Mark 6:14-29 [7-12-09]
Grace and peace to you from God the Father, from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and from the Holy Spirit, who gives us life. Amen.
We are gathered here to today to celebrate the life of our brother John. To some of us he was known as a prophet. To others he was known as somewhat eccentric. And to many of us he was known as the Baptizer. However he was known one thing stands out; he was a great man by anyone’s standards. Amazingly he had none of the credentials we often associate with great leaders. He had no formal education. He had no money. He didn’t have friends in powerful places. He didn’t impress anyone with his tact. And he definitely didn’t dress for success, as we would define it. Yet despite these apparent handicaps, he was, according to his own cousin Jesus, among the greatest men ever born. He said, “neither Moses, Abraham, David, Elijah, nor Daniel was greater than John” (Luke 7:28). And although his life was cut short at such an early age, we can take comfort that he certainly knew of God’s promises
How do we know that this is true? I think that it would be helpful to understand John’s background and how he lived out his calling. John was of priestly descent. His mother, Elisabeth, was of the daughters of Aaron, while his father, Zechariah, was a priest of the course of Abijah, and did service in the temple at Jerusalem. It was said of them that "they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless" (Luke 1:6). In addition we know from the writer Luke that John was born about six months before the birth of Jesus. Of the place, we know only that it was in a city of the hill country of Judah. Our definite information concerning his youth is summed up in the angelic prophecy, "Many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb" (Luke 1:14-16), and (in Luke's brief statement), "And the child grew, and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel" (Luke 1:80). The character and spiritual insight of the parents shown in the incidents recorded are ample evidence that his training was a fitting preparation for his great mission.
What exactly was his mission? John assumed from the beginning his role as a messenger was to prepare the way for the approaching Messianic age. He clearly regarded his work as divinely appointed (John 1:33), but was well aware of his subordinate relation to the Messiah (Mark 1:7) and of the temporary character of his mission (John 3:30). John’s work was twofold. First he was called to announce the approaching Kingdom of God and for all to seek repentance. In his preaching he warned the nation of Israel that the true character of the new kingdom was a reign of righteousness. But while he announced himself as the messenger voice preparing the way of the Lord, his view of the nature of the kingdom was probably quite different from that of his hearers. Instead of the expected day of deliverance from the foreign oppressor, it was to be a day of judgment for Israel. It meant good for the penitent, but destruction for the ungodly. We read in Matthew 3 that he tells the Pharisees and the Sadducees that: “the one coming after me will clean house – he will make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.” (Math 3:12 MSG) He also told the crowds “what counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if its deadwood, it goes on the fire.” (Luke 3:9 MSG) The call to repentance was then a natural message of preparation for such a time of judgment. But to John, repentance was a very real and radical thing. It meant a complete change of heart and life. "Bring forth.... fruits worthy of repentance" (Luke 3:8). What these fruits were he made clear in his answers to the inquiring multitudes and the tax collectors and soldiers (Luke 3:10-14). It is noticeable that there is no reference to the usual ceremonies of the law or to a change of occupation. The only warnings are to “Do good; be honest; refrain from extortion; be content with wages”. These are words that ring true with us today as well.
Secondly it was through his calling of repentance that he began to baptize those who heard his preaching. While it seems clear that in the use of the rite of baptism John was influenced by the Jewish customs of ceremonial washings and proselyte baptism, his baptism differed very essentially from these and that his baptism was a preparation for a new condition. He said” I’m baptizing you here in the river turning your old life in for a kingdom life…the main character will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out” (Matt 3:11 MSG). We may say, then, that as a "baptism of repentance" it meant a renunciation of the past life; as a cleansing it symbolized the forgiveness of sins (Mk 1:4), and as preparation it implied a promise of loyalty to the kingdom of the Messiah. Therefore it was through John’s call to repentance and baptism he prepared at least a few hearts for a sympathetic response to the call and teaching of Jesus. I wonder how many of us have also turned to Jesus after hearing John ask us to renounce our former ways?
John was also called to formally announce and bear personal testimony to Jesus as the Messiah. He himself denied many times that he was the Messiah. Whenever he was asked, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" John answered them many times, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." John’s sole purpose was to elevate somebody else. He knew that one day another would come along and overshadow his achievements. He knew his place and what God desired of him. He knew that he must decrease, so that Jesus, the promised Messiah, would increase.
Although John would not think of himself as a prophet, in fact he was very much the prophet, if telling the truth is to be considered a form of prophecy. He knew of Israel’s condition, and called the religious leaders to task for not showing the people the proper way to righteousness. He rightly called them a brood of vipers, knowing full well how they preyed upon the people and made them adhere to laws that could not be met. John used such violence in addressing the Pharisees and Sadducees to startle them from their self-complacency. That they were blinded by their sense of security as the children of Abraham, and by their confidence in the merits of the law is attested by the fact that these parties resisted the teachings of both John and Jesus to the very end. And, as we heard today, it was his truth telling that eventually landed him in Herod’s prison. But even in the face of such persecution he would not back down. He continued to speak out against the moral evil that had overtaken the nation. And in the end it cost him his life.
And although John was never baptized, we know that John appropriated God’s promise that Jesus was the Messiah. John said, “This is the one! The One I told you was coming after me but was in fact ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, and has always had the first word. We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”. (John 1:15-17 MSG). And then when he saw Jesus coming toward him he declared, "Here he is, God’s Passover lamb! He forgives the sins of the world. This is the man I’ve been talking about, ‘the one who comes after me but is really ahead of me.’ I knew nothing about who he was –only this: that my task has been to get Israel ready to recognize him as the God-Revealer” (John 3:29-31 MSG). It was in this that John truly confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior, thus assuring John a place in the Kingdom of God (Romans 10:8-10).
Not only was John a great man, but he was also an example to us and for us today. We may not have had the priestly parentage that John had, but in our baptism we are called children of God. In our baptism then, we too have been called to tell others that God’s Kingdom is now here. We too are sent out into our neighborhoods, our schools, our work places, and to the stores we shop at telling others that there is forgiveness and life everlasting through God’s son, Jesus. We too have been divinely appointed to be truth tellers about God’s righteousness, even in the face of harassment. And like John we have been given the Holy Spirit to be able to do all these things. Yes, John was a remarkable man, but Jesus had the final say about us as well, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matt 11:11) So we celebrate the life of our brother John. We give thanks that he knew of God’s promises. We give thanks that he was the first of us to point the way to Jesus. And we give thanks that in his showing the way; we too have new life in Christ Jesus. Amen.
And may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep our hearts and minds on Christ Jesus. Amen.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Mission Trip [Mark 6;1-13]
Grace and peace to you from God our Father, from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and from the Holy Spirit who gives us life. Amen.
As many of you know the mission trip team of 25 young adults and four leaders leaves here tomorrow morning at “o-dot-thirty” for Lynchburg VA. I would like to read a partial list of all that they are taking to help make this trip possible. (Read list) Now mind you this is just for 10 days. And the team needs to bring along their own work supplies, which I did not list off. But I think, holy cats, is this an incredible amount of stuff or what? I look at this list and compare it to what the disciples were ordered to take with them on their first mission trip. There’s quite the difference, don’t you think?
Lets go ahead and look at the second half of our gospel lesson and, no pun intended, unpack it to see how this applies to our mission trip team. Verse 7; “And he (that is Jesus) summoned the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.” Just as Jesus called to himself the twelve disciples, so the team has been summoned as well. I’m not sure that they may fully realize this. They may think that they are going on this trip to have fun, and/or to be with friends. Maybe they think that this might be an adventure. Or it might possibly be a way to escape their parents and/or siblings for a few days. Whatever the reason, God has a greater purpose in mind for the individual team members. Just as God called Ezekiel to become a prophet to the nation of Israel [as we heard in the first lesson], God has summoned, and gathered these team members to a purpose higher than they may realize. And although we don’t know what that purpose is at this point, we can hope and trust in the promise we find in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose”.
So the disciples are called and sent out. Jesus commanded his disciples to go two by two. Why would he make this mandate? I think that there are several reasons for this. First Jesus himself tells us that where there are two or more gathered (or called) in my name, so there I will be also (Matt 18:20). The second issue is that of companionship. It’s easier to take on a task when there is someone there to be with you. That person can offer encouragement and guidance. This is reminiscent of the apostle Paul and his companion Barnabas (who’s name means encouragement). I don’t think that Paul would or could have done half the stuff he did if he didn’t have some companionship. In respect to this trip, I do not think that the team will be lacking for companionship. In fact they may wish at the end of ten days they weren’t with some of the people that they’re with. The third reason is for protection. Using Navy pilot slang, they can be your wing-man (or woman) to cover your back in case of trouble (or as Tony Dinozo on NCIS says, “Ok boss, I have your ‘six’”). Finally there is the issue of accountability. How easy would it be to fall into some kind of temptation if there isn’t someone there to hold you to task? How easy would it be to be duped or conned into doing something you normally wouldn’t do if there weren’t someone there to hold you up? With over 400 young adults and their leaders in Lynchburg, I don’t think that this will be too much of a problem.
The best part of this first verse is now here. The disciples were given authority over the unclean spirits. As Merriam Webster defines it, the disciples were given power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior over those forces opposed to God. Think about this. The disciples were given the same authority that Jesus had, or in other words, the power of the Holy Spirit. And this was well before Pentecost. And this authority was for the purpose of casting out the demons and to make people whole. Last week I gave you three Greek words. Do you remember the Greek word that means to “be made well”? This power is So-Zo. In other words to rescue, to liberate, to preserve the people that they would come into contact with. And this same authority has been given to the team. They will pray for, and with the families who live in those houses. They will write bible verses on the sides of the houses and then seal them with paint. They will teach and learn about God’s riches in Christ Jesus. They will cover these families with God’s grace and mercy, not just with words but also with deeds of love (and a lot of hard work). Through the power of the Holy Spirit they too will cast out the unclean spirits that dwell within the households and in doing so they will “So-Zo” the families they come in contact with.
We now get to verses 8 and 9 and I am sure that our youth director Sonja is thinking, “Oh no, here it comes”. Jesus orders his disciples to “take nothing for their journey except a staff, no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics”. In other words, pack light. I know of several folks who take long-distance motorcycle journeys and they have to follow this rule carefully. After all there just isn’t a lot of room on a motorcycle to pack a lot of stuff. Does the mission trip team really need all of the stuff that I listed off earlier? In regards to the tools that were not listed, yes. These tools are required to get the jobs done while they are there. As for the rest of the stuff, I think it depends upon whom you ask. I guess it depends on what is inside the 60 suitcases. Is it possible to only pack 30 suitcases, which is only one per person? If you ask one of the motorcyclists, they would say yes. On the other hand, I am sure that there are those who would insist they could not get along without certain items that they consider essential. But for this trip overall I am sure that this kind of advice is somewhat impractical. After all our economy doesn’t work the same way it did 2000 years ago. But I think that Jesus gave this order for a different reason. We get our clue in Matthew 6:25-26 when Jesus says, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you more valuable than they are?” Jesus gives the order to pack light so that the disciples will trust that all they need will be provided to them. I think that this adage also applies to us. After all aren’t we a community of faith that is also sent out to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ? I don’t how many of you have moved in the past few years, but when Deb and I moved 3 years ago, it seemed like we had an awful lot of “stuff”. If we had been required to move on a moments notice, we would not have been able to do so. It took us over a month to figure out what we were to keep and what to leave behind, not to mention that the actual packing of what we were taking with us consumed the better part of a week. Stuff weighs us down. It’s hard to focus on Christ when we are burdened with accumulated possessions. It’s hard to remember the great commission given to us when we’re dragging a knapsack or suitcase, or moving van along behind us. It’s hard to trust in God’s provisions when we think that we might “need” the stuff that’s in our wallets or purses. Which begs this question: what is it that gives us security, is it our possessions, or is it our relationship, and thus our assurance of salvation with the risen Lord?
Verses 10 and 11 continue this theme of reliance upon God, however it is put in the context of community and of hospitality. “[Jesus] said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." In order to save money the mission trip team will be staying at some churches as they travel to and from VA. I think that it’s terrific that there are other communities that are willing to put up our travelers in their journey. I know that we here at Peace Lutheran would do the same thing if asked. But wouldn’t it be strange, that when the team arrived at their destination, they found a different church to stay at and decided to lodge there instead? How do you think the first community would feel? And would the second accommodations be any better than the first? What Jesus is telling the disciples is that hospitality is part of God’s provision. God has not only called the missionaries to go and proclaim the good news, but communities are also called to put up the sojourner. The writer of Hebrews has this to say: “ Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2). In the showing and accepting of hospitality offered, both the community and the wayfarer are blessed. Who knows what seeds are planted when two groups come together? And if the traveler is rejected, I would say do not take it as insult. Could it possibly be that God has some other purpose in mind for that community? Therefore shake the dust from your feet and move on.
We finally get to the end of our text. In the last 2 verses we hear of the disciples setting out. And although we know that they drove out many demons and healed many people, we do not know the end of this particular story. Our mission trip team will soon be departing. On their way they will encounter many adventures. They will encounter many communities that will be accepting of them and there will be many people who will shun them. We also don’t know the end of their story. But we do know that they have been summoned and sent to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, whether it is painted on the side of their bus, or in their encounters with many different people, or in their hard work. We know they have been given authority to heal and cleanse and restore those families that they will help. We know that God will be before them, beside them, behind them, and in the middle of them. And in our own calling and commissioning may the same be said of us as well. Amen.
And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep our hearts and minds on Christ Jesus. Amen
As many of you know the mission trip team of 25 young adults and four leaders leaves here tomorrow morning at “o-dot-thirty” for Lynchburg VA. I would like to read a partial list of all that they are taking to help make this trip possible. (Read list) Now mind you this is just for 10 days. And the team needs to bring along their own work supplies, which I did not list off. But I think, holy cats, is this an incredible amount of stuff or what? I look at this list and compare it to what the disciples were ordered to take with them on their first mission trip. There’s quite the difference, don’t you think?
Lets go ahead and look at the second half of our gospel lesson and, no pun intended, unpack it to see how this applies to our mission trip team. Verse 7; “And he (that is Jesus) summoned the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.” Just as Jesus called to himself the twelve disciples, so the team has been summoned as well. I’m not sure that they may fully realize this. They may think that they are going on this trip to have fun, and/or to be with friends. Maybe they think that this might be an adventure. Or it might possibly be a way to escape their parents and/or siblings for a few days. Whatever the reason, God has a greater purpose in mind for the individual team members. Just as God called Ezekiel to become a prophet to the nation of Israel [as we heard in the first lesson], God has summoned, and gathered these team members to a purpose higher than they may realize. And although we don’t know what that purpose is at this point, we can hope and trust in the promise we find in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose”.
So the disciples are called and sent out. Jesus commanded his disciples to go two by two. Why would he make this mandate? I think that there are several reasons for this. First Jesus himself tells us that where there are two or more gathered (or called) in my name, so there I will be also (Matt 18:20). The second issue is that of companionship. It’s easier to take on a task when there is someone there to be with you. That person can offer encouragement and guidance. This is reminiscent of the apostle Paul and his companion Barnabas (who’s name means encouragement). I don’t think that Paul would or could have done half the stuff he did if he didn’t have some companionship. In respect to this trip, I do not think that the team will be lacking for companionship. In fact they may wish at the end of ten days they weren’t with some of the people that they’re with. The third reason is for protection. Using Navy pilot slang, they can be your wing-man (or woman) to cover your back in case of trouble (or as Tony Dinozo on NCIS says, “Ok boss, I have your ‘six’”). Finally there is the issue of accountability. How easy would it be to fall into some kind of temptation if there isn’t someone there to hold you to task? How easy would it be to be duped or conned into doing something you normally wouldn’t do if there weren’t someone there to hold you up? With over 400 young adults and their leaders in Lynchburg, I don’t think that this will be too much of a problem.
The best part of this first verse is now here. The disciples were given authority over the unclean spirits. As Merriam Webster defines it, the disciples were given power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior over those forces opposed to God. Think about this. The disciples were given the same authority that Jesus had, or in other words, the power of the Holy Spirit. And this was well before Pentecost. And this authority was for the purpose of casting out the demons and to make people whole. Last week I gave you three Greek words. Do you remember the Greek word that means to “be made well”? This power is So-Zo. In other words to rescue, to liberate, to preserve the people that they would come into contact with. And this same authority has been given to the team. They will pray for, and with the families who live in those houses. They will write bible verses on the sides of the houses and then seal them with paint. They will teach and learn about God’s riches in Christ Jesus. They will cover these families with God’s grace and mercy, not just with words but also with deeds of love (and a lot of hard work). Through the power of the Holy Spirit they too will cast out the unclean spirits that dwell within the households and in doing so they will “So-Zo” the families they come in contact with.
We now get to verses 8 and 9 and I am sure that our youth director Sonja is thinking, “Oh no, here it comes”. Jesus orders his disciples to “take nothing for their journey except a staff, no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics”. In other words, pack light. I know of several folks who take long-distance motorcycle journeys and they have to follow this rule carefully. After all there just isn’t a lot of room on a motorcycle to pack a lot of stuff. Does the mission trip team really need all of the stuff that I listed off earlier? In regards to the tools that were not listed, yes. These tools are required to get the jobs done while they are there. As for the rest of the stuff, I think it depends upon whom you ask. I guess it depends on what is inside the 60 suitcases. Is it possible to only pack 30 suitcases, which is only one per person? If you ask one of the motorcyclists, they would say yes. On the other hand, I am sure that there are those who would insist they could not get along without certain items that they consider essential. But for this trip overall I am sure that this kind of advice is somewhat impractical. After all our economy doesn’t work the same way it did 2000 years ago. But I think that Jesus gave this order for a different reason. We get our clue in Matthew 6:25-26 when Jesus says, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you more valuable than they are?” Jesus gives the order to pack light so that the disciples will trust that all they need will be provided to them. I think that this adage also applies to us. After all aren’t we a community of faith that is also sent out to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ? I don’t how many of you have moved in the past few years, but when Deb and I moved 3 years ago, it seemed like we had an awful lot of “stuff”. If we had been required to move on a moments notice, we would not have been able to do so. It took us over a month to figure out what we were to keep and what to leave behind, not to mention that the actual packing of what we were taking with us consumed the better part of a week. Stuff weighs us down. It’s hard to focus on Christ when we are burdened with accumulated possessions. It’s hard to remember the great commission given to us when we’re dragging a knapsack or suitcase, or moving van along behind us. It’s hard to trust in God’s provisions when we think that we might “need” the stuff that’s in our wallets or purses. Which begs this question: what is it that gives us security, is it our possessions, or is it our relationship, and thus our assurance of salvation with the risen Lord?
Verses 10 and 11 continue this theme of reliance upon God, however it is put in the context of community and of hospitality. “[Jesus] said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." In order to save money the mission trip team will be staying at some churches as they travel to and from VA. I think that it’s terrific that there are other communities that are willing to put up our travelers in their journey. I know that we here at Peace Lutheran would do the same thing if asked. But wouldn’t it be strange, that when the team arrived at their destination, they found a different church to stay at and decided to lodge there instead? How do you think the first community would feel? And would the second accommodations be any better than the first? What Jesus is telling the disciples is that hospitality is part of God’s provision. God has not only called the missionaries to go and proclaim the good news, but communities are also called to put up the sojourner. The writer of Hebrews has this to say: “ Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2). In the showing and accepting of hospitality offered, both the community and the wayfarer are blessed. Who knows what seeds are planted when two groups come together? And if the traveler is rejected, I would say do not take it as insult. Could it possibly be that God has some other purpose in mind for that community? Therefore shake the dust from your feet and move on.
We finally get to the end of our text. In the last 2 verses we hear of the disciples setting out. And although we know that they drove out many demons and healed many people, we do not know the end of this particular story. Our mission trip team will soon be departing. On their way they will encounter many adventures. They will encounter many communities that will be accepting of them and there will be many people who will shun them. We also don’t know the end of their story. But we do know that they have been summoned and sent to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, whether it is painted on the side of their bus, or in their encounters with many different people, or in their hard work. We know they have been given authority to heal and cleanse and restore those families that they will help. We know that God will be before them, beside them, behind them, and in the middle of them. And in our own calling and commissioning may the same be said of us as well. Amen.
And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep our hearts and minds on Christ Jesus. Amen
Miracles [Mark 5:21-43]
Grace and peace to you from God the Father, from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and from the Holy Spirit who gives us life. Amen
Many of you know that I am a hockey fan. Although I am not fanatical about it, I do love watching the game. And many of you know that my favorite team is the Detroit Red Wings (with apologies to any Minnesota Wild fans out there). Some of you may know that the Red Wings went to the Stanley Cup finals this year only to lose in the 7th game to the Pittsburg Penguins. My son, who is also a fan, and I were hoping for some kind of miracle in that final game so that the Red Wings could again hoist the Cup in honor of their winning achievements. Sadly this was not to be the case. 29 years ago however there was a hockey miracle. This was when the USA Olympic hockey team defeated an impressive Soviet team in Lake Placid NY. Al Michaels, in the final seconds of that game, asked, “Do you believe in miracles?” This event has since been immortalized in a movie called ‘Miracle on Ice”. However, that “miracle” was a result of extremely hard work on the part of the US team. I really do not believe that there was any divine intervention that caused the team to win that game. Contrast that to our gospel text today. The two miracles that we heard about were not the result of hard work. They were the result of faith. I think that Al Michael’s question could also be asked about this story and how it relates to us. Do we really believe in miracles? And what is that belief based on?
Before I continue I would like to talk about three Greek words that will come up later. The first is about the phrase “made well”. The root word for this in Greek is So-Zo. It can be translated as “rescue”, “liberate or save”, “keep from harm”, “heal”, or “preserve”. Think about these other meanings as we go through the text. The second term is the English word “power” which comes from the Greek word “dunamis” (dune-a-mees). This is the same root word that we use for the word dynamite! The last word is the Greek “Pistos”. 2 months ago I spoke about this and how it means both faith and belief.
At the beginning of the text we read that Jesus has returned to an area he had previously been to. Great crowds have surrounded Jesus, and although we are not told of their motivation for being there, Mark gives us previous clues. Jesus has been teaching to many people in the region. Jesus has cast out demons and healed many people. This great crowd has gathered to see what will happen next. To these people, it’s as if this Jesus from Nazareth person is some sort of carnival freak. And in the middle of this we read that Jarius, comes to Jesus, and in an uncharacteristic way falls at Jesus feet and begs him to heal his gravely ill daughter. Now this part of the story is odd for at least one reason. Jarius is the leader of the local synagogue, which means that he is part of the Jewish establishment and would normally have nothing to do with Jesus. The fact that he comes and falls at his feet and begs Jesus, humbling himself in front of his peers, neighbors, and the rest of the onlookers tells us that this man must be at the end of his options for finding a cure for his daughter. There is only one hope left and it is in the form of this man standing in front of him who reportedly can heal anyone. And so they go off to Jarius’ house, with the crowd following hoping to see another display of Jesus’ ability to produce a miracle.
In the middle of this crowd, and in the middle of this story, is one who is hoping for her own miracle. We never do get her name and yet we already know more about her than we do about Jarius or his daughter. We know that for 12 years she had been suffering from a “hemorrhage” (which is an euphemism for menstrual bleeding). We know that she has endured much under many physicians. We know that she had exhausted all of her life savings to be made well, but has only been made worse. And like Jarius, she is at the end of her options for finding a cure. But unlike Jarius, she doesn’t want anyone to know about this. She didn’t want to confront Jesus and demand a cure. She just thought that if she touched just a part of his clothing, she might, hope against hope, be made well. And so she follows through on her desire. She touches Jesus’ cloak and immediately she is healed of her dis-ease. And Jesus responds immediately knowing that power has gone forth from him. “Who touched my clothes?”, he asks, loud enough so that not only do the disciples hear him, but the woman as well. As a result she comes forth, in awe as to what has happened to her, confessing her story. She tells the truth to the one whose power (dune-a-mees) she has tapped. And his response is to not only acknowledge her faith, her Pistos, which has made her well (So-Zo), but, by calling her “daughter”, he acknowledges the relationship that they now have. In this way she has been healed of more than just a physical ailment.
At this point some people come up to Jarius to tell him his daughter has died. Can you imagine Jarius’ reaction to this? At this point surely his hope is gone. Why bother carrying on now? Jesus does not respond to those who have other agendas for “the teacher” but rather tells Jarius to buck up, keep believing, “have Pistos”, in the one standing next to you. So they go off to finish the task they had started. Even in the face of scoffers, of those who do not believe, of those who have not seen his power, or those who just do not care, Jesus does not relent. He gathers those who he knows have some small measure of faith, and speaking to the daughter in Aramaic he says literally, “Lamb, get up”. And immediately she does, begins walking around, and is fed. And this is amazing! But I wonder who was really healed, or made well, or liberated, or preserved here? Undoubtedly in one sense it is the girl. But it wasn’t her faith that made her well. She was dead. And don’t you think being dead she was already healed from the dis-ease that had already ailed her? As modern day Christians don’t we often proclaim that one who has died, especially if they have been in pain, are now better off, that they are now with Jesus where there is no more crying, and no more pain? No it wasn’t just the girl who was made well and made alive, but also Jarius. It was his faith, his Pistos that made the healing possible. And in the daughter’s healing he was also made well. He was liberated from the pain of loss. His hope was rescued so that he could go on with his life.
Do we really believe in miracles? I guess it depends upon what you or I would define as a miracle. Is watching a sunrise or seeing a rainbow a miracle? Is experiencing a baby being born a miracle? Is the remission of cancerous tumors a miracle? Is a return from a near death experience a miracle? Is faith or belief in the one who died for us a miracle? Or are we so caught up in the press of the crowd, of our fast-paced society, that we miss the miracles that surround us? If all these things and more are miracles, and they are not dismissed out of hand with some sort of scientific explanation, what is it based on? Are we so sure of what we think are the facts that we laugh off the possibility of what God might actually be able to do? Or how much faith/belief do we need? For the unnamed woman it was not much: “if only I could touch his cloak”. For Jarius it was, “please lay your hands on my daughter”. What about you or I? Is it, “if only my sins are forgiven”? Is it “if only I could be called daughter or son”? Is it “please feed me the bread of life and quench my thirst with living waters”? Even with the power of a thousand atom bombs at our disposal, we only need a firecracker faith to be rescued, redeemed, and restored. Unlike the 1980 US Olympic hockey team we do not have to work for these miracles. Like the woman and Jarius we only have to draw near to Jesus to be forgiven, adopted, and fed. Then, open to the possibilities of the miracles in our lives we can then rejoice. Amen.
And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep our hearts and minds on Christ Jesus. Amen
Many of you know that I am a hockey fan. Although I am not fanatical about it, I do love watching the game. And many of you know that my favorite team is the Detroit Red Wings (with apologies to any Minnesota Wild fans out there). Some of you may know that the Red Wings went to the Stanley Cup finals this year only to lose in the 7th game to the Pittsburg Penguins. My son, who is also a fan, and I were hoping for some kind of miracle in that final game so that the Red Wings could again hoist the Cup in honor of their winning achievements. Sadly this was not to be the case. 29 years ago however there was a hockey miracle. This was when the USA Olympic hockey team defeated an impressive Soviet team in Lake Placid NY. Al Michaels, in the final seconds of that game, asked, “Do you believe in miracles?” This event has since been immortalized in a movie called ‘Miracle on Ice”. However, that “miracle” was a result of extremely hard work on the part of the US team. I really do not believe that there was any divine intervention that caused the team to win that game. Contrast that to our gospel text today. The two miracles that we heard about were not the result of hard work. They were the result of faith. I think that Al Michael’s question could also be asked about this story and how it relates to us. Do we really believe in miracles? And what is that belief based on?
Before I continue I would like to talk about three Greek words that will come up later. The first is about the phrase “made well”. The root word for this in Greek is So-Zo. It can be translated as “rescue”, “liberate or save”, “keep from harm”, “heal”, or “preserve”. Think about these other meanings as we go through the text. The second term is the English word “power” which comes from the Greek word “dunamis” (dune-a-mees). This is the same root word that we use for the word dynamite! The last word is the Greek “Pistos”. 2 months ago I spoke about this and how it means both faith and belief.
At the beginning of the text we read that Jesus has returned to an area he had previously been to. Great crowds have surrounded Jesus, and although we are not told of their motivation for being there, Mark gives us previous clues. Jesus has been teaching to many people in the region. Jesus has cast out demons and healed many people. This great crowd has gathered to see what will happen next. To these people, it’s as if this Jesus from Nazareth person is some sort of carnival freak. And in the middle of this we read that Jarius, comes to Jesus, and in an uncharacteristic way falls at Jesus feet and begs him to heal his gravely ill daughter. Now this part of the story is odd for at least one reason. Jarius is the leader of the local synagogue, which means that he is part of the Jewish establishment and would normally have nothing to do with Jesus. The fact that he comes and falls at his feet and begs Jesus, humbling himself in front of his peers, neighbors, and the rest of the onlookers tells us that this man must be at the end of his options for finding a cure for his daughter. There is only one hope left and it is in the form of this man standing in front of him who reportedly can heal anyone. And so they go off to Jarius’ house, with the crowd following hoping to see another display of Jesus’ ability to produce a miracle.
In the middle of this crowd, and in the middle of this story, is one who is hoping for her own miracle. We never do get her name and yet we already know more about her than we do about Jarius or his daughter. We know that for 12 years she had been suffering from a “hemorrhage” (which is an euphemism for menstrual bleeding). We know that she has endured much under many physicians. We know that she had exhausted all of her life savings to be made well, but has only been made worse. And like Jarius, she is at the end of her options for finding a cure. But unlike Jarius, she doesn’t want anyone to know about this. She didn’t want to confront Jesus and demand a cure. She just thought that if she touched just a part of his clothing, she might, hope against hope, be made well. And so she follows through on her desire. She touches Jesus’ cloak and immediately she is healed of her dis-ease. And Jesus responds immediately knowing that power has gone forth from him. “Who touched my clothes?”, he asks, loud enough so that not only do the disciples hear him, but the woman as well. As a result she comes forth, in awe as to what has happened to her, confessing her story. She tells the truth to the one whose power (dune-a-mees) she has tapped. And his response is to not only acknowledge her faith, her Pistos, which has made her well (So-Zo), but, by calling her “daughter”, he acknowledges the relationship that they now have. In this way she has been healed of more than just a physical ailment.
At this point some people come up to Jarius to tell him his daughter has died. Can you imagine Jarius’ reaction to this? At this point surely his hope is gone. Why bother carrying on now? Jesus does not respond to those who have other agendas for “the teacher” but rather tells Jarius to buck up, keep believing, “have Pistos”, in the one standing next to you. So they go off to finish the task they had started. Even in the face of scoffers, of those who do not believe, of those who have not seen his power, or those who just do not care, Jesus does not relent. He gathers those who he knows have some small measure of faith, and speaking to the daughter in Aramaic he says literally, “Lamb, get up”. And immediately she does, begins walking around, and is fed. And this is amazing! But I wonder who was really healed, or made well, or liberated, or preserved here? Undoubtedly in one sense it is the girl. But it wasn’t her faith that made her well. She was dead. And don’t you think being dead she was already healed from the dis-ease that had already ailed her? As modern day Christians don’t we often proclaim that one who has died, especially if they have been in pain, are now better off, that they are now with Jesus where there is no more crying, and no more pain? No it wasn’t just the girl who was made well and made alive, but also Jarius. It was his faith, his Pistos that made the healing possible. And in the daughter’s healing he was also made well. He was liberated from the pain of loss. His hope was rescued so that he could go on with his life.
Do we really believe in miracles? I guess it depends upon what you or I would define as a miracle. Is watching a sunrise or seeing a rainbow a miracle? Is experiencing a baby being born a miracle? Is the remission of cancerous tumors a miracle? Is a return from a near death experience a miracle? Is faith or belief in the one who died for us a miracle? Or are we so caught up in the press of the crowd, of our fast-paced society, that we miss the miracles that surround us? If all these things and more are miracles, and they are not dismissed out of hand with some sort of scientific explanation, what is it based on? Are we so sure of what we think are the facts that we laugh off the possibility of what God might actually be able to do? Or how much faith/belief do we need? For the unnamed woman it was not much: “if only I could touch his cloak”. For Jarius it was, “please lay your hands on my daughter”. What about you or I? Is it, “if only my sins are forgiven”? Is it “if only I could be called daughter or son”? Is it “please feed me the bread of life and quench my thirst with living waters”? Even with the power of a thousand atom bombs at our disposal, we only need a firecracker faith to be rescued, redeemed, and restored. Unlike the 1980 US Olympic hockey team we do not have to work for these miracles. Like the woman and Jarius we only have to draw near to Jesus to be forgiven, adopted, and fed. Then, open to the possibilities of the miracles in our lives we can then rejoice. Amen.
And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep our hearts and minds on Christ Jesus. Amen
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