Healing Rays of Righteousness

WHY DISAPPOINTMENT

I do not fully understand the complete answer to why disappointments so often painfully interrupt our expectations and dreams but believe the story of Jesus’ response to the death of his beloved friend, Lazarus, does give us some helpful insights into Jesus’ heart of caring empathy for us. The story is found in the 11^th chapter of John’s gospel.

Mary and Martha had sent word to Jesus that their brother, Lazarus, “the one you love is sick.”  Two days later Jesus begins his journey to Bethany in Judea knowing that Lazarus had already died.

As Jesus and his disciples were nearing Bethany, word came to Martha that Jesus was approaching, and she left immediately to go and meet him.  Martha’s disappointment and frustration with Jesus arriving too late to heal Lazarus is heard in her greeting, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (v.21). She then returns to her house and tells her sister, Mary, that Jesus “is asking for you.” (v.28).

Mary quickly leaves her house to go to Jesus, who is still outside the village, and falling at his feet she expresses the same disappointment and frustration as her sister did, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (v.32).

But unlike his teaching response to Martha, Jesus’ is now seeing and hearing the pain-filled weeping of Mary and the Jews who had come with her, and he is “deeply moved in spirit and troubled” and asked, “Where have you laid him?” (v.33-34).

Yes, Jesus could have quickly quieted all this weeping with the good news that everything would be fine in just a few moments.  But he does not do so. As he looks around at their pain and suffering, he feels their pain and is “deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” (v.33.) The Greek word for this phrase indicates that the emotion Jesus felt was such that it seized his whole body, causing him to shudder and groan.

Does Jesus reassure the weeping sisters that good will come? Does he hustle them toward joy and singing? No, no! Jesus did not pass lightly over their pain. Instead, Jesus uses this time to listen and feel their painful disappointment and loss, publicly expressing his own grief physically and emotionally. So deeply did Jesus enter into the pain and sorrow of others that his own heart was torn with anguish.

“Jesus wept.”  He did not simply wipe away a few hidden tears.  No, he weeps publicly and loud enough so that everyone in the crowd heard it and remarked about it. “See how he loved him!” (v.36). Jesus did not hold back nor hide the full expression of his own grief and his caring for others. With his own tears, Jesus showed us that God cares deeply about what we are experiencing.

In verse 38 we read, “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb.”  Leighton Ford writes in his book, Sandy, “The word taken literally means ‘he snorted in his spirit’ like a warhorse facing battle, seeing what death and evil had done to the beautiful world his Father had made.”

I agree with Leighton’s interpretation that in that moment, Jesus recommitted himself to God’s mission for his life and became determined to conquer and destroy the painful hopelessness of death. In a public display of that determination, “Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  And Lazarus came out, still bound in the grave-wrappings.  What a moment! “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

I do not fully understand the complete answer to why disappointments so often painfully interrupt our expectations and dreams, and why our prayers for miracle often seem lost in the vast darkness of painful uncertainty.

But this I do know. Disappointment is akin to the death of our expectations and dreams, and like the above story of Lazarus’ death so wonderfully illustrates, Jesus is there with us and shares with us the pain of disappointment and loss, inviting us to draw near to him for caring empathy and encouragement, because he deeply cares about us.

Could it be that disappointments are times we can best hear God’s invitation to deepen our trust relationship with himself and his caring love and provision for us?

Frank E. Graeff, a minister in the Methodist churches of the Philadelphia conference, experienced many disappointments during his lifetime. It was during a time of severe physical agony, doubt, and despondency that he found comfort and strength in the apostle Peter’s words, “Cast all your anxiety on him (God) because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). This scripture verse became so meaningful to him that he wrote the words to the hymn “Does Jesus Care?” to express the gratitude and reassurance that came to him.

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained too deeply for mirth and song, as the burdens press, and cares distress, and the way grows weary and long?

Does Jesus care when my way is dark with a nameless dread and fear? As the daylight fades into deep night shades, does He care enough to be near?

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed to resist some temptation strong, when for my deep grief I find no relief, tho my tears flow all the night long?

Does Jesus care when I said good bye to the dearest on earth to me, and my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks – Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

Chorus:

O yes, He cares – I know He cares! His heart is touched with my grief; when the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – March 29, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

WHY BLINDNESS

After Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first successful flight of their airplane on December 17, 1930, they excitedly sent a telegram to their sister in Dayton, Ohio. The telegrammed message read: “First sustained flight, 59 seconds.  Home for Christmas.”

Their sister, being extremely excited and happy, ran all the way to the newspaper office with the telegram.  Laying the telegram on the editor’s desk, she said, “I thought you would want to see this for tomorrow’s paper. Sure enough, the next day it was printed in the paper.  Buried on page 16 underneath the obituaries, was this notice: “Local bicycle merchants to spend holidays at home.”

The greatest and most major event of the twentieth century was completely missed by the newspaper editor, even though it happened right before his own eyes.  His blindness toward new possibilities in human flight caused him to miss telling the world the “biggest story” of his day, “MAN CAN FLY.”

Unfortunately, similar blindness continues to plague many people today. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was a very significant “big story” event in the history of our world, and yet so many, both non-Christians and those who claim to be Christian, do not see nor understand its significance. 

Being blinded by either skepticism, fear, religious pride, or stubborn dogmatism, they cannot see Jesus nor his sovereignty, glory and power, as the Son of God. Choosing to remain in their blindness, neither can they see nor experience the reality of Jesus’ presence and power in a world of darkness and despair.  

As we examine our lives during this Lenten season, we should be asking about our own blindness. Do we “see” the Jesus of biblical scripture or do we “see” another Jesus of our own making?  Do we know what is causing our spiritual blindness and are we ready to acknowledge that we cannot “see” the Jesus as portrayed in the Scriptures?

Biblical Scriptures tell us that we all are blind from birth and need the anointing and infilling of God’s Spirit to rightly “see” Jesus in all his majestic glory, power, and amazing love. And until our blindness is healed, we cannot experience his pursuing presence, power, and love in our life.

Paul instructs the Christian believers in Corinth, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:14).

John’s story of Jesus healing the man born blind is both a miracle story as well as a teaching moment. Apparently, John considered this story to be of very great importance to his readers since he records the events and conversations in great detail, making it the longest story in his gospel account. (John 9).

The various characters in the story illustrate how tradition, stubborn dogmatism and fear will cause blindness and keep us from seeing Jesus. Furthermore, the story clearly teaches that spiritual blindness is worse than physical blindness. Physical blindness can be healed, but willful spiritual blindness resists healing. The prophet, Ezekiel, describes such as, “They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.” (Ezekiel 12:2).

Sometimes we are so certain we know how things ought to be done that we are oblivious to what God is doing through Jesus right in our midst and around us.  We blindly limit God’s activity and power, expecting him to only do things according to the way we think best or desire. And then there are times that we really do not want to see truth-filled spiritual reality, preferring to live by our prejudices and be comfortable in what we think to be safe and familiar.  

Maybe the greatest cause of spiritual blindness in those who claim to be Christian is fear. After many years of life experiences and ministry to others, I am convinced that “fear” may be the most destructive weapon in the devil’s arsenal to keep us from “seeing” God’s hand at work in our lives and in our world.   Is it not fear that often keeps us from readily acknowledging and affirming our allegiance to Jesus?

How often have we been like the parents in John’s miracle story?  We know and say we believe yet are not willing to commit ourselves to the good news of God at work in our midst. Rather, we feel it more safe and comfortable being “fence riders” rather than publicly declaring our belief or publicly giving praise to Jesus for his transforming work in our life.

As we examine our lives during this Lenten season, we should be asking ourselves, do I truly “see” Jesus? Am I willing to allow the Holy Spirit to name the blindness that afflicts me, or am choosing to remain blind to his person, presence, and power in my life? Am I ready to acknowledge my blindness and sincerely say “Lord, I want to see you.”

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – March 22, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

WHY LIVING WATER

In the fourth chapter of John’s Gospel, we read the story of Jesus and his conversation with a Samaritan woman who had come to Jacob’s well during the noon-time heat to get her day’s supply of water. As the woman approaches the well, Jesus makes a simple request of her, “Will you give me a drink?” The woman responds with undisguised amazement, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.  How can you ask me for a drink?”

And so a dialogue begins in which there is an amazing reversal of roles.  It is not long before the woman who has been asked for a drink of water is addressing the thirsty traveler as “Sir” and asking him for the water he offers her. “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that ask you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

What is this water that Jesus offers to the woman, and why does he call it “living water”?

All through Scripture, water is a rich symbol with varied spiritual meanings, but always it speaks of LIFE.  The precious physical water, coming from well or river, bringing life and beauty to the barren land of Jesus, was used by Jesus as an earthy symbol of that everlasting “from above” Holy Spirit which thoroughly quenches, revives, and satisfies the parched, dying human spirit of those who ask for the gift.

Jesus offers God’s indwelling Spirit as “living water” because it is an everlasting “gift from God.” It is as “living water” because of its ability to quench the soul’s deepest thirst for relationship with God. And it is as “living water” because it is continuously fresh and abundant, not just for a day, but forever.

Jesus tells this thirsty woman that his offer of “living water”would be as “a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” And that this “living water” will be given to her if she would believe and ask to receive it. Without hesitation she pleads, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty ….”

With patient love and grace Jesus’ leads her into an understanding that this gift of “living water” cannot be received without her first acknowledging her emptiness and soul-thirst which Jesus gently exposes in requesting that she “Go, call your husband and come back.”

Acknowledging the emptiness that Jesus exposed in her life, she now believes him to be a prophet and states her belief in the coming Messiah. Having led her to a confession of belief in the coming Messiah, Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you – I am he.”  

And this very weary, joy-famished woman, with her thirsty soul now exposed, leaves her water jar at the well and runs back to her town of Samaritan neighbors, telling everyone that she had just met a Jewish man who claimed to be the Messiah. Many of the people followed her back to the well and Jesus, and many of them listened and believed Jesus’ promise of “living water.”

I think I hear their joy echoing in the words of the hymn “Satisfied” as written by Clara T. Williams.

All my life long I had pant-ed   For a drink from some cool spring

That I hoped would quench the burn-ing   Of the thirst I felt with-in.

Hal-le-lu-jah! I have found Him – Whom my soul so long has craved!

Je-sus sat-is-fies my long-ings;  Through His blood I now am saved.

A few chapters later, John records that on the last day of the annual Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus throws out this urgent invitation to all the world, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”  Then John explains, “By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” (7:37-39).

This is the invitation the Samaritan woman heard and believed. And it is the invitation that Jesus continues to give even now to all whose lives are barren and thirsty.  It is the invitation given to those who keep dipping their buckets into the wells of the world for water that does not satisfy nor quench the despairing thirst within their soul for a meaningful, satisfying relationship with God.

In the last chapter of the last book in the Bible, we read in verse one, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.”

Then in verse seventeen we hear the universal “whosoever” invitation, “The Spirit and the bride say “Come!” And let the one who hears say “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”

May we, as the psalmist, pray, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” (42:1-2). And may the prophecy of Isaiah encourage and assure us that “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (12:3).

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – March 15, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

WHY BORN AGAIN

When the Spirit of God began to move deeply in the life of John Bunyan, he tried to reform himself outwardly in life and manners.  Although his heart was as sinful as ever, he did impress his neighbors with the change in behaviors.  And he was inclined to think that he pleased God as much as anyone else in 17th century England. 

But the Spirit of God opened his blinded eyes to the hardness of what he later called his “unwieldable” heart.  With a troubled conscience, he came upon several women one day, sitting at the door of a house on one of the streets of Bedford.  Bunyan recalls: “I drew near to them, for I was now a brisk talker about religion.  I heard, but I understood not; for they were far above me, out of my reach; for their talk was about a new birth, the work of God in their hearts.” 

John Bunyan was hearing from these women an echoing of Jesus’ words to Nicodemus, but now, for the first time, is hearing them with a new understanding; “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3).

Even though Jesus only used the term “born again” once, it is frequently used today as a threatening distortion of authentic evangelical Christian faith. And that’s a pity, because the truth regarding the need to be “born again” is much too important to be lost, ignored, or ridiculed.

Like John Bunyan, Nicodemus is surprised when Jesus tells him that he needed to be “born again.” Nicodemus was a wealthy Jewish leader of the Pharisee sect. Intrigued by Jesus’ life and ministry, and with a growing sleepless urgency for a better understanding, he came to Jesus during the night, hoping for a ‘one on one’ conversation with Jesus. 

Nicodemus addresses Jesus with “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God.”  But Jesus would have nothing to do with the niceties of theological dialogue. He cuts through all the pleasantries and lays his finger on the deepest need of Nicodemus’ heart. He said, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

With the word “see” Jesus is saying that His kingdom is a present reality which can be seen only with eyes of faith. Then in response to Nicodemus’ questioning how this could ever happen, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”  

And so, we hear Jesus declaring that both the seeing and the entering of God’s kingdom are acts of faith, that is, believing and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and being “born (again) of water and the Spirit.”

The Old Testament prophets anticipated the day when God would take away the stony heart and give people a heart of flesh. “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean…. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”(Ezek. 36:25-26).

But Nicodemus, for all his theological learning, thinks the whole idea of a new birth is slightly ridiculous. To enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born again is utterly absurd in his mind.  And, if understood in that literal physical sense, Nicodemus was certainly right.

In answer to Nicodemus’ protest, Jesus explains that we are all physically born of the flesh only.  But to be born of human parents does not give us automatic entrance into God’s Kingdom. And even a second physical birth, if such were ever possible, would not bring us any closer to God’s Kingdom. Physical birth is limited to the horizontal level, whereas, the new birth happens vertically, from above, from heaven.

Also, Jesus is not talking about reincarnation or a regeneration of our humanness. He is not saying that we need to become more religious, or become a better neighbor with impeccable character and morals. No, He is talking about a new life, a new kind of person who now understands a new reality, who by faith sees the kingdom of God, and is given new desires and abilities, and new family relationships.

Return with me to the streets of Bedford and to John Bunyan.  He listened to those women on the doorstep talk about the new birth.  And he writes, “They spoke as if joy made them speak; they spoke with such pleasantness of scriptural language and with such appearance of grace in all they said, that they were to me as if they had found a new world, and my heart began to shake as mistrusting my condition; for I saw in all my thoughts about religion and salvation, the new birth had never entered my mind.”

He left them there on the doorstep, convinced that he needed to be “born again” and he returned several times to talk with them.  And soon God transformed his heart with great softness and tenderness.  He went to church, where he heard the gospel and, as he puts it, “was so taken up with the love and mercy of God that I could hardly contain myself till I got home.  I thought I could have spoken of God’s love and mercy even to the crows that sat on the plowed land.” 

John Bunyan had experienced the new birth. Have you?

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – March 8, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

WHY WILDERNESS

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted (tested) by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1).

Throughout our life there is a persistent, ongoing spiritual wilderness struggle with the devil who is bent on testing our commitment of allegiance to the Lordship of Jesus. During these times we need to be reminded that the experience of wilderness testing does not mean that we are not being what God wants us to be. Rather, it is because of our love and desire to remain faithful in following Jesus, that causes the devil to confront us with tempting alternatives that counter the purposes and expectations that God has for us.

And so, we understand that being faithful in our commitment to follow Jesus means we will often find ourselves struggling with the same wilderness temptations (testing) as Jesus did.

Our spirituality of thoughts and actions are more sharply focused as we journey with Jesus more intently during these six weeks of Lent. Doing so, helps us to become aware of the reality of our relationship with God. My prayer is that such spiritual reflections will encourage and help us to better make our way through wilderness struggle and toward a deeper love and commitment to the Lordship of Jesus.

Let me share a couple of affirmations that may help us better understand and define a Lenten spirituality for all who experience wilderness struggles.

1)  When we have discovered who we are in Christ and our mission in life, we can be certain that a powerful evil force will come along to sidetrack or sabotage us. 

Jesus understands who he is, being the Son of God, and is confirmed as such in his baptism. And now He is about to begin his public ministry. All is well. But no, it is not that easy. Satan comes alongside to test him, to sidetrack him, to sabotage him, to distract him from his stated loyalty and commitment to God.

And he does the same with us. When we have found the right spiritual, Godly path, we can be sure that someone will come along to show us another route. For this reason, testing and temptation are signs that we are going in the right direction and doing something right!

If we have little or no love for God, if we have little or no interest in following and serving Jesus, if we have little or no regard for our spiritual life, the devil has little reason to tempt and test us. He will leave us alone, knowing that we have chosen his path toward eternal misery and death. It is only when we have chosen a Godly direction and loyalty that he is aggressive in tempting us with attractive alternative directions and loyalties. So, we should not be surprised whenever our commitment to trusting Jesus and honoring his Lordship in our thoughts and behaviors is being tested.

2)  There is no spiritual growth without the wilderness experiences.

The rabbis of ancient Israel called the wilderness “the school of the soul.”  It is in the wilderness experiences that we are given opportunity to grow in our trust and obedience to God. In fact, a person has not shown true obedience if he or she has never had an opportunity to disobey. All of the devil’s temptations are nothing more than attractive opportunities to discredit or disobey God.

And, the biblical scriptures clearly tell us that there can be no spiritual transformation without the wilderness “school of the soul.”  There is no resurrection without death. There is no crown without a cross. There is no Easter without Lent.

When all is going well in life, we are easily seduced into thinking we have no need for God.  But, in times of spiritual wilderness we must place our trust in God who alone is able to protect and provide for us.  It is in the midst of the difficult, often painful wilderness experiences that we have the greatest potential for spiritual growth in our relationship with a loving Father God. 

And so, we join with the psalmist in praying, “Search me, God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24).

A Lenten spiritually helps us to make our way through the inevitable struggles that come in daily living.  The six weeks of Lent reviews our journey with Jesus into the wilderness, toward the cross, and death to self-righteousness.  It is a journey of struggle. But it is, as we are promised, the way that leads to life.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted (tested) in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:14-15).

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – March 1, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley