By Pastor Greg
A rich millionaire throws a
massive party for his 50th birthday. During this party, he announces to his
guests that down in his swimming pool are two great white sharks. "I will give anything of mine to the
person who swims across that pool."
So, the party continues. SUDDENLY
there's a great splash, and all the
guests run to the pool. In the water is
a man swimming as hard as he can. Fins break
the surface and jaws are snapping, and
this guy just keeps swimming. The sharks
are gaining on him, but finally, he
reaches the end and gets out, tired and shaken. The millionaire says, "I am a man of my
word. Anything of mine I will give: my Ferraris, my house, absolutely anything,
for you are the bravest man I have ever seen. Sir, what will it be?" Breathless, the guy says, "Why don't we
start with the name of the jerk who pushed me in!"
Far too many people in this world
are swimming with sharks. Many have been
bitten by life and are deeply
wounded. These are the people who walk
around every day bleeding from the wounds inflicted by life; affected by the harshness of this world. Their day to day life is one of frenzied
panic, trying to stay ahead of the things they fear, not knowing that they
could be rescued and healed in a moment.
There is no sunshine in the lives
of many. People need joy; oh, so
desperately do the children of this earth need joy. These are angry and vengeful times where many
are filled with hate; spiteful to a wrong and unforgiving to an offense.
This world needs peace. This land needs love to spill over into
wounds that have been cut deeply. But
where will they find these things? Surely,
they will not be healed by the World; it is the World which has wounded them; secular values, worldly passions, and human greed.
Where can the wounded find healing?
Jesus insists that the people of this world can find joy, peace, and
love through those who pass along the Words of Jesus. To share Jesus is to pass along healing.
Praying to the Father, Jesus says,
13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was
with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I
have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong
to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not
asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil
one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make
them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just
as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And
I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your
truth.
20 “I am praying not only
for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their
message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I
are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so
that the world will believe you sent me.” (John 17:13-21).
The words Jesus spoke to His
apostles brought them joy (verse 13).
The Words of Jesus helped the disciples
become Holy (verse 17), set apart from the world; different from the world in
the way they lived, the way they dealt with tragedy and sadness. Through the Words of Jesus, these apostles
would find joy, peace, hope, healing, and love.
Because of this, those who follow Jesus would no longer be part of this
word. They would be in the world, but would not be overcome by the world. In other words, they would experience life just like everyone else, but when
life would bite, these followers of
Jesus would be able to stand firm in their faith, love, and joy.
Yes, these followers of Jesus
would act in ways contrary to the world.
In a pool with dangerous sharks, these Christians remained
steadfast. When the apostles were arrested,
and beaten for teaching about Jesus, their response is incredible. There they
stood, facing the “sharks” who would wound them. Yet, in Acts 5:41-42 we read, “41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had
counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42 And
every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and
preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”
What kind of person rejoices when
they suffer disgrace? The person who has
been made Holy by God’s truth; God’s
Word.
As I said earlier, the people of
this world need joy. There is no
sunshine in the lives of many. Most of
the people of this world have been bitten
by life; life with all its
selfishness and vain conceit. Worldly
values, passions, and greed have wounded many, and they walk among us every
day. This is why Jesus asked God to send
these believers out into the world. He
prayed, “Don’t
take them out of the world, but keep them
safe from the evil one” (verse 15).
He also said, “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all
who will ever believe in me through their message.” (Verse 20).
Don’t miss this significance. Jesus prayed for you and me. He prayed that while we are in the world, we would be safe from the evil one. He is also
sending us into the world into the “shark-infested waters.” Why is He doing
this? Well, Jesus kept the apostles in
the world so they could teach and preach the message of Jesus. He keeps us in the world for the same
reason. Through us, the walking wounded
can find the same hope, peace, love, and joy we experienced through a
relationship with Jesus. Our neighbors,
friends, and classmates have no idea where to turn when they are threatened by life. You and I have found hope and strength in
Jesus. And He is the hope this world needs.
For this to work, you and I, as
Christians, will need to become Holy
-set apart and different than the world.
Isn’t this what Jesus is saying here?
Christians are to be made holy
by God’s truth – God’s Word – and become separate from this world. I mean, the wounded people in this world
don’t need more of the world from the Church; they don’t need Christians reflecting
the attitudes and behaviors of the world.
It is the World that has wounded them; a world filled with selfishness,
anger, conceit, greed, and reckless living.
The wounded have lived each day of their life in a world that has turned
its back on God; a world filled with drug
abuse, alcohol, and no sexual restraint.
These are the things which have wounded many in this world, so why would
the church tell them God approves of this stuff? The walking wounded needs the Church to
reflect Jesus and God’s Holy Word, and for their sake, the Church must continue
to be separate from the world.
How will the wounded believe they
can find healing in Jesus if we act just like them?
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