Blood and Water

In January of 1996 I got out of the Army. In the spring of that year I got married and in December of that year our first child was born.  One of the main reasons I got out of the army was to start a family.

The year previous, in July of 1999 I was in Panama at Ft. Sherman going through Jungle warfare school. By this time I already knew that I would be getting out in January. I was determined to make my final months in the U.S. military as comfortable for myself as possible.

One night when we were out in the jungle we were getting ready for sleep suddenly there was the sound of a radio playing music.  It was someone from the Venezuelan Army what we were training with.  The Platoon Sgt. That I was with yelled out “No mas musica!”-No more music! We were training after all and we wanted to remain tactical.  I thought it was pretty funny. After all that calmed down, I quietly got into my pack and took out a little item that I had secretly brought with me.  My hammock. In the deep dark of the Panamanian Jungle where no star or moon light could penetrate the jungle canopy I blindly tied my comfortable swinging bed between two trees.  I was going to stay dry and snake free. I settled into my hammock and was feeling nice and comfy when I hit the ground and the tree I attached my hammock to fell to the ground.

“What was that? What was that?” people were yelling. I just stayed quiet and found a patch of ground to lie on for the night.

In the daylight I found that the tree I tied my hammock to had virtually no roots. Panama is basically rock. The soil varies in depth and here it was very shallow.  The roots of the tree (before they rotted away) would have been very shallow.

As we grow in faith, as we reach for the sky we have to make sure our roots are deep and are planted in good soil or our efforts will end with a crash.

Family.

They say blood is thicker than water. I know there are at least a couple of family trees in this congregation whose branches and shoots are woven and interwoven all through this place. How do you know you are related, other than the fact that you all show up at the same weddings? It’s your roots.  Your grandparents your great grandparents and perhaps generations before that have been faithful in proclaiming God’s work and word in this place. Not only that the homes of your families have been faithful in passing on the faith to the generations that came after not just here in this place on Sundays but around the dinner table and in the living rooms of your homes.

When Joshua was saying “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” He was reaffirming a covenant with God. An important part of worship and covenant reaffirmation is to remember the great things that God has done. Not only to remember them but to recite them. Deuteronomy chapter 6 says, “⁴ Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only true God! ⁵ So love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. ⁶ Memorize his laws ⁷ and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning. ⁸ Write down copies and tie them to your wrists and foreheads to help you obey them. ⁹ Write these laws on the door frames of your homes and on your town gates.”

The people that share the same roof, the people that sleep in your house, these are the first ones that you should hear of the blessings of God from your lips.

“Well pastor, I live alone.”

Then you are a step ahead. It’s time for you to share the good news about Jesus Christ to people outside your home.

Whether you live alone or with a multitude…you can choose to live in a way that the world directs or you can dedicate your household to the love of God. There are no stronger roots than the love of God. And a tree without roots will fall.  

 Blood is thicker than water! The temptation is to focus only on those closest to you, but how do you define close. Let me offer another version of the saying “blood is thicker than water” The blood shed on the battle field (No greater love) is thicker than the water shared when you are thirsty (Not lose their reward).

In mark chapter 9 Jesus says, “⁴⁰ Anyone who isn’t against us is for us. ⁴¹ And anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name, just because you belong to me, will surely be rewarded.

Giving a drink of water to your brothers and sisters in Christ is a good thing, worthy of reward. But Jesus also said,  “This is my command: that you keep on loving each other just as I have loved you.¹³ No one has greater love than a person who lays down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends, if you do what I command you.”

Laying down one’s life for others is the ultimate act of love.  I love that the grand Marshall of the 4^th of July parade was trooper Butterfield. Every day that he put the uniform he was laying down his life for others.

The veterans that were honored, the soldiers that were remembered and everyone who serves to keep us safe are the ones who demonstrate what love is. Their sacrifice, their blood is thicker than any act of charity any drink of water that can be given. Let that expand your concept of who is your family.

Blood is thicker than water.

Let me propose yet another version of that saying.

The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. Jesus died for us. Jesus bled and died for you and for me. It was just for the guys in is squad. It wasn’t just to keep order on the streets. It was an eternal gift for all of humanity.  Jesus died as a sacrifice for all who would believe in him.

Jesus requires nothing for you to receive this gift; it is freely given. The covenant is an agreement between God and you.  God says I love you and forgive any failing that you may feel guilty for and want to love you forever.  In return we say, “Yes God I love you too. Thank you. Thank you for revealing your nature in Jesus Christ.”

That’s the covenant. Through the covenant we have abundant and eternal life.

The Blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.

Jesus mother and brothers came and stood outside, asking to speak to him. They someone told Jesus they were there. Jesus made this point. He pointed at the disciple that were with him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Family is something I value.  I love my family. But how much greater is it when those who are related to you are also your brothers and sisters according to the blood of the covenant of Jesus Christ? We are bound to some by genetics but we are truly bound to those who love God and do his will.

I love that Jesus was pointing to his disciples and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.” He was saying that they are the ones who do the will of his Father in heaven. I find great encouragement in that! Do you know why? Because the disciple were clueless and they messes up got it wrong most of the time. It says that to me I don’t have to understand perfectly; I don’t have to serve without mistakes.   It’s encouraging because I know that if I keep myself pointed toward God and always seek to do his will, God will use even my mistakes and my miss-steps. We just have to keep Jesus at the center.

So how is it with you today? Have you loved your family lately?  They are right here, all around you whether you know them or not.  This is the family of God, bound together by the blood of Jesus Christ.