- - - - - - -

On February 10 we considered the temptation and first sin as reported in Genesis

We also heard Matthew’s report of when Jesus was tempted by the devil

Last Sunday we considered God’s covenant with Abraham: “Blessed to be a blessing”

We also heard Jesus invite a leading Jew, Nicodemus, to be born into a new covenant

So today as we consider Moses fetching water out of a rock at Rephidim,

Good that we remember Jesus at Jacob’s well near Sychar (John 4:5-42 is read)

- - - - - - -

Grace to you and peace from our living Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus met a Samaritan woman at that well on his way thru Samaria to Galilee

The well is about 40 miles as-the-crow flies from his home in Nazareth

He was ready for some water

Agua, por favor

Water, please

A long journey Almost home Weary Parched Agua, por favor

This is important for us to know and to say: Agua, por favor (spoken by all)

When we’re on a long journey – well beyond our language

we need new language

We know what it’s like to be almost home

but not yet

We know weariness

too much work, so many relationships

We know being parched

just “no juice left”

We need the metaphor – the necessity of life

Agua, por favor

- - - - - - -

After 400 years of Egyptian slavery,

Finally Moses is leading the Hebrew people to freedom

The promised land

It’s a long journey

Only a month into it, there at Rephidim, the people whine to Moses

Agua, por favor

Already they’re desperate: acting ugly, being puny

Fearing for themselves, their children, their livestock

“Moses, Agua, por favor”

- - - - - - -

You know how it is

Everything’s fine but suddenly necessity or mortality presses in

Our necessity these days is not likely water

We have ice & snow every where – plenty of water

But “agua” could mean just what we need or just what we want

We’ve been cold in our houses long enough

We’ve been tense in our cars long enough

We’ve been inside long enough

We’re starting to show the signs of “cabin fever”

Crabby, irritable, disinterested …

For us agua translates “spring breeze”

We’d welcome a preemptive spring breeze that lingers long over the land

Agua, por favor

Some of us have been visiting Charlie Rodgers at Mercy Hospital

Charlie is 99 years old and prides himself in living alone and still driving

He wants to get out of the hospital and eventually return to his house where he’s lived for 71 years

Agua: Charlie translates it “going home”

Agua, por favor

Others have been visiting Barb Becker over at Mercy Hospital

Barb’s exhausted by chemo-therapy, radiation and pneumonia

(Her birthday is today)

But Barb’s ready to pack it in and head for heaven and new life

Agua: Barb translates it “heaven”

Agua, por favor

- - - - - - -

So the Lord spoke to Moses

"Go on ahead of the people, … take some … elders …; take … the staff with which you struck the Nile, … I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink." (Ex. 17:5-6)

That’s it

There is no report of what happened

So much faith in the power of God – we don’t need the words

We know what happened

Agua!

Just what they wanted and needed

All they had to do is ask

Agua, por favor

- - - - - - -

Jesus, weary traveler

He’s the one wanting/needing water

Enough so that he would compromise boundaries

Jewish man speaking to a Samaritan woman - dangerous

Agua, por Favor

But she asks, “Where’s your bucket Jesus?”

She knows men – recognizes a line when she hears one

She didn’t know Jesus

“the rock of salvation”

“the cornerstone”

This one is the rock from which gushes living water

But she, like a wandering Hebrew, is the thirsty one

She’s been “looking for love in all the wrong places”

5 husbands and now a live-in

“What are you running from sister?

What do you want?”

She defends like we would defend

“Ya, I’m a mess but so are you Jesus – you’re on the wrong mountain”

Jesus teaches

Place doesn’t matter

The Hebrews learned it

God can bring a miracle, gushing water, in a parched place like Rephidim

Bring it

Agua, por favor

- - - - - - -

Today we install Zion’s Congregation Council

This group is charged with the Lenten question

What is it that we lack and what do we long for?

Like Hebrews at Rephidim

(Moses) called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?" (Ex. 17:7)

We know the answer

God’s revelation continually guiding God’s people

"Is the LORD among us or not?"

His name is Jesus

He’s been called Emmanuel (God with us)

So the Facility Project Leadership Team is confidently and patiently at work

The Lord is among us so we can ask

Agua, por favor

With such confident faith Zion’s Council also wonders Pentecost questions

Courageous questions breathed by the Holy Spirit

Outside the box

What’s next?

We’re ready

Agua, por favor

- - - - - - -

For a Samaritan woman at a well, agua translates “intimate with God”

Agua, por favor

How is it for you these days?

These days of when winter has lasted too long

These days when Lent has come too soon

What is your “agua”?

What do you need?

Your necessity that you have lacked for so long

Your longing and persistent prayer

Bring it to the Lord God in Jesus name

God knows – no surprises with God

Just stand like Moses before the rock of your salvation, who is Jesus Christ

Have in mind what water you need – and ask

Agua, por favor

God will change your life even more with such power

gracias, gracias, gracias