon our sin, often we consider that license to do as we please.  

Oh God, that we would not presume upon the kindness that is suppose to lead to our repentance.  That we would be people who would understand your loving patience and forbearance with us, in our sin.  That your grace would lead us to life, gratitude, faith and faithful obedience, and not instead to disregard for you and your ways.