"For God so Loved the World"

John 3:14-21

Out of the Afro-American community came the musical..."THE LORD'S TROMBONE"...

Some years ago a Creative Dancing Troop in Raleigh, NC visited our church and performed this great piece of music with modern dance.

The story began … Kettledrums rolled, a deep resonant voice told how God created humanity, and had tried to get them to follow him.  People were afraid.  People were obstinate. They did not understand.

 Then the voice said, "God sent his message in the form of a little bitsy baby boy.

A young lady dancing as before wind moved center stage. Up on her toes she went and then with a graceful movement she bent low, reaching out she plucked an imaginary baby out of space, cradled him in her arms. She rose holding him like a mother holds a baby. The impeccable movement and the awesome voice of God produced a moment of Grace and emotion.

My stomach muscles tightened, a gasp came to my throat, and a tear to my eye … I locked up a shout in my soul. Inwardly I knew, and personally re-experienced the joy that baby had brought to my life.

John said it as: "He sent His son into the world that all who believed on him might have everlasting life.”

The awesome, powerful God of the Old Testament frightened people.

In the New Testament the Jesus of Bethlehem and Nazareth sought to tell them of a God of love. He lived out the grace of God and told how God wanted us to live. Jesus brought healing to the sick, plus new teachings concerning how one ought to live. He talked about a new life. Yes, said John, "Jesus came to seek and save those who were lost."

This lostness is inward. It is indicative of our sin. Every human being has it. It comes as:

Separation from self and others, and

Expresses itself as:

Selfishness

Pride

Jealousy

Lying,

Cheating,

Hating  

Guilt

All of us have a portion of this pain. No one escapes it.

Last year at “The BISHOP'S CONVOCATION ON PREACHING” clergy were offered an opportunity to experience many of the liturgies in the new book of worship. By far the most moving was THE SERVICE OF HEALING. The service was built around the theme of God's healing power. It was held in contrast to a "curing" service for physical ills. A healing service was designed for the healing of inner pain. There was a sermon explaining the difference in healing and curing. Healings of memory, interpersonal relationships, emotional, mental and physical illness were offered. Then Olive Oil was blessed. Six ministers stood at the altar with oil in their hands. People who felt a need for healing were asked to come forward, name their pain, and receive a prayer and the anointing announced in the book of James. It was a quiet time as the congregation sang the healing hymns in the hymnal. For thirty minutes we sang and prayed as hundreds of people made their way quietly to the front. There was a noticeable change in the community of preachers after that experience. We were one in our calling, and one in the spirit of God. We experienced this love of God.

What a great example of God’s Grace in Jesus Christ. It sets the individual free and creates a community of love. Sounds great! Why doesn’t everyone respond?

Many of us are as a hurt animal, afraid of the person who is trying to catch us to deliver medical care to us.

In LEADERSHIP MAGAZINE, WINTER 1994; P.46 is told this story.

Eating lunch at a small cafe, I saw a sparrow hop through the open door and peck at the crumbs near my table. When the crumbs were gone, the sparrow hopped to the window ledge, spread its wings, and took flight. It crashed against the windowpane and fell to the floor.

The bird quickly recovered and tried again. Crash. And again. Crash.

I got up and attempted to shoo the sparrow out the door, but the closer I got the harder it threw itself against the pane. I nudged it with my hand. That sent the sparrow fluttering along the ledge, hammering its beak at the glass.

Finally, I reached out and gently caught the bird, folding my fingers around its wings and body. It weighed almost nothing. I thought how powerless and vulnerable the sparrow must have felt. At the door I released it, and the sparrow flew away.

As I read this story I thought to myself..."This must be a great deal like us and God. We go around in life bumping into things and hurting ourselves. All the time God is trying to get our attention and usher us into the right direction.

God comes to you and me today. He brings healing. This healing is our salvation. It comes to us at the point of our need. It's strange what happens when we can get inner relief. We can again fly. We are free to live.

Dr. Bill Wilson, formerly a Psychiatrist at Duke Hospital, tells of a lady who was chronically depressed. They had tried everything to help her ... Medication, shock therapy, and psychotherapy. They could get her flying for a while, and then would come the inevitable crash. In her last hospitalization they had tried all three. Nothing was working. As he was leaving her room one morning she looked at him with a great deal of pain in her eyes. Doctor, What am I going to do, she asked? He said he gave an answer he always thought was ridiculous. Why don't you pray about it? He suggested. Several hours later the floor nurse called him. Told him to go to the lady's room. He did! When he walked in he saw a person with a shine on her face, a sparkle in her eyes ...the gloom had vanished. What happened, he asked? Oh thank you doctor, she said. I did what you suggested. I got on my knees and started praying. I prayed for a couple of hours, and something happened to me. I am healed.

Your sins are forgiven, take up your bed and walk! Said Jesus.

Said John, "He came that we may have life and have it more abundantly."

This is what God through Jesus Christ offers to each of us. He does not want to hurt us. He only wants to remove from us our hurt, to set us free so we may fly. Today is your day!