House of Mercy and Grace

“After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there was in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.”-John 5:1-3

Bethesda! This pool, located near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, became a gathering place for the sick, blind, lame and paralyzed. John 5:4 gives us some insight to why this pool became so popular among the sick and the lame:

“For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the waters; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.”

Perhaps this is why the pool was given its name. Bethesda can be translated two ways: House of Mercy or House of Grace. This duel meaning was likely very appropriate as the location was seen as a place of suffering and disgrace because of the rampant sickness. Multitudes had come to throw themselves on the mercy of God as Bethesda became a beacon of God’s grace due to the healings that had taken place.

Among the multitude was a man who had been sick for 38 years:

“Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to Him, “Do you want to be mad well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sire, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”-John 5:5-7

Jesus saw the man lying there and knew he had been in that condition a long time. Somebody reading this today nears to hear that! Jesus is aware of your pain. He is aware of your physical needs. He knows exactly how long you have been struggling in that condition!

Today, He is posing the same question to you that He posed to this man: “Do you want to be made well?” You would think, that the answer to that would be a resounding…Yes! However, some people have so identified themselves with their sickness that they are not really looking for healing as much as they are relief. Others, due to financial reasons don’t want to be healed and others don’t want to give up their sinful lifestyle to maintain it. Others, are simply waiting for the conditions to get just right before they will come forward to be healed. If you wanted to be healed, you had to go to the Pool at Bethesda in Jerusalem, the one near the Sheep Gate, then wait for the angel to come, stir the water, and the first person in was healed. You couldn’t just get in anytime you wanted, or into any pool you wanted; the conditions had to be perfect. 

Even after Jesus, the Great Physician, showed up, all eyes were focused on the water. They were watching and waiting for the conditions to be right, while the Healer was standing in their midst. 

I wonder how many people today forego receiving their healing because they are waiting for the conditions to be right! They need the music right, the message to be right, the kid’s to behave, and right pastor to pray for them, and then they say, “I’ll receive my healing.” 

Can I tell you that the perfect condition for healing is the one in which Jesus is present:

“Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up you bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.”-John 5:8-9

Bethesda was not called the House of Mercy and Grace because of what was taking place there, but rather who was present there! Jesus! 

I wonder, had they known the Great Physician was present, would they have bothered any more with watching for the water to be stirred or would they have thrown themselves on the mercy of God!

Can I encourage you today! Jesus is present. Which means the condition is right for healing! The Great Physician is in the house, which means that the grace of healing is available if you will throw yourselves on the mercy of God.

Pastor Scott Burr

Dayspring Community Church 

Jesus loves messy people! Pt. 2

(Part 2 of 2)

“Then the woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ “for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”-John 4:15-18

As Jesus continues in conversation with the woman at the well, He slowly begins to uncover some additional experiences that have likely left this woman jaded and apprehensive. The depth of her struggles is revealed when Jesus asks her to go and get her husband. The woman readily admits that she has no husband, but withholds some pertinent information. 

This woman had been married five times and the man she is currently living with is not her husband. Obviously, this woman had some real relationship issues. We have no idea if she was the cause (infidelity) or if she was abused, neglected, abandoned, or widowed. However, we can gauge from the text that her current situation was not healthy or God honoring. 

Nothing can leave a person jaded faster than bad relationships. Relationships can be  tainted by drug abuse, physical abuse, verbal abuse, alcoholism, neglect, or a controlling spirit. These relationships can be toxic and can have a negative impact on how we receive God! 

Jesus certainly didn’t shy away from her lifestyle issues. In fact, He brought it to light, not to embarrass her but rather that the knowledge of her sinfulness would lead her to trust Jesus. Jesus isn’t afraid of our sinful condition, it is actually what draws Him to us. He sees our need of a Savior! He doesn’t ignore our sin. He always addresses it. We can come to Him as we are, but He refuses to leave us in that condition. 

However, once Jesus begins to reveal this pattern of bad behavior in her life, she quickly begins to change the subject:

The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”-John 4:19-20

Another reason for this woman’s blatant apprehensions was that she was confused by the obvious differences between Jews and Samaritans when it came to worshiping God. Jews said worship in Jerusalem. Samaritans said worship on Mt. Gerizim. There is nothing that will cause a person to become confused faster than being brow beat by religious people. Religion is the idea that we can earn favor with God through our own prescribed efforts. So the push is not towards having a relationship with God, but on doing right things so that God will accept us. Jesus answer?

“Jesus said to her, “Woman believe Me, the hour is common g when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.”-John 4:21

Racism, relationships, and religion! All three of these can create a culture of messy people, but that is exactly who Jesus came to save! How? First we come to Him (hot mess and all) and then slowly, as we trust in Him, He begins to make adjustments in our lives; corrections that will make our lives better. It doesn’t happen all  at once, but eventually He’ll turn your mess into a message and your changed life will become a message of hope to others. 

Pastor Scott Burr

Dayspring Community Church

Jesus loves messy people! (Pt.1)

(Part 1 of 2)

“So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. I was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”-John 4:5-6

This story, recorded for us in John 4, focuses on a woman that Jesus encounters at a well. Jesus was traveling from Judea to Galilee, when he became tired and stopped to rest. The disciples had all left to find food, leaving Jesus at the well; when this woman shows up to draw water. 

The timing of her trip to the well seems somewhat peculiar, as most women would have visited the well in the early morning hours before the sun came up. Perhaps she was attempting to avoid the congestion, or perhaps she was avoiding becoming the topic of their morning gossip column. Whatever the reason for her delay, she was about to have an encounter with Jesus!

It is plain to see, as you read the story, that this woman did not live an easy life and she had good reason to feel jaded and question whether Jesus was who He claimed to be. 

“A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealing with Samaritans.” John 4:7-9

Is it just me, or does Jesus have a way of showing up and hanging out with messed up people? Read the gospels! Jesus never ran from people whose lives were a mess, he ran to them! Look around, wherever you are right now. You are surrounded by people with messed up lives, wrecked emotions, questionable motives, and raw attitudes. I remind our congregation, often, that we are a messy church. On any given Sunday you are sitting in the company of people struggling to overcome addictions, sexual immorality, doubt, unbelief, unforgiveness, marriage problems, and financial crisis. Yet, that’s how I know that Jesus is there with us; because Jesus loves and looks for messed up people!

The Samaritan woman was one of those people!  She had several life-altering experiences with racism, bad relationships and religion that made her question the authenticity of Christ’s claims. 

The Samaritans were a racially mixed society with Jewish and pagan ancestry. There was no love loss between the Jews and the Samaritans. This woman grew up being exposed to deeply racist attitudes toward Jews and was on the receiving end of that racism from them. Couple that with the fact that in those days and that culture women were often treated as mere property; you can be certain that she would have held some very strong opinions and certainly questioned Jesus about His intentions.

His answer to her reservations?  “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”-John 4:10

Jesus doesn’t simply have the answers; He is the answer! 

Pastor Scott Burr

Dayspring Community Church

When God has something better for you!

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”-John 2:1-5

The first recorded miracle that Jesus performs during His ministry is documented for us here in John 2. Jesus and His disciples are invited to a wedding celebration in the town of Cana. During the wedding feast the supply of wine runs out, so Mary approaches Jesus to intervene. 

“Now there were six water pots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.”-John 2:6

Jesus instructed that each pot be topped off with water and then He instructed the servants to draw some out and take it to the master of the feast:

“When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feasted called the bridegroom.”-John 2:9

The wine was so exemplary that the master of the feast accused the bridegroom of holding back the best wine until last. Jesus used this occasion to declare an important truth; one that is still relevant today! God has something better for you!

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”-John 1:17

Let’s take a moment to compare what Christ and Moses each did with water. The contrast clarifies the differences between law and grace. In Exodus 7:14-17 we read how Moses turned water to blood. This miracle communicated judgment. Jesus turning water into wine communicates grace. This contrast is clearly seen in John 3:17:

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

The law condemns, however grace saves! Jesus had not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). Jesus often used physical miracles to demonstrate spiritual truths. He healed a man in order to show that he had the authority to forgive sin. He cursed a fig tree as a sign of coming judgment. He raised the dead to prove He is the resurrection and the life. That is why the mention of the six water pots used for ceremonial washing were mentioned. 

This seems to be a significant part of the story. Jesus didn’t turn just any water into wine. He turned the water used in their religious traditions into wine. Jesus was the ultimate expression of those ceremonial washings. The water in those jars could only cleanse a man’s hands; but Jesus could cleanse a man’s soul! Jesus was declaring that he was bringing them something new, something better.

God has something better for you too! Those attending the wedding feast had become so wrapped up in the celebration that they did not recognize that their wine had run dry; that is when Jesus stepped in with something better. Perhaps you are so wrapped up in your sinful life that you didn’t realize that God has something better for you! Jesus is still in the miracle working business, but He isn’t changing water into wine. He is transforming men’s souls and He has something better for you; if you will put your faith in Him. 

Pastor Scott Burr

Dayspring Community Church

Recognizing Jesus (Pt.2)

(Part 2 of 2)

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”-John 1:29

Upon seeing Jesus, John reveals that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Israel had been looking for a Messiah. Someone to free them from Roman oppression. They certainly didn’t expect it to be a carpenter’s son from Galilee. In fact, even as faith-filled as John was, at first, he didn’t recognize it to be Jesus, until the Spirit of God descended and rested on Him. 

Perhaps they didn’t recognize Him because they were looking for someone to save them from the Romans, not someone who was coming to save them from their sins. Yet, Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He started by coming first to His very own people, but according to John 1:11-13 they rejected Him:

“ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

But to all who believed in Him and accepted Him, He gave them the right to become children of God. John recognized Jesus as Creator God, but also as Savior of the world. 

John’s testimony about Jesus caused many people to follow Him. Those who began following Jesus initially addressed Him as Rabbi; which means teacher. For many, this is all Jesus would ever beI; a wise teacher that gave out good advice. But for those who chose to recognize Him as their Messiah; they became His disciples:

“One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).-John 1:40-41

Others were a little slower to believe:

“The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”-John 1:43-46. 

Nathaniel was skeptical, until he had an encounter with Jesus:

“Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”-John 1:47-49

I think there are a lot of people like Nathanael today who are just a little skeptical. They want to believe, but are struggling to completely embrace Jesus truly as Creator and Savior. Nevertheless, you will never truly recognize Jesus, if all He ever is to you is a good teacher, a philosopher, an encourager or a wise leader. Jesus is God! He is the Creator of the Universe and He is the Savior of all mankind!

I wonder if you know Him?

Pastor Scott Burr

Dayspring Community Church

Recognizing Jesus (Pt.1)

(Part 1 of 2)

“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.”-John 1:10

Have you ever had that awkward moment when you see someone walking towards you and they obviously recognize you but you cannot for the life of you remember who they are? I had that happen to me recently at Wal-Mart. After unloading my cart I was headed over to put it in the cart corral and there was a lady there getting a cart to take inside. As I approached she looked up, smiled at me, and said hello to me by name; obviously recognizing me. I thought she looked vaguely familiar, however it took me a moment to figure out who she was. It was one of the caregivers for a dear friend of mine that passed away a few years ago. She was often at her apartment working when I would go to visit. 

I apologized to her and told her that I was sorry that I almost didn’t recognize her because she had cut her hair shorter than I remember. Of course that wasn’t the only reason. It had been years since I had seen her and back when I did see her more frequently, it was while she was working. I didn’t have any real relationship with her. We were more acquaintances than we were friends. 

That little encounter made me think about John 1:10. Jesus came into the world, but the world didn’t recognize Him. Would you? Would you recognize Jesus if He were seated next to you right now? You may have a picture in your mind of what Jesus looks like, but considering there is no hard evidence of His actual appearance; how do you recognize someone you’ve never seen before? 

I contend that even those most faithful followers of Jesus would struggle; especially if He didn’t look as they expected. Others have never really spent anytime getting to know Him and there are those who have a working knowledge of Jesus but are more acquaintances than friends. 

John 1 describes Jesus as the Word! He is eternal! He was with God and He is God!Everything that was created was created by Him and He gave life to everything He created and His life was the light of all men:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All thing were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”-John 1:1-3

Did you know that about Jesus? Do you recognize Him as the Creator of the Universe. John the Baptist recognized Him. “Well”, you say, “of course he did, he and Jesus were related (Luke 1:36).”

 It is true that they were related and that John had been born just a few months before Jesus; yet John makes this extraordinary declaration in John 1:15:

“This is the one I was talking about when I said, “Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.”

How could a man who was born six months before Christ make such a statement? John didn’t simply recognize Jesus as his relative, he recognized Him as the Son of God! He recognized Him as the Creator of the Universe! Jesus was more than a man that lived 2,000 years ago in the Middle East. He is the Creator! 

You’ll never recognize Jesus until you recognize that He is God! 

Pastor Scott Burr

Dayspring Community Church

A crisis of faith! (Pt.3)

(Part 3 of 3)

"And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?” Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”-Mark 9:14-24

Lord, I believe; help my unbelief! I wonder how many of us can relate to this story? A caring father brings his son to the disciples because he is being terrorized by a wicked spirit. He is desperate but hopeful that the disciples can cast out the foul spirit and bring some relief to his son. Unfortunately, the disciples were unsuccessful and the man’s hope for his son’s recovery continues to plummet. Whatever hope and faith he possessed when he arrived has slowly begun to vanish. You can hear the doubt and despair in the man’s voice as he recounts to Jesus the tragic events of his son’s life.

Jesus declares to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” to which the man through tears cries out “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.”

How many know that it is hard to live by faith when you dragging doubt and despair around with you? Doubt and despair are like weighty luggage. Containers within which we pack all our disappointments, unmet expectations, and feelings of hopelessness. Try taking a leap of faith when you are weighted down with these!

However, there is hope! Freedom begins when we are willing to check our bags! Luggage that weighs over 50 lb. is required by most airline companies to be checked. You are not allowed to carry checked baggage onto the plane. Before you can board the plane, you have to entrust it to a steward, who then becomes responsible for making sure it gets to where it needs to go. It is no longer in your hands.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30 that we need to treat doubt and despair like checked bags:

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Jesus knew that we would face situations that would cause us to doubt and despair, but he never intended for us to carry them. He said bring them to me and I will give you rest. When we are faced with a crisis of faith and become overwhelmed with doubt and despair we can remember this; He is now responsible for them. You don’t have to carry those burdens any longer!


Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church