Handiwork

Discussion Questions 

1. Read John 5:2-9. Then read the devotional, “Handiwork.” 

2. What’s a precious item to you that you’ve loved to touch? 

3. How does it make you feel to know that scripture has changed and grown over time? 

4. If you were adding a sentence to the Bible, what would it say? 

Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called Beth-zatha. [A]n angel of the Lord went down from time to time into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was made well. – John 5:2 & 4, excerpted (NRSVUE)

If you open your Bible to John 5, you’ll be surprised to find no mention of a water-stirring angel. It’s only in the footnotes. That’s because the earliest versions of the book don’t include it. Only later editions. 

Which is the kind of thing that used to really bother me. Someone just inserted a sentence into scripture?! Invented a whole character?! 

For a long time, I was determined to learn all those changes. Figure out what else needed crossed out of my Bible. Get back to the untouched original. 

Then last summer on vacation, I ducked into the shop of a woodturner, hoping to find a souvenir for my wife. On the shelves of the tiny gallery were the most beautiful bowls, each a piece of art, which made me feel like I had chosen the wrong shop. But the woman behind the counter, after watching me pace uncomfortably awhile, came over and thrust one into my hands. 

“You can pick them up. Michael makes them to be handled.” 

I held the bowl. Perfectly balanced, full of texture and character. While it had been lovely on the shelf, up close it was exquisite. The unmistakable work of real human hands. 

Like our scripture. Beautiful. Inspiring of fearsome awe. And meant to be handled. Told and retold. Used and transformed in the using. 

Like the angel who was never supposed to trouble those pristine waters, but brought healing when she did. 

Prayer
Jesus, give me hands-on faith.