April 6, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck. ‘There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked.’” (Isaiah 57.20-21)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD TO US:

I know that you have heard it said, “Nothing happens without a reason.” Our greatest challenge is that we are unaware of or confused by “the reason something happens.” The story of the death of Lazarus (the brother of Martha and Mary in Bethany) is a good example of that “struggle to understand.” One of those “struggles to understand” arises in the name of the city where this event happened. It is easily resolved knowing there were many cities named Bethany but only two in particular associated with Jesus. The first is Bethany just outside of Jerusalem. It is often called “The House of Figs” or the “The House of Blessing.” Such blessing comes upon “that house” because it is a place of cohabitation, task, humility and song. In some regards, it could be said that this Bethany was a “bedroom” community for those who worked, labored or served in Jerusalem. We know that Simon the Pharisee, formerly Simon the Leper who had been healed by Jesus, was from Bethany. (Perhaps Simon was one of the ten lepers healed who returned back to the very spot of his healing to give thanks and worship God at the feet of Jesus.) This would be cause of great rejoicing and song, such as that of the woman who came into Simon’s house to anoint the feet of Jesus with expensive nard and dry them with her hair. This, of course, caused Judas of Kerioth (who was the treasurer of the disciple collective) great consternation because the jar of expensive oil could have been sold and used to support the cause of Jesus and the disciples. We can also see such orderly and caring characteristics in Martha who was concerned about keeping her house in order and appropriate (perhaps even legalistically so). Such concern put her at odds with her sister, Mary, who seemed more in tune with the other side of life which may have tended toward the artistic and affectionate aspects. Her desire for the “heart” side of life was a challenge to Martha who saw “task before people.” Of course, both sisters were burdened with the affliction of illness upon their brother Lazarus who was loved and respected within the community.

The “second” Bethany was called Bethany across the Jordan. This is presumed to be the focal point of John the Baptizer’s ministry. He baptized in the Jordan River near there. As it was across the Jordan, it served as a reminder of affliction as many who were “outcasts” for one reason or another may have communed there. Jesus and the disciples were staying there when the news of Lazarus’ illness came. It is interesting to note that this Bethany was virtually due east of Jericho where the nation of Israel had entered the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua who had covenanted “as for me and my house we will choose to serve the Lord.” It was the first place of conflict, Jericho, as Israel chose to follow God’s command to “take the land which had been promised to them as children of God.” Here, in the opposite direction, would come a different deliverance of God’s people into a promised land of righteousness where the Kingdom of God would dwell in the midst of them. This “Bethany across the Jordan” represents another name associated which was “House of Affliction.” Such affliction was not limited to that which happened to people by poor choices or no choice of their own. They were not “victims” solely but those to whom the opportunity to experience the blessing of God for restoration, reconciliation and redemption. Their “affliction” was not without a purpose. It is here that we can see the word of God in Isaiah speaking, as in chapter 57, to those who were afar off being drawn near. Jews or Gentiles, slave or free, male or female, rich or poor were the opposite ends of the spectrum by which certain others used to decide who was acceptable and who was not. God, as we reflected upon the other day, is a God of all. God would have us all confess our sin before Him and accept His gift of mercy and grace. Affliction sometimes was the avenue by which such knowledge made its way into the hearts and mind of people for their conversion. Jesus would bear such affliction as we cannot possibly imagine for our sake that we might become the righteousness of God and restored as His people choosing whom we shall serve all the days of our lives.

In the story of “Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead,” which we will not reflect upon at length here, we see such conflict of blessing and affliction. Jesus is accused of afflicting Martha and Mary with undo burden of worry and sorrow unto grief upon the delay of Jesus in Bethany (across the Jordan) to come to Bethany (near Jerusalem). Jesus teaches both the disciples and those in Bethany near Jerusalem that all things serve a purpose which gives meaning and hope to life. For the disciples there were many such life experiences which taught this lesson. One would be that which corelates to the passage from Isaiah 57, 20-21 that serves as a focus on God’s Word for Israel and us. In that reading, the storm-tossed sea is mentioned. We know of two instances (perhaps three, if we include the story of the Gaderene demonic) where the disciples were engaged with a storm-tossed sea. In one scenario, Jesus was with them but asleep. His presence should have been a blessing and a comfort. The condition of the storm, however, overwhelmed their faith and sensibility (as it would ours, I am sure) and they accused Jesus of “not caring about their lives.” If He would have gotten up on His own and handled the stormy situation, their lives would have been calm and carefree. The second scenario, which followed the feeding of the “twenty thousand,” had the disciples alone on the Sea of Galilee headed to the “other side” while Jesus went back to the hills to pray. Being caught in a great storm, they feared death again. This time there was no Jesus to “save” them. We don’t even hear that they prayed to God or called out for Jesus to come to them. We do know that Jesus does come to them walking on the water. His presence should have been enough to soothe them and restore order to their lives. Instead, they believed it was a ghost or harbinger of death. They could not see it was Jesus until he was close enough for Peter to beg for proof. Again, the theme of “affliction for purpose” is evident. It is not that the storm was created for such a purpose but that the situation itself could be used for transformation and the strengthening of faith. In Isaiah, we see that such storm-tossed waters were a sign of wickedness because the wicked are frenetic and always on the move to resolve their own needs but without true or long-lasting success. In other words, “they would not and could not be at peace.”

The presence of faith in God does create peace, orderliness and purpose even in the midst of chaos. Choosing to believe in God in spite of circumstances which are assumed to say “God is here” such as wealth, acclaim, material possessions, land, prosperity and a lack of conflict, power, prestige, etc., demonstrates faith. The result of such faith concludes with the establishment of one’s place in the Promised Land. Notice that Jesus moves, in the story of Lazarus, from Bethany beyond the Jordan (far from Jerusalem in a deserted place) to Bethany beyond the Jordan (near to Jerusalem and a settled community. Even in the storm-tossed waters, Jesus is not the symbol of wickedness because He is in the midst of the storm. Instead, He is Immanuel and brings peace and order to those who would believe. Is this not the message that God gives to us through Christ Jesus? Is this not the message God was giving to Israel through Isaiah? The question is not “where is Jesus in relationship to us” but “where are we in relationship to Jesus”?

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness which we know is folly but righteous works which declare Your glory and further witness the truth that can set all who believe free from death. So may we live by the name of Jesus our Christ. AMEN.