To go forward you've got to go back
13 June 2007
I have a young friend here in Sydney who comes from Lebanon. As a 9 year old in Beirut he broke his leg badly. It healed badly and he was left walking as a cripple, hobbling along at best.
His Dad heard about a doctor in (biblical) Sidon who was good with bones. Took young Kassem to see this specialist. The leg was soon examined, and the doctor announced that there was nothing wrong with the leg. All it needed was to be broken again, and reset in its proper place.
Kassem didn’t hear much past the “broken again”. He knew nothing of anaesthetic. What he did know was that breaking his leg had brought the worst pain he had ever felt and here was a doctor offering more of the same. He bolted! As fast as his gammy leg could take him, he shot out of that surgery and hid. His father, the doctor and friends of the family spent the day searching for him, but he stayed out of sight.
When his Dad eventually found him he was adamant he wasn’t having it fixed. His dad, a wise man, I reckon, said that was okay. ‘When you’re ready to have it fixed, we’ll get it fixed’.
Back in Beirut Kassem continued to hobble in his distorted way. His friends couldn’t figure out why he wouldn’t get it fixed. Kassem remained fierce in his determination not to submit to the doctor. Until someone told him about anaesthetic. At that point he confronted his fears, went to Sidon, had his operation under anaesthetic, had his leg broken and reset, went home – and one month later was walking properly! He had to go back before he could go forward!
I wonder if you can understand that Kassem’s experience is a beautiful illustration of repentance. He needed to be free. Be he couldn’t be free until he went back to receive what he needed.
Kingdom Principle: To go forward you must first go back.
A couple of examples from recent scripture in Worship.
Simon Peter: Jesus wanted him in clear and clean relationship with him so that, among other things, he could use him to “fishing for human fish” in the kingdom. So what happens? Peter must first experience the glory of Jesus so that he knows the true nature of his sin. The revelation is so powerful that he cries out, “Go away from me for I am a sinful man, Lord”. Then, and only then, can Jesus say to him “It’s okay you need have no fear – follow me and I will make you a fisher of human fish!” (see Luke 5: 1-11)
Principle: You can’t go forward unless you first go back.
Young Isaiah: Dedicated young priest whose passion is the holiness of Yahweh and his Temple. In there one day, to pray, he sees “…the Lord, high and lifted up, and his presence filled the Temple… and the angels called to one another “Holy holy holy is the Lord Almighty. The whole earth is full of his glory”.
And how did young Isaiah respond to this revelation? “Woe is me! I am a man of unclean lips…” An angel brings forgiveness to him from the altar, and his guilt is taken away and sin atoned for. Then, and only then, can he hear the Lord calling: “Whom shall I send?” And Isaiah responds, “Here I am, send me!”. (Is. 6: 1-8)
There is the Kingdom Principle again. You can’t go forward unless you first go back.
Michael Leunig makes the same point in this simple cartoon!
Peace
Fred
I have a young friend here in Sydney who comes from Lebanon. As a 9 year old in Beirut he broke his leg badly. It healed badly and he was left walking as a cripple, hobbling along at best.
His Dad heard about a doctor in (biblical) Sidon who was good with bones. Took young Kassem to see this specialist. The leg was soon examined, and the doctor announced that there was nothing wrong with the leg. All it needed was to be broken again, and reset in its proper place.
Kassem didn’t hear much past the “broken again”. He knew nothing of anaesthetic. What he did know was that breaking his leg had brought the worst pain he had ever felt and here was a doctor offering more of the same. He bolted! As fast as his gammy leg could take him, he shot out of that surgery and hid. His father, the doctor and friends of the family spent the day searching for him, but he stayed out of sight.
When his Dad eventually found him he was adamant he wasn’t having it fixed. His dad, a wise man, I reckon, said that was okay. ‘When you’re ready to have it fixed, we’ll get it fixed’.
Back in Beirut Kassem continued to hobble in his distorted way. His friends couldn’t figure out why he wouldn’t get it fixed. Kassem remained fierce in his determination not to submit to the doctor. Until someone told him about anaesthetic. At that point he confronted his fears, went to Sidon, had his operation under anaesthetic, had his leg broken and reset, went home – and one month later was walking properly! He had to go back before he could go forward!
I wonder if you can understand that Kassem’s experience is a beautiful illustration of repentance. He needed to be free. Be he couldn’t be free until he went back to receive what he needed.
Kingdom Principle: To go forward you must first go back.
A couple of examples from recent scripture in Worship.
Simon Peter: Jesus wanted him in clear and clean relationship with him so that, among other things, he could use him to “fishing for human fish” in the kingdom. So what happens? Peter must first experience the glory of Jesus so that he knows the true nature of his sin. The revelation is so powerful that he cries out, “Go away from me for I am a sinful man, Lord”. Then, and only then, can Jesus say to him “It’s okay you need have no fear – follow me and I will make you a fisher of human fish!” (see Luke 5: 1-11)
Principle: You can’t go forward unless you first go back.
Young Isaiah: Dedicated young priest whose passion is the holiness of Yahweh and his Temple. In there one day, to pray, he sees “…the Lord, high and lifted up, and his presence filled the Temple… and the angels called to one another “Holy holy holy is the Lord Almighty. The whole earth is full of his glory”.
And how did young Isaiah respond to this revelation? “Woe is me! I am a man of unclean lips…” An angel brings forgiveness to him from the altar, and his guilt is taken away and sin atoned for. Then, and only then, can he hear the Lord calling: “Whom shall I send?” And Isaiah responds, “Here I am, send me!”. (Is. 6: 1-8)
There is the Kingdom Principle again. You can’t go forward unless you first go back.
Michael Leunig makes the same point in this simple cartoon!
Peace
Fred
posted by PastorFredVeerhuis at 2:06 PM
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