12 June 2015 - watered up

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, 
they did not break his legs, 
but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, 
and immediately blood and water flowed out.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

We see this morning the heart from which the springs of salvation flow. We see the heart that is the source of living water. We realize how thirsty we are. We realize how parched we are. This water shines. Let us pause for a moment here. In what way are we thirsty? What is the satisfaction for which we long that we cannot find? Now let us look again to the water. This water is filled with vitality. Yet it flows from him whom we have pierced. 

They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

It is available to us because the heart from whom it flows endured so much for us. Yes, it looks appealing. We recognize that it is a gift beyond measure. We know for certain that we do not deserve it. Should we hesitate and hold back?

With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.

We must not hold back! This is the fountain of salvation. It is the gift of the love of God for us. We are called to receive it with joy. We must not be reluctant. We must not hesitant or hold back. We can receive this gift "confident and unafraid" because God is our savior and he wants us to have it.

My heart is overwhelmed,
my pity is stirred.
I will not give vent to my blazing anger,
I will not destroy Ephraim again;
For I am God and not a man,
the Holy One present among you;
I will not let the flames consume you.

This is mercy. We do not receive what we deserve. Heaven help us if we did. We receive the free gift of God, given to us out of love. Even though God purchased this mercy for us with his own blood it does not mean we should hesitate. He chooses to make this sacrifice for us in spite of us precisely because he loves us. He doesn't suffer like this and then insist that we feel guilty for doing to him the very thing which he chose to endure and allowed for our sakes. He wants, if anything, his suffering to awaken us still more to his love. He wants his pain to call us more quickly to himself with no hesitation and with nothing held back.

He wants for us what Paul prays:

that you, rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

His love is beyond our ability to know. But this morning, as we see his heart pierced for us, we don't just know it, we see it. And as we see it we are offered to drink and drink deeply. So let us drink!

An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; 
he knows that he is speaking the truth, 
so that you also may come to believe.

When we drink this living water we are made witnesses. We overcome by the power of his blood and the word of our testimony (cf. Rev. 12:11). This water is too good. We cannot keep silent. We don't merely speak, we sing and shout for joy.

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!