I recently half heard a discussion about the hard work and discomfort associated with recovery from a particular operation. The person concerned had acquired a new joint to replace one that was unreliable and painful but had not entirely allowed for the commitment needed to make the most of the process. I have not had such surgery myself, so I have no idea what it is like to be in significant pain and to be told that the route to less pain involves more pain along the way. I am also sure that no two people have the same experience.
Talking to another friend about something similar I was reminded of the “No pain, no gain” idiom that suggests that suffering is necessary to make progress. It is often used in the context of exercise, where it is a mantra that encourages people to push themselves harder to achieve better results. Putting these two trains of thought together the conclusion is that if we want something badly enough, we may be prepared to put ourselves through a lot for a big advantage.
The reading today is John 3:1-6 in which Jesus healed a man with a shrivelled hand. That was a big advantage for the man, but happened on the Sabbath when work was not to be carried out. Healing was work so there would be pain ahead; not physical pain but the pain of opprobrium for breaking a sacred rule. Sabbath rest was a mandate from God and not to be disregarded. There was a twist to the story however, when it was not the patient but the doctor who was in trouble for breaking the rule, despite gaining nothing from it. Jesus did not charge a fee but as the Pharisees were already looking for a reason to accuse him, this gave them the perfect opportunity.
Unlike the person facing the challenges and risks of significant surgery, the patient in the gospel story enjoyed an immediate transformation while Jesus was accused of a sin and gave the Pharisees what they needed to start to plot his death. There is an additional and world changing message beneath the surface of this. We all have much to be forgiven when we look at our lives in the light of the teachings of Jesus and laws of God, but instead of making us suffer a punishment to recover ourselves God allowed Jesus to suffer to death and beyond to achieve our freedom.
A Prayer
Loving Jesus, healer of our souls, you suffered and died but rose again from the dead to overcome sin, not for your own sake but for ours. Just as you cured a man of his shrivelled hand, so you bring meaning to our shrivelled lives by liberating us from the sickness of sin to live in new life with you. Thank you that you have taken the inevitable hurt that should be ours and given us cause to love you more and more as the truth of our healing becomes clear and our pain melts away. We praise and worship you. Amen.