David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

When could that be wrong?!?

It’s hard to believe that anyone would criticize Jesus for healing a man – on any day at any time. When could that be wrong?!?

Blackeyed Susans
These Blackeyed Susans are growing on the 5 acres behind the gym and ECC building at St. John Lutheran Church. It's remarkable to me how they just grow. No one planted them – err… No human planted them: God did. Thanks be to God!

Matthew 12:8-14

He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”— so that they might accuse him. 11He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

I’m sure that I’m completely blind here as to how in any way whatsoever I am like the Pharisees. They got this so completely wrong! And Jesus is in their face on their error. He challenges them that they would pull a sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath. He is incredulous; righteously angry: why would anyone deny this man healing – on any day; at any time?!?

This, however, I know: When I am so certain of my own righteousness it is most often because I am blind to my sin. In this case I must simply ask God to search heart. It may not be that I would criticize Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath, but this remains true: If we have kept the whole law and broken only one part of it we are guilty before God of breaking the whole law (James 2:10).

Thanks be to God that we have a Savior who kept the whole law – from the depth of his heart to the everyday interactions he had with sinners and self-righteous folks. He heals diseases, comforts those who mourn, receives the humble and invites sinners into his kingdom.

Psalm 139:23-24

23Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

Doing good is always the right thing to do.

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