MY FATHER IS AT WORK

 

We had seen some mighty works done by Jesus. James and John and Andrew and I were the only ones to see Jesus fill a boat with fish from only one dip of a net. After that Jesus said we would fish for men, and we left our boats to follow him. Believe me, we told others about the miracle catch until they were tired of hearing us. We also saw Jesus turn water to wine. Most of the people at the wedding never knew what happened, but we did. He healed the official's son. That too was done in a way that most people didn’t know what happened. His fame had spread through Galilee. But up to now most of his mighty works were not widely known. All of us were excited to go to the feast in Jerusalem. He had demonstrated his power at a previous feast. Who knew what he might do at this one. Everyone would see and understand who Jesus was.

When we arrived we walked together around the city. That was always a treat for those of us who didn’t live there. And we had the sense that Jesus was looking for just the right person to heal. We were wondering what would make him known to the nation. Jesus had hinted that he only did what his heavenly Father told him to do. I understand now that he was looking for the person his Father wanted him to heal

We came to the pool of Bethesda near the sheep gate. Many people were there who needed to be healed. I’m not sure how the rumor got started, but people said an angel stirred the water from time to time. They believed the first person into the pool after the water was disturbed would be healed. The sick wanted to desperately believe it was all true. Occasionally someone would shout that the water was disturbed. Each one would try to be first to get into the pool. People who brought the infirm to the pool would help them into the water. From time to time someone would start shouting that he had been healed. But all I ever saw were quarrels over who was first or whether the water had actually been stirred. 

A big crowd there to see whatever Jesus did. There was a guy who had been there as long as anyone could remember. People said he had been coming there for nearly 40 years. Jesus went straight to him.

“Do you want to be healed?” Jesus asked. “Or have you given up on that altogether?”

The man answered. “I cannot be healed. I’m left here alone in the mornings. I don’t have anyone to help me into the pool when the water is stirred.”

“Stand up!” Jesus said “Take up your mat and walk.” And the man was healed immediately. He stood shakily and then grabbed his mat and almost ran away in front of the whole crowd. While the man had everyone’s attention, Jesus disappeared into the crowd. We were still standing there and saw the funniest thing. A Pharisee stopped the man before he got far. 

“This is the Sabbath,” he said. “It is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” A crowd gathered around evidently to help accuse the man of breaking the Sabbath. The Pharisee spoke with enough authority that the crowd who saw the man healed were cowed into silence. We may have been the only ones there who were trying to keep straight faces. Bartholomew laughed out loud. Could they not see what a great miracle had been done? The fellow answered them. “The man who healed me told me to pick up my mat and leave.”  

Someone in the crowd, probably another Pharisee, raged, “Who is this that dared tell you to break the Sabbath?” It seemed to us like a guard from Jericho trying to arrest Joshua for making too much noise with the trumpets. I suppose the Pharisees would have been even angrier if they realized how ridiculous they looked. After it was all over and we had found Jesus, we went with him into the temple. The man who was healed was there giving thanks.

Jesus approached him and said, “See, after all these years you are well. Stop sinning lest something worse happen to you.” Jesus evidently knew the man would immediately go tell the Pharisees. We followed him to them. They turned and attacked Jesus for abusing the Sabbath. 

Jesus said, “My Father is at work, so I am also working.” The Pharisees didn't understand that Jesus taught that it was his Father who worked miracles through him. But they did understand that Jesus was saying he was the Son of God. This became the primary reason they persecuted him. 

This story is taken from the 5th chapter of The Gospel of John.

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YOU CANNOT SEE THE SIGNS

 

We were camped on the Mount of Olives outside of Bethany on our way to the feast in Jerusalem. And even though the Pharisees had not yet unleashed their wrath on us, I was surprised when Jesus invited Peter, my brother John, and me to go with him to meet secretly with a Pharisee named Nicodemus. This man was actually a member of the Sanhedrin.

A storm was blowing up from the West and it had begun to rain when Nicodemus arrived. John met him at the door and took his cloak, shaking the rain off as Nicodemus stepped up to warm himself at the fire. I had been steeping some tea. He gladly accepted a cup as he sat down with Jesus. Jesus welcomed him, and Nicodemus greeted him respectfully.

After he had relaxed a little Nicodemus said, “Rabbi, we know that you must have come to us from God, for no one could do the signs that you do if God Himself were not with him.”

Peter, John and I were surprised that a Pharisee would treat anyone who was not a Pharisee as an equal. This man even recognized that Jesus had come from God. I suspect Nicodemus was surprised at how little Jesus was impressed. We were not surprised.

Jesus said, “I am telling you the truth, Nicodemus. You cannot see the kingdom of God unless you have been born again.” We had not heard Jesus say it this way, but we had learned from many others and even in our own experience that understanding what Jesus did and taught required a radical change of heart.

Nicodemus asked, “How can this happen? Can an old man enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time?” 

Jesus said, “You need to understand that unless one has been born through the water of physical birth and also of the Spirit, he can never enter the realm of the God. That which is born of flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said you must be born again.” As Jesus said this the wind lashed rain against the house. Jesus continued. “The wind blows where it wants. You hear its sound but you do not know where it has come from or where it is going. So it is with the purposes and direction of anyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus said, “How can this be”

Jesus marveled. “You are a teacher of Israel and yet you do not know how my father works in the lives of people. I am telling you the truth. We speak what we know and give testimony about what we have seen. And you still do not believe.”

This was the first time we had heard Jesus put things this way. And I don't know about Peter and John, but as he spoke I was just beginning to understand the difference Jesus was making in me. None of us is close to being like Jesus. This constantly reminds us how much we still sin. But we have changed a great deal. I suspect many people, possibly including this Pharisee, see the difference Jesus makes in people.

Jesus went on, “If you do not believe when I tell you how God works on earth, how can I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the son of man who came from heaven. As Moses lifted up the servant in the wilderness so must the son of man be lifted up that whoever believes in him would have eternal life.”

I am sure Nicodemus did not understand any more of this than we did at that time. We could not fully understand how much Jesus loved us, or what it would cost him to be lifted up. I know now that he was speaking of the cross. He was saying God loves the world so much that he gave his only son that whoever believes on him will never really die, but has eternal life. Jesus was not sent into the world to condemn us, but so that the world might be saved through him.

Jesus is the light that came into the world that we might truly see the signs of God. But people hate the light because our deeds are evil. Most of them run from the light lest their deeds be exposed. But those who believe the truth come to the light so everyone may see that God has brought about the change in them.

This story was taken from Nicodemus's meeting with Jesus recorded in John 3:1-21.

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WHAT SIGN WOULD YOU GIVE

 

The apostles had hardly had time to sit down to eat a regular meal since the miraculous beginning of the church in Jerusalem. Shortly after selecting the men to be in charge of feeding widows and needy people we got together for dinner. We met in the house that John was sharing with Mary the mother of Jesus. All 12 apostles came including me. Matthias. I was chosen to take Judas's place because I was a witness of the works and teachings of Jesus from the beginning. James the brother of Jesus was also invited as were Mary Magdalene, Susanna and several other women who had followed Jesus.

Among other things, we celebrated the Lord's supper while we were together for the meal. We had done this many times with new disciples, but this reminder of the final meal before the cross was very moving for all of us. As we ate the bread and drank the wine we all trembled at the memory of his crucifixion. This made me feel more like one of the apostles than anything else we had done. After we had eaten we sat around sipping wine and sharing memories. As we sat there John raised a question.

“I would like to know what each of you think was the greatest miracle Jesus ever performed.” Different ones of us raised different things Jesus had done. All of them were astounding. Several of us thought what Mary Magdalene suggested had to top them all. After her brother's death they had waited for days hoping Jesus would come. Everyone in the room knew Jesus had intentionally waited until after Lazarus died to set off for Judea. She told how they had washed his lifeless body and how they had mourned with the whole town of Bethany as they laid him in the tumb. And the feeling in the room reflected the sorrow in Mary's heart until Jesus came and called Lazarus fourth out of the grave.

James did not exactly say he thought what he remembered was the greatest miracle, but he told about Jesus raising the daughter of Jairus the synagogue ruler in Capernaum. And Peter told the story of Jesus's transfiguration and of the appearance of Moses and Elijah on the mountain. I had never heard this story and if we had voted that night I would have said it sounded greatest to me.

John said, “I agree that all of these are very stirring. And I think in some ways each of them may have been the greatest miracle our Lord performed. But Jesus told the Pharisees and chief priests the final, and possibly the most significant sign of his ministry.” We  looked around at one another trying to remember what Jesus had said.

John continued, “All of us were thrilled when Jesus rode the donkey colt that had never been ridden into the city for that final Passover. That wild donkey’s submission to Jesus was very like mine. If Jesus were not working in my life, I could never be submissive to him. And it seemed the whole city submitted to Jesus on that day. He marched into the temple, overturned the tables of the money changers and drove out the sheep and oxen and the sellers of all those things. He reclaimed the temple and the city in the authority of righteousness.

“It was not until the crowds thinned a little that the Pharisees and the elders of the people got up the gumption to stand before Jesus. They demanded that he tell them what sign he would show to claim such authority in the city of our fathers. Jesus answered them something that I am only beginning to understand.

“He said, ‘Destroy this Temple and I will raise it up again in three days.’ Do any of you know what Jesus meant by those words that puzzled us as much as they did the priests and Pharisees?”

Thomas answered quickly. “He was not referring to the Temple of stone in the city. He was talking about the Temple of his own body where God the Father dwelt.”

John said, He was telling us then that the resurrection of his body was the final sign of who he was and of his authority on Earth to the end of the age.”

 

This story was based on the account found in John 2:13-22.

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WATER TO WINE

I have, of course, always known that Jesus was special. I was convinced by the angel who appeared to me so long ago telling me he would be called the Son of God. But that is difficult to think about in the everyday passage of life. I had almost forgotten that he had a special calling when he put James and Joseph in charge of their father's carpentry business and began to teach.

Salome, the daughter of Leah, my closest friend, was married recently. Everyone we knew was invited to the wedding. I'm afraid they overdid it somewhat. Leah asked me to invite our whole family including my grandchildren. That includes two children who have still not been weaned. Simon is not yet married. Jesus had begun gathering disciples around him. Leah said she wanted him to bring them too. Several of them brought their families. The synagogue was stuffed to the gills. They were no better off than anyone else in our little town. And I wondered if Leah’s husband Isaiah could afford to buy everything for the feast. He was never very wise about such things. But many of our closest friends helped with food. The father of Benjamin who was marrying Salome, roasted a goat. But there was no way they could afford wine for everyone who would come. Isaiah assured Leah that he had enough from last year's grapes. The wine was too sour, even after being watered down. Isaiah was evidently not not able to mix it with wine from a better vineyard.

The feast was well underway when Leah came out to where I was working in the kitchen in tears. 

“Mary, Mary, what will we do? We are completely out of wine! We have asked Isaiah's cousin who is a magistrate from Capurniam to be the master of the feast. Isaiah will be ashamed to have to tell him. Salome will never be able to live it down if we have to send everyone home early.”

Of course there was nothing to be done. But then I thought of Jesus. I had never seen him perform a single miracle. I had asked him if he were going to do such things. He said it was not yet time. I thought the need of close friends made this a good time to start. I went and found him. I knew he would be aware of the problem. He always seemed to know things like this.

I said, “They have no more wine.”

He answered roughly. “What does this have to do with me? I have told you, Woman, my time has not yet come.” I didn't know what he would do, but he was our only hope. I turned to the servants who had gathered around us in anticipation. 

“Do whatever he tells you to do.”

There were six stone jars there for the rites of purification. Each held 20 or 30 gallons. He told the servants to fill the jars with water. The well was nearby, and it didn't take them long to fill them to their brims.

Then he said, “Draw out a cup and take it to the master of the feast.” The servants looked doubtfully, but did what he said. They carried the cup to the master of the wedding. He took it and tasted it. Then he frowned. Benjamin and Salome were watching nervously with Leah standing behind them. They cringed when he stood.

He spoke to Benjamin. “What have you done here? Most people serve the good wine first. And when people have drunk freely, they serve the lesser wine. But you have saved the best wine until now!”

The musicians began to play again. Salome and Benjamin embraced one another in relief. Most of the wedding guests had no idea of what had happened. At first I think only the servants who had drawn the water knew. Among those of us who did know, only his disciples and I had any notion of what Jesus began at this wedding feast.

This story is based on John 2:1-11

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You Will See Heaven Opened!

This is the second of the stories in a book I am writing called SIGNS.

Philip and I didn't really have a fight or even a quarrel, but it was certainly a separation of some kind. I suppose he just got tired of my discontent. But I miss seeing him. We both grew up on the south end of the Sea of Galilee. He was from Bethsaida. And I came from a little fishing village near there. We both came to Capurniam to make a living. But things are different here. We were both outsiders to some extent. And we naturally hit it off. Someone who grew up in Jerusalem would probably not see any difference from the south end of the sea to the north. But the differences are real. Here they usually call the sea Tiberius. That was a little hard to get used to. The nearness to Ft. Tiberius is a bigger problem. The whole country is under the thumb of Rome, but this near the fort we are always in danger. Soldiers dominate everything. 

In the South we were surrounded by Syrians. But the two groups pretty much left one another alone. Here we almost have to become Romans. We all speak more Greek more than Hebrew. To operate a stall in the market we have to understand some Latin. In the synagogue I am not sure whether we are Galileans trying to become Greeks or Romans pretending to be Jews. It hardly feels like we are the people of God. Philip of course agrees with all this, but he gets tired of my complaining about everything. And I guess I have been a lot worse lately. What has really been bothering me is wondering where God is. I mean, if we are still chosen by God, why does He seem so far away?

Today, I just had to get alone and pray about it. I could not go to our synagogue. I didn't want a rabbi questioning me about my feelings and warning me not to blaspheme. There is a fig tree near where I live that I go to sometimes when I want to be alone. The figs on it are small and dry. No one wants them. But the leaves are thick this time of year. It not only shades me from the sun but hides me from prying eyes. I crawled under its branches and poured out my grievances to God.

I ended by asking, “Do you care about me God? Do you even see me? Have you forgotten Israel? Are we still your chosen people?” I stayed there in my hiding place for about an hour. Then I crawled back out into the hot sun.

I was stretching myself from squatting under the tree when I saw Philip. I thought about going the other way, but he had seen me. 

“Nathaniel,” he called, “I have the answer to everything that has been bothering us. We have found the one Moses and the prophets wrote about! Jesus, the son of Joseph, the carpenter from Nazareth.” I had never been impressed with people in the mountain villages above Capurniam.

I said, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip simply told me to come and meet him myself. So I went along with him. We came down to the sea and saw a group of men sitting on rocks near the shore. I recognized several of them. Some of the men were from around Bethsaida. Jesus, the man Philip was bringing me to meet was holding the attention of the others. He looked up as we approached.

He looked right at me and said. “Look everyone. Here is an Israelite who is honest in the depths of his soul.”

I asked him, “How do you know me at all?”

Jesus said, “Before Philip called you, Nathaniel, I saw you under the fig tree.” I fell to my knees before him. 

When I was able to speak I said, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the king of Israel!”

"Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?” Jesus said. “You will see greater things than this. I am telling you the truth. You will see Heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man.”

“I don't know what we will yet see, but only the Son of God could see my heart and hear my private prayers.”

This story is based on Nathaniel's encounter with Jesus recorded in John 1:43-51

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WE SAW

My oncologist has not been very positive about how much time I have. I know that is in God's hands. Still, I had made peace that EARS TO HEAR might be my final book. But I have a new idea for a book. I am calling it, SIGNS. It will be a collection of short stories on events surrounding the miracles of Jesus recorded in The Gospel of John. I want to join the apostle and reflect the Holy Spirit in exploring why people believe in Jesus. And I intend to post condensations of these stories as I write them in my Writing Prayerfully blog. So, here is the first story.

WE SAW!

“John started preaching to a handful of us, mostly laborers, farm hands and fishermen. He called us to repent because the kingdom of God was near. He preached against everything we were guilty of. And he baptized everyone who came in repentance. Before long, everyone was coming to him. In his thundering sermons he called us unrepentant sinners and worse. The harder he preached the more people came.

“Yesterday we who are among his closest disciples were standing around him because a delegation from the priests and Pharisees had come from Jerusalem to examine him.

“‘Who are you?’ they demanded. ‘Who do you claim to be?’ They were probably afraid he was the Messiah. And even though they, along with every rabbi in the country, had taught for hundreds of years that the Messiah had to come, they weren’t sure they were ready for him. All the people were longing for deliverance, but their leaders were going to fight it, no matter what.

“John answered them boldly. ‘I am not the Messiah.’ 

“Then they ask him, ‘Are you Elijah?’

“He answered, ‘No.’

“‘Are you the prophet Moses wrote about?’

“‘I am not,’ he said.

“Finally, they asked, ‘Who are you? What do you say about yourself? We have to give an answer to those who sent us.’

“Loud enough for everyone to hear, John said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord! The prophet Isaiah wrote these words about me.’’

“So, they asked, ‘Why are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the prophet?’

“John answered them, ‘I baptize with water, but among you stands one whose sandal straps I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire!’ 

“We had not seen Jesus there that day, but he must have been in the crowd.

“By the next day the atmosphere around John seemed to relax a little. And John saw Jesus walking in the distance.

“He pointed him out and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me. I didn't know him then, but I came baptizing with water that he might be revealed to Israel.”

“A little later John said, ‘Even though I did not know who he was at the time, the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. And you who were there remember the day I baptized Jesus.”

“We could never forget that day. Jesus himself asked John to baptize him. And as Jesus came up out of the water, something that looked like a dove descended from heaven and stayed there. That was unusual enough. None of the rest of us understood what was happening until a voice came from above saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’

“Frankly, I was not surprised when John concluded, ‘I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.’”

The roots of this story come from John 1:19-34 in the Bible.

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