#cake edition

If you’re unfamiliar with the story of the woman at the well or want to refresh your memory, pause the video right now and read John 4. I got it up for you on the screen.

And welcome back! When reading this passage, we see that this woman was barely surviving. Based on other texts of the Old Testament and also some historical context, the well was a place of community, but this became her reminder of loneliness. A time to mingle and enjoy life to the fullest was perhaps her time to get away. But as I read the passage, I asked myself one question: How did Jesus love?

And the text shows me that: Jesus loves by going out of the way. He goes to inconvenient places, places that everyone avoids in order to reach people. He loves by calling people to serve Him. And when He does this, it surpasses the social norm. He loves by dealing with the quote on quote undealable. The nobodys. The outcasts. He loves by promising to provide living water--everlasting life. Jesus loves by knowing us. He loves by giving us more knowledge about Him and His ability to save.

So, there I was, carrying my water bottle, with the little water it held. From the text, I saw that the woman came with an empty water pot too, a water bottle if you will, longing to fill it, but leaving with a promise of something better. Just as the woman came with her issues to the well, I definitely came to the pond with mine.

And I sat there. Stumped.

Because why would God ask me to give Him water? Someone who clearly doesn’t have any, who’s searching alone, who’s there to get some for herself. Why would You ask me, when Your likeness is above and beyond mine? When You should have no dealings with me? But You promise me something better. This thing called living water, that can quench my thirst forever and springs up to eternal life. Give it to me so that I don’t have to come to this park, to this well, ever again. So that I can permanently avoid this part of my day for the rest of my life. Give it to me. So that I don’t have to look like a lonely, desperate, senior theology student filled with shame to even admit that I, a supposed spiritual leader, am in need for more. That as someone who talks about living water, has in reality, forgotten its taste and has gone back to drawing from a well built by man.

But God, You know me! All that goes on behind closed doors, when no eye is watching, You know these things. I can talk religion and debate about salvational issues, just like the woman.

But the woman  ends the debate by saying that she knows that the Messiah is coming and when He comes, “He will tell us all things.” He’ll solve all these religious issues and answer our questions. Her determining factor to know who the Messiah was that the Messiah would tell all things. And it’s so interesting, because in v. 29, she says, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did.” NOT all things about water or all things about mountain top worship services. No. It was: come, this person might be the Messiah, because He told me everything that I did.

Perhaps as she told the men in her city to come to see Jesus, perhaps she thought to herself: wow! Is this actually the Messiah? A Jewish Man, willing to come to Samariah. A man willing to talk to me, despite knowing everything that I’ve done and has offered me living water, eternal life.

Could it be that you are also at a well, searching and working tirelessly to fill your soul? Are you barely surviving with everything that’s going on and just simply getting by? I have good news to share. There is a Man named Jesus who fully knows you and is offering something way better. 

Dear heavenly loving Father, I thank you for this opportunity. The world is broken all around us. Teach us to to break with those who are breaking and may we connect and learn to stand with each other. This I pray, in the precious name of Jesus, amen.

There was this Man named Jesus. He came from Heaven and was born into this world to break. Because of His love for people, He wanted to break. And as His ministry was coming to a close, He invited His disciples to share in His last meal.

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’”

These are the words that came from a Man whose name is Jesus. In the entire Bible, He was the only One I could think of who literally wanted to be broken. Now, don’t get me wrong, other people definitely experienced breaking. You have Paul on his journey to Damascus who was broken from his pride, Moses, killing an Egyptian, Jonah in the belly of the whale, Naomi turning bitter, David sleeping with Batsheba and murdering Uriah, Peter denying Christ three times, and the list goes on and on.

But in their experiences, they never asked God: BREAK ME! They never looked up to heaven and prayed for hardships and trials in order to be closer to Him. Never. Their struggles came upon them unexpectedly. In fact, 2 Samuel 11:2 describes the start of David’s breaking by using the words “then it happened” “by chance” “out of the blue” “it just so happened.”

Church, there are people in the world who do not have the privilege to ask to be broken. They do not ask to be broken, but their narratives have been intertwined with brokenness the day they were born. Perhaps this is the story of your neighbour, the people south of the border, or even yourself.

When I was given the topic of “Break Me” I went to my room, knelt down on my soft carpeted floor, and prayed, “Lord, break me to be more like You.” Many of you may say that this is a bold and dangerous prayer. But I want to argue that this is not only a bold and dangerous prayer, but a prayer of PRIVILEGE from the PRIVILEGED. Because as I knelt down, I realized that: I have the liberty and time to pray.

Others don’t have this religious freedom. Others are busy marching on the streets. Others are consumed by protecting their city. Others are grieving from injustice. Others don’t have a voice or don’t have the opportunities to be heard. My brothers look at the colour of their skin and are told by their parents that the world will tell you that you are not enough, but as your mother/father, I will be the first voice to audibly and intentionally say that you are beautiful! You are made in the image of God. Do not let the voices of the world make you believe otherwise. Some don’t even have that. And then they step out into a world, where there is police brutality, where the justice system works against them, where their cries are swept under the rug, where their bleeding wounds are ignored by, dare I say, the church.

Brothers and sisters, it is a privileged prayer to ask God: Lord, break me.

As Jesus broke the bread, which represented how His body would be broken, He blessed it. And as he poured out the wine, which represented how His blood would be spilled, He gave thanks. Jesus KNEW that it was a privilege to be broken for others.

In John 10 starting at verse 11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. I lay down My life for the sheep. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” A commandment of selfless and sacrificial love.

Jesus voluntarily gave His life for us. He, who formed the universe, who holds the world in the palm of His hands, whom the stars and sun obey, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

He who was “so exalted, to whom every knee shall bow, He whom the angels of glory count it honour to serve, bowed down to wash the feet of those who called Him Lord. Washed the feet of  His betrayer.”

He broke bread. Poured wine. His body was torn and His blood spilled. He whose “strength sets fast the mountains” He who owns and made the sea, was moved by love when He saw us breaking and said, “Father, Break Me!” JESUS CHOSE TO BREAK WITH AND FOR US. And how is it that we have the audacity to to proclaim His name upon our lips and choose to not break with others.

The Bible says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8)! Greater love has no one than this than to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). God’s love for us was so deep that Jesus decided to innocently die on the cross. And as His body was breaking, His heart was being torn apart.

As He hung on the cross, He thought of you. He thought of the pain that you would experience and He felt it on the cross. He felt the burdens of Martin Luther King Jr. Felt the dirty stares given to Rosa Park. The harsh words spoken to Ben Carson. Christ struggled to breath as He saw Geroge Floyd’s neck being pinned to the ground. He saw the tears of George Floyd’s mother as He looked into his own mother’s weeping eyes.

He saw the policemen fearing for their lives. He saw Derek Chauvin being cancelled from society. He saw Pastor Dave dealing with heart issues, Pastor Anderline filled with unspoken requests. He saw the elders trying to cope with the pandemic, He saw Church in the Valley’s… valley moments and He cried out: Lord, forgive the world! For they don’t know what they’re doing. But in this moment, even though they are doing all in their power to break Me, I still choose to break for them. Then He cried out: It is Finished. And He hung His head and died.

Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus is “not a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but [He] has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet without sin.” As Christ broke on the cross, He came to fully understand the pain and struggles humanity has faced, is facing and will face. He tells us that “in this world, you will have tribulation. But take heart, for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Christ tells His disciples in John 10 that “12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.” Then Jesus says, “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.”

After His resurrection, in John 21, He calls one of His closest disciples. He calls Peter to Him. And as I picture Jesus and Peter walking along the shore of the beach, I can see Jesus turning to Peter, the one who had promised that he would never deny his Lord. The one who had vowed to go with Jesus until prison and death. The one who failed to keep his word, who was so deceived by his own heart, but was known so well by his Lord.

I can see Jesus turning to this Peter and asking him, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’ ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He asked him a third time and he said, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’”

Peter was broken. And the way Jesus restored him was to call him to be a shepherd. Peter knew full well what a shepherd and a hired person looked like. He knew the vast difference. He remembered the lessons Jesus had taught him. That hired people, fake shepherds, don’t care for the sheep. They flee when they see the flock being attacked.

But a shepherd protects the flock. A shepherd carries the sheep when it has been wounded. A shepherd hears the cries of the lambs. A shepherd walks with his flock. A shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A loving shepherd takes the opportunity, the privilege to break for others.

Peter had witnessed the love and restoring grace of Jesus. He had witnessed that Jesus was the TRUE GOOD SHEPHERD. Jesus broke Himself for Peter and now Peter was given the PRIVILEGE AND HONOUR to do the same. Jesus tells Peter, “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.’ Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, ‘Follow me.’”

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Many of us have made Jesus our Lord. We know the sacrifice He gave for us. We acknowledge that He loves us. We have witnessed how He has mended our broken hearts time and time again. And now, we are faced with an opportunity, a privilege.

Just as Jesus called Peter to be a shepherd, Jesus is calling you. We may have denied Him time and time again, but are we willing to now follow Him?

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There is a broken world. There are sheep in God’s flock that have not been brought to Him yet. Are we willing to walk with them? Are we willing to hear their cries? Are we willing to carry them on our shoulders? Are we willing to show the greatest form of love by being willing to lay down our lives for our friends? Or have we grown content in our fake Christianity and settled to become hired hands over God’s flock?

Let this humble and selfless mind which was in Christ, be also in us today. May the love of Jesus be the only thing that moves us to feed, tend and care for His sheep.

If it is your prayer to be like Jesus and to accept His call of privilege to break for others, I invite you to please stand. You’re probably going to look crazy in your home, maybe you were lying down, but if this is your desire, to be like Christ and break for others, arise with me as we pray.

But look at what the LORD says to Paul. “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”

You may be fearful of what others might say or do to you, but do not be afraid! Keep on sharing! Keep this gospel message rolling, because our God is with you and will use others to protect you!

You may feel like you’re alone in ministry, but remember that God is with you. You may be burnt out to continue, but remember God is able rekindle your fire and keep your light shining. You may feel tired and weary in doing good, but don’t give up! Because in time, we will reap if we don’t lose heart.