Midweek Message: The Other Good Samaritan

Luke 17:15-16 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.  He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. (NIV)

            In many years of ministry, I have seen people who were truly thankful to God for help and healing. Their lives were changed in a single moment, so they devoted themselves to worshiping and serving God for the rest of their days. I, also, am one of them because when God heard my cry for help about my alcoholism, He graciously answered my anxious prayer by restoring me physically, mentally, and above all, spiritually. I was made into a new person and decided to follow Jesus for the rest of my life.

            The other Good Samaritan in the Bible passage from Luke 17:11-19 does the same. He is one of ten lepers who is miraculously healed by Jesus. He is sent to get this confirmed by a local priest so that he can rejoin his family and community. But as soon as he realizes that he has been healed of that terrible painful, disfiguring disease, he stops running away from Christ and returns to give Him thanks. He knows the source of his cure, so rather than going immediately to his priest and family, he humbly thanks Jesus by falling on his knees before Him, glorifying and praising God loudly.

            Jesus appreciates this act of gratitude, but He is also perplexed. The other nine are nowhere to be seen, even though they are all His own people. Only this Samaritan is grateful for what has occurred; only this outsider recognizes what Christ has miraculously done for al ten lepers.

            I have also seen people who have been restored physically, whose prayers for healing have been answered perfectly, whose worries and anxieties, issues and illnesses have been positively dealt with by God and yet they remain thankless. Instead of returning to Christ and worshiping Him, they take their cure for granted and get on with their lives, focusing on themselves first and ignoring any notion of recognizing what God has mercifully done in them. It’s sad to see and very disappointing, but Christ also experienced this many times throughout His life.

            Wherever we are and however we feel today, let’s not forget what Christ has done in each of our lives. Let’s be thankful that we exist even for another day and make time to be grateful to God for all that He has graciously, and perhaps even miraculously, done for us.

Point to ponder: How has God positively changed my life? How do I show Him my gratitude?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, there are many times that You have helped us throughout our lives. You have listened to our prayers and enabled us to overcome illnesses and issues that have seriously troubled us. May we never take Your compassion and grace for granted. May we also seek to worship and glorify You for the rest of our days. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Sunday Shorts: Ticked Off

Mark 3:5 Jesus looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. (NIV)

            Jesus was ticked off. Someone needed help and the religious folks wanted to keep their religious rules intact instead of reaching out to the man with the withered hand. Their lack of compassion in a House of God is what made Jesus angry. In a sacred place where the community worshiped God, compassion was meant to be available to everyone. Instead, the regular attenders closed their hearts and minds to what was needed because they only wanted their religious rules to be strictly heeded.

            Despite their lack of compassion and stubborn pride, which incidentally, embarrassed the man with the withered hand, Jesus broke all of the rules and customs to do what was right, rather than pander to what was so obviously wrong to Him. We tend to think that Jesus only got angry in the Temple when He overturned the moneychangers’ tables in the sacred courts, but here we have Jesus getting angry because good people – good religious people – were doing nothing to help and justified it by hiding behind their sacred rules.

            The world throws a similar angry accusation at the Church today. How many issues and problems could be solved in our communities, as well as all over this planet, if Church people – Christ’s followers – were to help those in need instead of hindering the outcast, the alien, the different, the poor, the hungry, the war-trapped, and the unloved? Sometimes church people – even me – get angry when faced with other people’s problems because it would offend our moral or religious codes that we keep inside of ourselves. But instead of us getting angry, we should ask ourselves this honest question: is Christ angry with us because we say or do nothing?

Point to ponder: Who needs my help today?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, following You leads us into difficult situations and causes us a great deal of discomfort. Challenge our indifferent ways and change us so that we may help those in need whom we encounter. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a retired Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Short devotion: Return Home

Luke 8:38-39 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him. (NIV)

The conclusion of the Gospel story where Jesus heals the demon-possessed man has always intrigued me. The cured man wants to follow Jesus probably because he is so thankful for having regained his senses. After years of being excluded from his own community, he knows he can trust Jesus, so he would like to become a disciple or a servant to help Christ with His ministry.

            In my own life, I felt that same thankfulness when Jesus rescued me from alcoholism. I was enslaved to my addiction and even though I knew that I was harming myself physically, as well as mentally, I could not liberate myself from the chains of compulsion. It took a life changing moment of trusting Jesus completely before I was released from my obsession. I couldn’t have escaped my drinking problem without Christ’s grace and peace. When I understood what Jesus did for me, I just wanted to serve Him like the demoniac.

            Although the healed man wanted to go and serve his Savior, Christ had other plans for him. Jesus told him to go back and share his amazing experience with his own community. The people there were fearful of Jesus because of His almighty power, so Christ gave the man a personal mission and an individual calling to return home to his people as a witness to God’s mercy and grace. Instead of being afraid of Jesus, the cured man could convince them of God’s compassion and love.

            This is a challenge for all of us – to be effective witnesses of Christ’s love to our own people, our own families, our own friends. Whatever goodness that God has wrought in each of us through Christ, we are meant to share it with others and not just keep it to ourselves. We live in a broken world whose madness is creating a lot of fear in our communities. Christ can heal this, too, but only if we are willing to share faith, hope, and love in compassionate ways to repair the damage around us.

Point to ponder: How do I share my faith with my own community?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You came into our lives to heal our broken lives and restore us to God’s love. Encourage us to become personal witnesses of the healing and hope that You bring to the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a retired Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Short devotion: What is Ministry?

Matthew 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. (NIV)

I love this Bible verse because it contains what ministry is all about. There are three main tasks that Jesus accomplishes here and throughout my many years of ministry I tried to fulfill them.

The first task was to teach the people about the Kingdom of God. This meant reading, sharing, and studying the ancient texts of the Jewish people. God had given them history, poetry, wisdom and prophecy through these texts. Christ’s task was to interpret those sacred words with a new understanding that would extend God’s blessing of salvation not just for the Jewish people but for the entire world.

Secondly, Jesus proclaimed the good news about God’s Kingdom which meant that He preached the word in local synagogues, as well as in marketplaces and homes. He preached to them the truth about God’s existence and how mindful God was of their lives. His preaching was radical because it turned their cozy spiritual world upside down where the poor were blessed and the powerful were rebuked, where the vulnerable were uplifted and the vain were undermined; where the weak were strengthened and the strong were diminished; where the first would be last and the least would be first in God’s eyes.

And the third task that Jesus was given was to heal broken people of their illnesses, injuries, and issues. He made the lame to walk and the blind to see. He liberated people from their demons and obsessions. He gave faith to the fearful and granted peace to the possessed. He healed hearts that were broken, minds that were mangled, bodies that were crippled, and souls that were enslaved.

So, this beautiful verse reveals to us all that Jesus set out to do: to teach the truth, preach the Word, and heal the people – three things that all who minister should also seek to accomplish.

Point to ponder: What kind of ministry has Christ called me to undertake and fulfill?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your ministry still continues in our world today. Grant us opportunities to share Your truth, spread Your Word, and offer healing to others. In Your Holy Name, we simply pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is a retired Scottish pastor who now lives in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Short devotion: Step Back - 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. (NRSV)

 

One of the great sadnesses that I have noticed about this prolonged pandemic has been the lack of love that is constantly missing when people argue about their personal choices. It’s far easier to berate and ridicule our opponents, just like those who mocked Christ on the Cross, rather than have a healthy conversation to exchange fruitful ideas which may get us nearer to solving and ending this crisis. Perhaps if we as Christians were to apply Paul’s teaching about love not insisting on its own way, we might be able to combine our focus and strength to get us out of this pandemic pit. Sadly, however, if we keep attacking one another, we’ll be continually divided and eventually conquered by a coronavirus which doesn’t care about our personal freedom, faith, or notions.

 

I believe that this is one of the moments in history when the Church could make a substantial and crucial difference by showing love and helping folks to care for one another. If we become consumed by our internal divisions, then we’ll be guilty of burying the talents of faith, hope, and love which Christ has given to us. If we pander only to those who are like-minded, then we’ll be ignoring the empathetic compassion that Jesus urged His disciples to display when He told us to love one another. This is not an individual option either; it’s a personal command from Christ.

 

So, let’s all step back from the lines in the sand that we have drawn by honestly reflecting on Christ’s love and what it means to be a Christian. Let’s take time to reconsider what our faith is, and to whom we can effectively and lovingly share it. The world is broken right now – Christ’s Church can do much to repair it.

 

Prayer: Lord God, You know us fully and Your Son expects much of us. Challenge our ways and misconceptions. Fill us with love, instead of pride; grant us compassion and teach us to be humble.  Heal us of all that would harm us and help us to be whole. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to see what the church is doing, check out its website at www.erinpres.org.

 

Today's Devotion: An Appeal

 

1 Corinthians 1v10: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you respect one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

 Like everyone else I know, I am deeply troubled by all that is happening in our beloved nation. I’m both sad and disappointed about the riots last week in Washington and I fear that some similar events may still erupt across several of our cities. I love the USA and feel privileged to be a citizen, so inside my heart is weeping for all of the unrest and violence that has taken place.

 I know that it would be easy to pick sides and apportion blame; I have to leave that to the proper authorities. What I need to do is something that I have tried to do for so long: I have to find middle ground and allow moderation to heal our wounds. At the moment, we are broken and, just like anyone who is injured, if we keep poking the wound, it will never heal but instead it will fester and infect the rest of the body. I want us all to be united because I still believe that our freedom is a God-given gift which we should wisely cherish, encourage, and share with the rest of the world.

 Sadly, I still see folks trying to score points over each other on social media – good folks, church folks, folks that I call friends. To them, I ask to cease and desist from doing that because it is precisely what got us here in the first place. The devil just loves to divide us – we’re easier pickings that way. It will take more will power to resist the urge to put someone right and keep them in their place, so that we can feel good about ourselves, our viewpoint, and our ability to score debating points. It’s much harder to be true peacemakers, to identify the issues, and seek a common solution. It will involve humility – which makes us uncomfortable – and patience – which is in short supply.

 When the Apostle Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthian Church, he did so because the congregation was divided into different factions. He wanted them to find a common unity in Christ, instead of identifying themselves with different leaders. He knew that factionalism would destroy the church from within, so he appealed to them to respect and work with one another in order to strengthen Christ’s mission to the wider community. It worked because almost 2000 years later, we can still read his important letter. If his appeal had failed, his words would have totally disappeared from history.

 I hope you can embrace this message and will do your utmost to be moderate and find ways to heal us of all the things that harm us. It won’t be easy, but then again did Christ not ask us to take up a cross in order to follow Him?

 Q: What can I do to help heal the divisions in our community? What must I resist in order to avoid doing wrong?

 Prayer: Lord Jesus, allow Your Spirit to walk among our people. Heal us of all that harms us and keep us from saying, writing, or posting things that will continue to hurt, anger, or divide us. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

www.erinpres.org

 

What Do You Want? - Matthew 20:32

Matthew 20:32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” He asked. (NIV)

            In the Gospel story from Matthew 20:29-34, Jesus heals two blind men outside the city of Jericho. They had been begging at the gate of the city, so when they heard that Jesus was there, they suddenly cried out to Him for help. Obviously, they had been told stories of this new teacher who healed all sorts of people. As He passed by them with His entourage of followers, they realized this would be their only chance to be cured of their blindness.

            When Jesus heard their cries, He stopped what He was doing and asked them, “What do you want me to do for you?” The answer was obvious: they wanted to see. Jesus then quickly healed them of their blindness and they were both so thankful for this miracle that they decided to follow Him. It was not only an end to their blindness, but it was also a new beginning for their spirits.

            Throughout our days, we all ask Jesus for help and healing. We experience situations and circumstances that are difficult and sometimes painful. We look to Jesus to stop what He is doing, in order to lift us up and out of those predicaments. After Christ has helped us, how do we respond? Are we grateful for His aid? Are we thankful for His support? Are we willing to follow Him faithfully and serve Him after having our prayers answered, or do we take Him for granted until the next emergency or crisis in our lives?

Point to ponder

When was the last time Jesus helped me and answered my prayer? Have I responded faithfully by following Him?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know us completely and are fully aware of our present difficulties and current circumstances. When we cry out to You for help, please hear our prayers. And when those prayers are answered, strengthen our faith so that we may gratefully follow and serve You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come along and join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome. 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s latest worship bulletin drawings called Bartimaeus. If you would like to view a larger version, click this link: Bartimaeus.

After Easter - Mark 11:8-9

Mark 11:8-9 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

            Just like the joyful crowd on the first Palm Sunday, we had an amazing Easter worship service at church yesterday. Over 200 people attended which was one of the biggest Easter congregations that we’ve had in years. The atmosphere was wonderful, the music was beautiful, and the message was meaningful. It was a great occasion and a great blessing to our wee church. To see so many families from in and out of town, joining together in worship is something that always touches me; to have them do it at Easter makes the whole celebration so sacred and inspiring.

            The same thing was happening all over the world. People gathered together to worship and praise Jesus as their Savior and Lord. To realize that almost 2 billion people across the planet were celebrating Christ’s glorious resurrection is staggering when you think about it. If only we could fulfill that potential every week in church and every day in the world! The Earth could be healed of its brokenness and perhaps we could all live in peace. After all, Easter is a celebration of God healing sin and death with the actual resurrection of His Only Son. If we could only apply that in our relationships with other people, as well as our relations with other nations, what a dear and blessed planet this would be.

            Let’s try to apply Christ’s message by becoming Easter people to a Good Friday world. Let’s continue this blessing He has given us yesterday and take it to the people we encounter, the situations we experience, and the challenges we face this week. If we do this, then I believe we will begin to see the world around us change for the better with the goodness of God.

Point to ponder

How did Easter affect me yesterday? How can I extend its blessings this week?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we praise You for being our Savior and Lord. Just like the crowd of the first Palm Sunday, we are joyful for Your presence among us and for the hope which Easter brings. Help us to positively share these blessings with all whom we encounter this week. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s Easter drawings called Sacred Son Rise. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Son Rise.

Syrian Sadness - Mark 7:26

Mark 7:26       The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.(NIV)

            In High School, I won academic prizes for being first in my grade at History for three years in a row. It was and still is, a subject that fascinates me. Through my life-long interest, I have come to know the truth behind the statement ‘history repeats itself.’ When I was in High School, I studied the First World War, as well as the years leading up to World War 2. I read about the devastating effects that mustard gas and other chemical weapons had on the soldiers in the trenches and why it was outlawed by civilized nations in the 1920s. I read with horror how Mussolini used it on primitive tribal villages in North East Africa in the 1930s. Mussolini’s uncontested brutality then gave Hitler the opportunity to perpetrate abysmal war crimes against those whom his Nazi regime gassed in the concentration camps during the 1940s. The lesson that History teaches us is this: if such wickedness goes unchecked, then Man’s inhumanity to man will increase in the future generation.

            Today’s Gospel story of the Syrian- Phoenician woman (Mark 7:24-30) and her plea to Jesus to heal her sick daughter impacted me greatly because of the current devastating news about the gassing of civilians, especially innocent children by the Syrian leader Assad. Watching the parents of dead and dying children begging the civilized nations to do something was heartbreaking. If nothing is done, then we are all guilty of abandoning those children. If we set it aside, then History will repeat and manifest itself into something more atrocious, inhumane, and evil. I know there are no easy answers or a quick solution, but I am also aware that turning our backs on the situation degrades our humanity and diminishes our future ability to protect other people in uncivilized nations, living in terror under rogue governments.

            Perhaps this is not the devotion you were expecting or looking for. I would rather write something encouraging, upbeat, and bright to help you with your day, but if I did that, I would be complicit in the gassing of those families and children.

Point to ponder

Why do we allow this?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, when the Syrian-Phoenician begged You for help, initially You pushed back against her request. Eventually, her pleading impacted You and made You heal her daughter. Lord, You know that there are parents in the same region today, looking for the world and us to help them in their hour of need. Enable us to find both the wisdom and courage to do all that needs to be done against this evil. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. The church website can be found at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing for Maundy Thursday called ‘Breaking Point.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Maundy.

Tell Them - Mark 5:19

Mark 5:19       Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” (NIV)

            When I first became a Christian, I wanted to tell the whole world about Jesus, but my biggest problem was how to communicate my faith to my family and friends. They knew everything about me – the good, the bad, and the ugly – so convincing them that I had changed was an uphill task. They watched me go from a heavy drinking alcoholic to becoming a fervent disciple of Jesus. I guess they thought that all I was doing was replacing one form of addiction with another, which to some degree was actually true. It took years for them to accept that my faith was truly a life-changing experience for me, but I don’t think it had any real influence over their own individual spirituality.

            At the end of the Gospel story, when Jesus heals the demoniac (Mark 5:1-20), the healed man asks to follow Jesus and go with Him. Christ, however, did not let him. Instead, Jesus wanted the man to go back to his own people and tell them the story of his miraculous cure. In other words, Jesus was giving him a mission to spread the news about God’s mercy and grace in a region that had actually rejected Jesus. It would be an uphill task because the man’s people would remember him as a deranged lunatic, so it would take years for his story to be accepted.

            We all love our families dearly, as well as our closest friends. Sharing our faith with them can sometimes be a hard thing to do, but it is a worthwhile mission. We never know what long-term affect our faithfulness to Christ will have with the kinfolk around us. So long as we love and cherish them, our faith may have a positive influence on their own lives. We just have to keep praying and persevering without being self-righteous, condemnatory, or over-bearing. As Jesus Himself said, “Tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.”

Point to ponder

How do I communicate my faith to my family? Do I show them love, mercy, and grace?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, bless our families and friends with Your love and goodness. Help us to cherish and support them, so they may see that our faith in You is both compassionate and encouraging. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings called “A New Earth.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: New Earth.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can view the church’s website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Table Turner - Matthew 21:13

Matthew 21:13           “It is written,” Jesus said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” (NIV)

            The Temple in Jerusalem was meant to be a sacred place where anyone’s prayers could be heard. It didn’t matter who you were or where you came from, if you sincerely wanted to ask God for help, you could actually do it within the Temple courtyards. Even foreigners and aliens were granted this privilege because the outer court was designated as a place of prayer for them. Unfortunately, in Christ’s time, the elite worshippers treated this area as an extra space to set up their money-changing tables, as well as the selling of all sorts of animals. It meant that the whole area became a menagerie of moneymakers, instead of being a quiet dignified place where foreigners could safely pray.

            This commercial set up angered Jesus for two reasons. Firstly, it dishonored God’s House of Prayer – it was a holy area for meditation, confession, and worship, not a wholesale arena for markets, commerce, or wares. Secondly, the place that was set aside for the foreigners had been designated by the grace of God; now it was being desecrated by the greed of men. Jesus condemned the bigotry and injustice that was taking place in God’s House, which is why He angrily turned over the tables and threw the money-changers out of the Temple courtyards.

            Faith and justice, as well as grace and mercy, were key components of Christ’s ministry. In this passage, He teaches all of us today that places of worship are holy areas and that how we treat foreigners does not go unnoticed by God. In a world which is increasingly beset by religious intolerance and contempt for outsiders, Christians should actually remind themselves of what Jesus did in the past and how that should influence what we do now. Such a personal reflection will not be comfortable, but then again, who said that having faith in Jesus was ever going to be easy?

Point to ponder

What made Jesus angry? Why should I deeply care about those things, too?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You want all people to freely come to God and receive His blessings. Help us to be gracious, compassionate, and loving to others, especially those who seem so different from ourselves. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s stained glass designs called ‘A New Earth.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: New.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at this link: www.erinpresbyterian.org.

A Wonderful Gift - Matthew 20:34

Matthew 20:34           Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed Him. (NIV)

            I love reading about the healing miracles of Jesus. What usually affects me is not what He does, but why He does it. In this passage, (Matthew 20:29-34) two blind men cry out to Jesus for mercy and healing. He hears their request and He restores their sight. Why? Because He had compassion on them.

            Compassion is a wonderful gift that Jesus has given to His followers and church. Compassion means that we align ourselves with those who are suffering and seek ways to relieve their pain, illness, or circumstances. The major role of the Church is to be a compassionate reconciler and healer to the world. Compassion is a major hallmark of our Christian faith – if we ever lose that, we will no longer be the Church in God’s world.

            Jesus could have walked by the two blind men and carried on with His mission. Instead, He listened to their plea for help and as He did, His heart melted with compassion. At that moment in time, He had the power to remedy their blindness, so He stopped what He was doing and healed them of all that was harming and debilitating them. They were powerless to do anything but cry out; He was powerful enough to help and cure them.  As Christians, we are called to do the same – to be heart-led followers of Christ and not heartless folks in our community.

Point to ponder

What is compassion and how do I show it to others?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we call You ‘Lord,’ because we seek to serve You. We are meant to emulate Your ways and share Your compassion to the world. Help us to empower the powerless and to support the weak. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest church bulletin drawings for Epiphany 6A. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Ep6A.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at this link: www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Healing Devotion - Take Heart - Matthew 9:2

Matthew 9:2   Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

            The more I read the beautiful story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man (Matthew 9:1-8), the more I believe that real healing begins with forgiveness. As a pastor for over thirty years, I have been with and cared for many people in times of illness and recovery. Usually, when folks experience a serious sickness, injury, or setback, they become more reflective about their situation and sometimes express regrets from the past or long-term issues that still burden their hearts.

            During those sacred moments of confession and unburdening, the hope of forgiveness, mercy, and grace which Jesus freely gives, becomes a major step in the healing process. It may not seem amazing to others, but as a long-term pastor, I feel privileged to see the beginning of a miracle in individual lives. Christ’s forgiveness and wonderful love combine into a healthy restorative which moves the person forward on the journey to recovery.

            Perhaps you are in need of forgiveness because of something you said or did which you regret. Maybe you also need to forgive someone of something which still burdens or affects you. Whatever it is or whoever caused it, allow yourself to be embraced by Christ and permit His compassion to begin the healing process within and around you.

Point to ponder

How can Christ’s forgiveness heal and restore me?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, Your gracious words of forgiveness can help us to heal from the past. Grant us this blessing today and enable us to share that forgiveness with others, so that Your healing may be extended beyond our own lives. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s Celtic Cross drawings – this one has been created for Ash Wednesday. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Cross.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can view the church’s website here: www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Peacemaking devotion: His Last Miracle - Luke 22:51

Luke 22:51    But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. (NIV)

            It was His last miracle. When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, one of His disciples tried to defend Christ with a sword and ended up cutting off the ear of one of the High Priest’s guards. It was a valiant effort, but a wasteful one. It was also something that Jesus did not condone.

            Instead of calling upon His disciples to attack the mob, Jesus sternly called for an end to the violence. He was not going to be party to any defense of His person; He was not going to start a protest, a rout, or a rebellion. In order to show how committed He was to being a peacemaker, Jesus healed the guard immediately. He didn’t want anyone else to suffer, not even His enemies.

            As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers in our communities, as well as across the world. This is very difficult to do because, like most human beings, we get angry and feel justified about diminishing our opponents or destroying our enemies. It’s very easy for us, and even for me as a pastor, to get caught up in foolish quarrels and trivial arguments which do nothing to promote Christ’s teaching, God’s love, or the Spirit’s way. We want to feel strong by humiliating our foes; we want to be crusaders for religious causes, both of which, Jesus would not condone.

            Christ’s last healing miracle was how He personally practiced His radical teaching of loving our enemies and forgiving those who hurt us. He not only showed His disciples how to practice their faith, but He also beautifully exemplified His teaching to His foes, especially the guard who was the injured victim of the disciples’ religious zeal. This is an important lesson about peacemaking for all of us who call ourselves ‘Christian’.

Questions for personal reflection

How has the practicing of my faith hurt other people? What would Christ have me do to remedy this?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, Your Life constantly challenges us. Every moment and every incident in the Gospels has been recorded to teach us about how our Christian faith should be lived. Forgive us, Lord, when we neglect Your lessons; help us to become better witnesses of Your peace and love. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com. John is always interested in your thoughts. And, if you ever find yourself in Knoxville on a Sunday morning, the people at Erin will make you feel welcome and will be delighted to worship with you.

Today’s image is John’s latest stained glass drawings. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Glass.

Gospel devotion - Just like Jesus - Luke 9:11b

Today’s Bible readings can be found at these links: Psalm 69:13-24 and Luke 9:10-17.

Luke 9:11b                Jesus welcomed them and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

            It’s just typical of Jesus. He has had a busy morning debriefing the disciples about their winter ministry exploits in other villages. In order to help them to de-stress, He decides to take them on a quiet retreat to Bethsaida. But things don’t go according to plan because the country folk get to hear of His location, and end up coming in their thousands to hear Him preach or see a miracle.

            No doubt the disciples were peeved for they wanted some quality time to be with Jesus. Christ could also have refused to meet the expectations of the crowd because He had something more important to do. But this is Jesus, so typically He gets among the people, speaking to them about the Kingdom of God, and healing those who needed healing.

            In theological terms, it’s called Incarnation ministry. Jesus is in the midst of His people, preaching to them about God’s ways, and showing those ways to be true by mercifully healing the sick. It’s the image of the compassionate and gentle Shepherd that most of us see in our minds when we think about Him. It’s also the way in which we hope that He will welcome us, talk to us, and heal us of all our sicknesses, whether they be physical or emotional, spiritual or cultural, personal or filial.

            Today, I need that typical Jesus to walk beside me, to show me the Kingdom of God, and to heal my hurts and disappointments, my anxieties and fears, as well as my sickness and sadness. Only He can do that for me; only Jesus can bind up my wounds, release me from my fears, and restore me to health. Perhaps, you are feeling or experiencing something similar. My prayer for you would be that Christ can do the same.

Question:      What is currently troubling me? Am I willing to let Jesus reach me and heal me?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, You are the Savior of the World and the Healer of broken souls. Welcome us into Your heart today and heal us of all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and spirit. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is John’s latest Snowbird drawing called “Winter Woodpecker.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Woodpecker.

Prayer devotion: Peaceful Prayers - Luke 6:19

Luke 6:19      And the people all tried to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all.

            No matter where He went, people crowded around Jesus. He was constantly mobbed with all sorts of people who were suffering from a multitude of diseases, illnesses, and sicknesses. His fame as a healer had spread around the Galilean region, so He was in great demand by people who needed His help the most. As He walked from town to town, the locals clamored around Him, begging Him for a miracle for themselves, their loved ones, and their friends. They even clawed at Him, believing that if they could just touch Him, they would be instantly healed.

            Sometimes I wonder if Jesus felt overwhelmed by all of this attention. He probably did, because we are also told from scripture that He sought isolated places to be in prayer with God. Popularity enabled Him to speak and preach to the masses, but it also had its negative side – that of being too much in demand, never meeting enough needs, and hardly getting any peace to Himself.

            Today, we can approach Jesus through prayer, allowing His Spirit to touch our weary and sick souls. We don’t have to wait until He passes by, or fight past crowds of other people. We can speak directly to Him and He will hear our pleas and prayers. In the midst of our too busy and burdened lives, we can still find consolation and peace, comfort and strength in Christ. All that we need to do is find a quiet place where we can focus on Jesus and allow His Presence to touch our spirits and His power to refresh our lives.

            Question: When was the last time I found a quiet place to pray to Jesus? When will I make time for that to re-occur?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, we all need You constantly. We all have worries and concerns, issues and troubles that frequently overwhelm, over-tire, and over burden us. Enable us to seek You prayerfully in a quiet place where we can talk to You openly, freely, and securely. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment, ask questions, or give feedback about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called “Scarlet Winter.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Scarlet.

Church devotion: Three Important Things - Matthew 4:23

Matthew 4:23           Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

            Teaching, preaching, and healing – those were the three main strands of Christ’s ministry among His people. He taught them the Word of God in new and authoritative ways. He preached the Word of God by challenging their ideas and confronting their sins. And He practiced the Word of God by healing the people of their illnesses, anxieties, and distresses.

            Teaching, preaching, and healing – these should be the three major strands of Christ’s Church throughout the world. People still need to be taught the Word of God, otherwise they make up their own set of beliefs to suit themselves. Folks need to be preached to, and at, in order to shake up their choices and life styles. And people still need to be healed because there is brokenness, suffering, and despair all over this planet.

            If we are truly taught the Word of God, we can become Christ’s followers. If we are fully receptive to the preaching of God’s Word, we will make good and honest choices. And if we allow ourselves to be healed of the past, as well as cured of our present woes and anxieties, we will discover a newer, brighter, and more blessed future with Jesus.

            Teaching, preaching, and healing – the continuous and effective ministries of Christ which we can still experience today, in any part of this planet, in any place where the Spirit of the Lord can be personally known – which is everywhere and by everyone.

Questions for personal reflection

What part of Christ’s teaching means the most to me? How has preaching increased my faith as a Christian? When and where has Jesus healed me?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, thank You for being the True Teacher, Preacher, and Healer of the world. Help us to rely upon Your words and ways each day. Grant us the grace to receive, retain, and apply God’s Word through Your teaching, preaching, and healing in our lives. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Lectionary art images. It’s based on a verse from Psalm 67. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Psalm 67.