Mark 5:21-43 Jesus-the True Faith Healer

A man was not feeling very well, so he decided to go to a doctor. While he was waiting in the doctor's reception room, a nun came out of the doctor's office. She looked very ashen, drawn and haggard. The man went into the doctor's office and said to the doctor: "I just saw a nun leaving who looked absolutely terrible. I have never seen a woman look worse."

The doctor said: "I just told her that she is pregnant." The man exclaimed: "Oh my, is she?" The doctor responded: "No, but it sure cured her hiccups."

The Gospel reading from Mark 5:21-43 is a pair of stories about faith and Jesus’ power over life and death. The woman with the hemorrhage showed great faith in spite of obstacles. The story of Jairus and his daughter demonstrated great faith on the part of a religious leader. Both came from different social classes. Jairus was a well-to-do member of the religious establishment-a group that often opposed Jesus. The woman with the hemorrhage was poor and a social outcast. The difference in social classes did not matter to Jesus. He treated both of them equally.

                                                                                                                                      

In each case, the “establishment” could not offer a solution to the problem, but Jesus could, in spite of opposition and laughter. Jairus was desperate because his child was dying, and as those of you who are parents know all too well, a parent of a sick or dying child will do almost anything to save the child. Jairus was so desperate he knelt at the feet of the one person who could help him-Jesus.

The woman with the hemorrhage also sought a solution from the one person who could help her. All the doctors she saw failed her. Society failed her because her bleeding made her unclean along with everyone and everything she touched. She is an example of women today who struggle to break through in business and society. She is an inspiration to women in religious settings who feel that their ministerial gifts are ignored or rejected.

Jesus did not fail her. He saw her as a person and as someone of value. She believed that by just touching the clothes of the one man who could help her, she would be healed, and her healing changed her, her heart, her body, her life and her soul.  

There are many Biblical texts that refer to the relationship between sickness and sin or between forgiveness and healing. These relationships exist not because God has decided to inflict sickness on some poor unfortunate souls, but because sickness and sin define everything that is wrong with our world. In other words, they define the mess that God comes to clean up. The religious leaders of Jesus’ time are good examples of the mess.

Some people believe that God should rid the world of sickness and death, and that belief does make some sense. If God protected everyone who believed in Him, then everyone would believe not out of love, but out of a calculated self-interest. People would believe only so that God would take care of them and their families. Unfortunately, we would also have no freedom to believe or disbelieve. We would be enslaved because of our fear of death, and that is not what God had in mind.

Jairus had to “lower” himself when he sought healing for his daughter. He had to move beyond the rules and expectations of the religious elite in order to be delivered from its assumptions and illusions. He had to move beyond the praises and promises and good intentions of the religious elite and go with what his heart told him to do. He used his social status and power in order to approach Jesus, and then he emptied himself of them. He came to Jesus in humility and earnest faith.

When Jesus brought the little girl back to life, he didn’t fill her empty stomach. That’s because God wants us to be a part of what he is doing. He brought the little girl back to life, but he wanted the people around her to give her something to eat and watch her enjoy every morsel. Then there would be no doubt that Jesus truly was omnipotent-all powerful and great in mercy.

Jesus came to raise the dead-both the physically dead and the spiritually dead. When Jesus is on a mission, nothing can stop him. He did not allow the professional mourners and their laughter to stop him from showing God’s healing power. The mourners represent people who refuse to accept Christ and the gifts he offers.

Only a select few were allowed to see Jesus bring the girl back to life. Jesus wanted the news kept secret. He knew that most of the people could not understand what had happened. He knew that the miracle of the dead being brought back to life could only be understood by those who believe in one who himself was raised from the dead-namely, Jesus.  

Most of you have heard of the old saying that “desperate times call for desperate remedies”. Desperate times also call for a desperate faith-a faith we saw in both of these parables. Faith in itself is meaningless, but faith in an all-powerful God means everything. Jesus enters our lives in our hopeless moments and brings us hope. He comes with his healing power when no healing is possible. Sometimes he works the miracle of physical healing, and sometimes he works the miracle of spiritual healing. He may not always come when we want him to come, and he might not always answer our prayers the way we want him to, but we must always be faithful and know that he will help us. Faith is the belief that God will do what is right.

Sometimes God does what is right by not doing anything right away or by doing something other than what we want him to do. Jairus had to wait for his daughter’s “healing” while Jesus healed the woman with the hemorrhage, and as a result his daughter’s situation went from bad to worse. When we have to wait, our faith can be shaken. We wonder if God loves us at all. We might wonder if we are worthy of God’s love. We might wonder if we are praying to God in the proper way. Jairus might have had some of these same feelings, and if he did, it would certainly be understandable. Jesus did not give up on Jairus, and Jairus did not give up on Jesus. Jesus asked Jairus to have faith, and Jairus did have faith. Even when God does not answer our prayers in the way we want him to do, we can have faith that God does love us and he answered our prayer in the way that was best for us and in line with his will for our lives.

Faith empowers healing, but the lack of faith hinders healing. That’s why Jesus ordered the mourners to leave Jairus’ house. Their minds were closed to someone who has the last word over death-Jesus. People who have faith handle life’s problems differently from people who have no faith. This is the story of the true meaning of the term “faith healing”. An act of faith on the part of the woman healed her. Jesus even said that her faith made her well. Jairus never lost faith, even when he was told that his daughter was dead. Jesus did not comfort Jairus when he heard that his daughter had died. Instead, Jesus challenged him to have faith. Regardless of our circumstances, God always urges us to have faith, not fear.  

Nothing is too small for God. He notices the little things in our lives, just like Jesus noticed when the woman touched his cloak. Jesus always knows the intentions of our hearts and he distinguishes the touch of faith from the touch of a follower.

Jesus gave out of his abundant power to heal, and we have been called to give out of our abundance and carry out God’s work in our world. He calls us to love one another as he loves us-including showing love and compassion to those who are suffering. Jesus took people where they were and loved them into life. He is love in action. Loving is costly. It takes something out of us, just like each and every healing took something out of Jesus. We suffer when we work against God’s will, especially when it conflicts with our own selfish desires. Sometimes his will interrupts our lives. When it does, can we adapt or do we stick to our plans?

This Gospel passage shows the compassionate face of Jesus. He suffered with those who suffered, and he still serves the suffering today. He served those who reached out to him in vulnerable ways, and he still served them today. He showed compassion to the suffering and the grieving, and he still shows compassion to them today. This compassionate, suffering,  servant attitude gives us hope for today and hope for the next life as well.

Something else that we learn from this story is that with God, all things are possible. When things are impossible from an earthly point of view, they are possible from God’s point of view. When things are looking bleak, as they are for those of you who have been affected by the closure of the local paper mill, you can take comfort in the knowledge that God will be there to comfort you and give you strength as you face the challenges in the days, weeks and months ahead.

You can also take comfort in the knowledge that there are people and resources in the community that are ready, willing and able to help you, and I urge you to seek them out and accept their help. For example, our rector has arranged for some qualified people within our parish to help with debt counseling. He is also prepared to offer stress management counseling and other counseling to those who need it. In fact, he is already offering counseling to some clients of the local food bank. Other members of the local clergy are also prepared to offer help.

When we receive God’s grace, we end up taking Jesus seriously. When we do, Jesus will change our tears into joy and our skepticism into amazement. At that time we will find out what it means to be made whole.

It is at times like these when we need to put our differences aside and work together to help those who are facing difficult times.  Just like Jesus treated Jairus and the woman equally, our spiritual differences are put aside when we come together in worship and in faith. He reaches out to us in Word and Sacrament, takes us by the hand and raises us up in faith. Only then can we experience the life God intended all of humanity to have-one that is whole, free, redeemed and restored.

Bibliography

1.      Stanley, C.F., “The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB” (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publisher; 2009)

2.      Exegesis for Mark 5:21-43. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

3.      The Rev. Amy Butler, “Desperate for Freedom”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

4.      Michael E. Brooks, “In the Midst of the Crowd”. Retrieved from forthright@associate.com

5.      Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 13^th Sunday (B)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

6.      Mike DeVries, “The Shalom of God”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

7.      The Rev, Sarah Jackson Shelton, CBF, “A Daughter’s Faith”. Retrieved from www.day1.org

8.      Arthur Schoonveld, “Jesus Came to Comfort”. Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net

9.      Sharon Jaynes, “Valued”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

10.  Gwen Smith, “A Desperate Faith”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

11.  McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J., “The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 25:Mark” (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

12.  Lucado, M., “The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible”. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2010)

13.  The Rev. Beth Quick, “Are We There Yet?” Retrieved from www.bethquick.com/sermon6-29-03.htm

14.  The Rev. Beth Quick, “On the Road to Jairus’ House” Retrieved from www.bethquick.com/sermon7-2-00.htm

15.  The Rev. Beth Quick, “Interrupted”. Retrieved from www.bethquick.com/sermon7-2-06.htm

16.  Frederick Gaiser, “How to Preach Healing Every Time You Preach”. Retrieved from www.sermoncentral.com/Articles/Article_PrintFriendly.asp?ArticleID=1291

17.  Interpreter’s Commentary. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

18.  John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, Proper 8, Ordinary 13, Year B. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod.org/archives/year-b-season-pentecost-proper-8-ordinary-13

19.  Maxie Dunnam, “Two for the Price of One”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

20.  King Duncan, “Beaten Up But Still Standing”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

21.  James W. Moore, “Journey to the Cross II”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

22.  Ron Lavin, “The Compassionate Healing”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

23.  “Only Believe”. Retrieved from www.sermons4kids.com/only_believe_print.htm

24.  The Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway, PCUSA, “Taking Jesus Seriously”. Retrieved from www.day1.org



Luke 4:21-30 Rubbing People the Wrong Way

There was once an evangelist named Billy Sunday. He was the Billy Graham of his generation. He was conducting a crusade in a particular city, and in one sermon he said something critical of labour conditions for workers in that city. After the service, several businessmen sent him a message which read as follows: “Billy, leave labour matters alone. Concentrate on getting people saved. Stay away from political issues. You’re rubbing the fur the wrong way”. Billy Sunday sent this message back to them: “If I’m rubbing the fur the wrong way, tell the cats to turn around”.

 

 

I wonder if the congregation in the gospel reading from Luke 4:21-30 was just as upset by Jesus’ comments as the businessmen were by Billy Sunday’s message. After all, here was Jesus, a simple, common local man who was saying such profound things………things that they didn’t want to hear. He was welcomed as a hometown hero……..until he exposed the darkness of their souls. That darkness included the view that they were “holier than thou”. They thought that Jesus should save his miracles and teachings for them, instead of including people they regarded as human trash; namely the Gentiles and others who were rejected by society.

They did not realize something that we often fail to realize today. The church is not a club or a membership organization. It is a place where Christ is preached and proclaimed, where disciples are made and nurtured, and a place where we confront ourselves. We have to realize that we are not who we think we are, but instead we are sinners who have been redeemed by a God who sent his son to die for us. The church is where we gather as sisters and brothers who are different from each other but who are one people gathered at the font and the table and sent out to serve in so many different ways.

Jesus came to free sinners from the bonds of guilt, sin and corruption. He is the servant referred to in the passage he read from Isaiah. Now the Jews had been waiting for centuries for a Messiah to rescue them from the bonds of oppression, but they weren’t ready for him when he came. They expected a military-type of Messiah who would drive the Romans out and return Israel to the glory days of the reign of King David. Instead, what they got was someone who was far from their expectations-a simple, common man from a simple, common background who would do extraordinary things such as heal the sick, cure the lame, save sinners and associate with outcasts such as sinners and tax collectors. They did not realize that in fact they were the ones who needed healing and saving. 

When someone is different or doesn’t meet our expectations, how do we treat them? Do we accept them for who they are, or do we reject them because they are different or because they don’t belong? I found myself in a situation like this when my family moved to Liverpool, Nova Scotia in 1973. When I started school that year, I was shunned to the point of being bullied, largely because I didn’t fit in and because of where I was from.

The people in the congregation were indeed “holier than thou”. They thought that they were better than everyone else. They wanted to keep Jesus for themselves and away from the social outcasts. We are the same today. We sometimes think that we are better than others because we belong to the right church or club, or go to the right schools, or live in the right neighbourhood. When we meet other people do not go to the same church, club or school, or live in the wrong neighbourhood, we sometimes look down on them. For example, I heard my father tell the story one time of an incident that happened before my family moved here. One day he was in the post office in the community we were living in when a lady came in and started having a conversation with him. At one point, she asked him which church he went to. When he told her, she said, “Well, that’s what I was afraid of!” and stormed out of the post office.

There was another example of this “holier than thou’ attitude in oour provincial newspaper a couple of years ago. There was a story about a devout Anglican who died without a wife or children, and under the terms of his will, which was written approximately 25 years ago, his house could only be sold to someone who was an Anglican or a Presbyterian. The executor too this to court, and the  judge ruled that since the Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the purchase of sale of property on the basis of religion, this restriction was illegal.

We often judge people because of prejudices that are caused by the other person’s family, social status or other reasons. For example, many of you may remember when Hank Snow lived and grew up in this area. My mother has told me stories about his family situation, how he grew up and how he was forced to leave the area. After he became famous, people in this area were behind him one hundred percent, especially in recent years because of the Friends of Hank Snow Society. Jesus met with a similar reaction. He was welcomed by the hometown crowd when he returned, but when he turned the spotlight on their sins, they wanted to kill him.

Jesus told the crowd what they needed to hear instead of what they wanted to hear. He challenged their way of thinking and the status quo. He came to “upset the apple cart” called their way of life. He told the crowd that they did not have an exclusive relationship with God. He reinforced John the Baptist’s claim in Luke 3:8 about God being able to use stones to raise children of Abraham. Jesus reminded them of times when God passed judgment on Israel but saved a Gentile woman. He reminded them of God finding favour with Naaman the leper-a leper who was a Gentile. All told, his message was a reminder of the old adage that “the truth hurts”. In this case, the truth hurt the congregation.

Jesus dragged the margin boundaries of race, creed and colour to include all people. This was part of his ministry. The Jews were not necessarily at war with Jesus the man. They were at war with his ministry, just like the world is often at war with modern Christian ministry. The Jews felt threatened by the Christian movement, just like many in our world today feel threatened by the Christian climate. Christians are threatened throughout the world today, especially in places such as Iran, India, China and North Korea. In fact, North Korea has been ranked number one in the world by the organization Open Doors 2010 World Watch List in terms of persecution of Christians.  

For centuries, people in India have lived under a rigid caste system in which every person is born into a set social group or caste. People who are born into the highest social group receive the benefits of honour and respect. Then there are different levels below this. A person’s caste at birth will determine what job he can have, who he can marry, and what rights he has in society. The very lowest caste is the Dalits, whose name actually means “broken, crushed”. The Dalits are targets of violence and discrimination in Indian society.

And now, they are targets for discrimination for another reason: their faith. The Christian faith is quite attractive to the Dalits. In fact, 80% of Christians in India are Dalits. They choose to follow Christ even when they know the consequences they might face. Why would they invite this treatment by becoming Christians? They do so because in Christ, we meet a God who loves and lifts up those who would be torn down by society. His heart is with those who suffer. He cares about those who are hurting, who are helpless, who are brokenhearted, and who are in bondage. He will not abandon us to despair. God is a God of hope. God is a God of justice.  

Today, where do we see the church behaving like the congregation in the synagogue? Where do we see any group suffering from a toxic case of in-group loyalties, otherwise decent people making furious fools of themselves? Any group that considers itself to be favoured can behave in this way, from a congregation to a nation. Where do we see outsiders who welcome the good news and new life that Christ offers?

Jesus read the hearts of the congregation just like he reads our hearts today. How do we respond to war, abortion, divorce, conspicuous consumption, concern for the poor, racism, sexual orientation or child abuse and exploitation? Do we respond out of prejudice or out of Christian love? In our hymn book there is a hymn with this line: “Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?” Jesus calls us to come and go with him, to become servants, fishers and followers, witnesses---in other words, to become more than we are. A good example of this is the outpouring of support for the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti.

We are called upon to speak and act on God’s behalf, especially when we see injustice in our world. For example, lay readers in this Diocese are encouraged to become involved in areas of social justice. That’s one reason why I’m heavily involved with the local food bank. Do we feel up to the task? Can we face opposition? Can we do anything to bring about change? Yes, we can, especially with faith and God’s help. We are to see that the broken, bound and bruised are set free and made whole. By doing so, we show the radical nature of God’s love. God does not love just US. God does not love just people WHO ARE LIKE US. God does not just love people WHO LOVE US. God loves even OUR ENEMIES---people who hate us---people who hurt us.  

When we reject Jesus, we miss the opportunity of a lifetime. There is no guarantee of a second chance. Today, there are only two continents in the world on which Christianity is not growing--Europe and North America, two of the most prosperous places in the world where our faith was planted long ago. Today, many refuse to believe in the miracles of the Bible, including the resurrection, so God has sent the Gospel elsewhere. Jesus asks us the same question he asked Peter long ago at the shore of the Sea of Galilee; namely “Do you love me?” What he is really asking is “Do you love me more than anyone or anything else? Do you have faith enough to let me cleanse you of myth and prejudice, rearrange your priorities and set your agenda?”

Works Cited

ESV Study Bible

 International Christian Concern (2010, January 15). North Korea on Top Persecution List-Again. Retrieved January 15, 2010, from Persecution.org: www.persecution.org/suffering/newsdetail.php?newscode=11488

Dunnam, M. (n.d.). The Word and Words. Retrieved January 13, 2010, from eSermons.com: www.esermons.com

“Even when there’s a will, there’s no way house sale can be discriminatory, court rules”, The Halifax Chronicle-Herald, Jan. 27, 2010

Exegesis of Luke 4:21-30. (n.d.). Retrieved January 13, 2010, from Sermonwriter.com: www.sermonwriter.com

Henry, M. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary.

Kegel, Rev. D. (n.d.). Not Just Inside. Retrieved January 13, 2010, from Sermonwriter.com: www.sermonwriter.com

Molin, Pastor  S. (n.d.). What About Us? Retrieved January 13, 2010, from Sermonwriter.com: www.sermonwriter.com

People's New Testament. (n.d.).

Luke 7:11-17 We Rise Again

On a dark and stormy night, an American, a Canadian and a Scotsman were in a bad car accident. All three were rushed to the hospital, though all three had died before they arrived. Just as they were about to put the toe tag on the American, he awoke and opened his eyes. Astonished, the doctors and nurses asked him what had happened.

The American replied, “I remember the crash, and then there was a bright white light, and then the Canadian and the Scotsman and I were standing at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter approached us and said that we were all too young to die, and that for a donation of $150 we could return to earth. So of course I pulled out my wallet and gave him the $150 and the next thing I knew I was back here”.

One of the doctors said, “That’s amazing, but what happened to the other two?”

The American replied, “Last I saw them, the Scotsman was haggling over the price, and the Canadian was waiting for the government to pay his.”

Picture the scene in today’s Gospel reading for a moment. The widow has just lost her only son. Since her husband is already dead, she is facing dire personal and financial trouble. In those days, widows were supported by the eldest son. To make matters worse, her son is being buried within 24 hours of his death, as was the custom at that time because of the problem of decomposition combined with the heat. She has not had time to even begin to comprehend the meaning of her loss.

As the funeral procession is leaving the village, Jesus and his followers arrive from the village of Nain. They immediately stop to let the funeral procession pass, something which many of us do today, although there are some who don’t.  When Jesus sees what is happening, he is moved by compassion. He comforts the widow, and then brings her son back to life.  

This is not the first time Jesus has raised someone from the dead. He who is called the Word of Life in 1 John 1:1 is Lord of both the dead and the living according to Romans 14:9. This also parallels the Old Testament reading from 1 Kings 17:8-24 in which Elijah raised the widow’s son from the dead. The difference is in the way both dead sons were raised to life. Elijah laid his body on top of the body of the widow’s son, whereas Jesus merely had to touch the body.

Someone pointed out that in each case where Jesus raised someone from the dead he called each dead person individually. He did this because if he would not have specified which person was to rise, every tomb in Israel and in the entire world may have opened up at his command. Jesus has that much power. Instead, the tombs of the other people and those who have died since then will be opened at the time of the Second Coming.

This is a story about miracles. Christ still works miracles in our lives today. Sometimes the miracles are the direct result of prayer. Healing does not depend on the degree of faith we have or how righteous we are. If we have faith that is as small as a mustard seed, God can and will work miracles in our lives.

Healing and wholeness are first cousins. To be healed is to be made whole, and to be made whole is to be saved. God heals the body and the mind at the same time. God does not just heal on a whim. He does it so that we may see his glory, hear his word and sing his praises. God uses miracles as signs of his power.

All of Jesus’ healings were the result of his compassion for people. When he saw the widow and her friends pass by, he assessed the situation and thought of a way to respond. He did not want to simply stand on the side of the road and watch the procession go by. He wanted to do something that would show these grieving people the kingdom of God-a kingdom which knows no grief. In order to put his plan into action, Jesus had to touch the coffin. In doing so, he broke one of the laws of that time. Under Jewish law, touching a dead body made a person unclean for seven days. Jesus didn’t care about customs or rules. To him, faith, love and actions were more important. We do not have to fit into a set pattern to receive his help. He doesn’t restrain his compassion because we fail to meet a good deed quota or because we don’t say the right words, or because we don’ follow the correct ritual.

You would think that the grieving widow would have been happy when Jesus showed his compassion, but that wasn’t the case. Her grief turned to fear. This is understandable. After all, if we were in the same situation, we would probably be scared too. Her fear was a good fear though, because it led to the beginning of wisdom. It is fear as excitement or opportunity when our faith has found a whole new expression.  

The key point in this story is not faith. It isn’t about gratitude either. After all, Luke doesn’t say if the widow or her son said “Thank you” to Jesus. This story is about grace-pure, unadulterated, undiluted, exclaimed, and unasked for grace. This miracle happens because Jesus has compassion for the widow just like he has compassion for us. Jesus does not offer political or economic solutions to modern problems. He gives us insight into God’s way of dealing with human misery and distress with endless compassion and kindness.

Nothing is impossible with God. We can’t, but God can. God can, if we believe God can, if we will let him, and be available to help if necessary. Because he sees and understands, he can give us the strength to carry on. Jesus understands because he has been there. He knows what it is like to grieve the loss of a loved one. After all, he grieved when Lazarus and John the Baptist died. He knows how parents feel when a child dies because he saw the agony that his mother Mary went through while he was dying on the cross. Even though Jesus is God’s son, he is also the Son of Man. His compassion moves him to help us when we are hurting. He has a human nature that feels pain and compassion, sorrow and joy.  He touches us in our times of hopelessness and despair and helps us to rise above our heartache.  God can resurrect our hope and faith. 

As I mentioned earlier, Christ works through miracles and shows his compassion today. His servants are on the job, and are inspired by their faith in Jesus. They are the doctors and nurses in our communities and hospitals. They are the chaplains and ministers who minister to the sick in hospitals, the inmates in prisons, or the families who have just lost a loved one. They are the funeral directors who provide help and comfort in times of death. They are the concerned neighbours and friends who send food or cards when someone has died. They are the unsung heroes who respond in times of disasters such as the recent earthquake in Haiti. They are the peacekeepers who are willing to risk life and limb for world peace. Most of them are anonymous, but they are people in whose faces the hurting people of the world can see the face of Christ.  

Occasionally one of these Christian servants becomes famous. One example is Mother Theresa, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work with the people of India. During her ministry there, she and her co-workers saved thousands of lives and gave other thousands the chance to die with dignity, peace and compassion. When asked for the formula for her success, she did not talk about enlisting co-workers or raising funds or setting up beds. In her own words, she said that her secret was “Loving as Jesus loves, helping as He helps, giving as he gives, serving as He serves, rescuing as He rescues, being with Him for all the twenty-four hours, touching Him in His distressing disguise”.

Many of you, especially those of you who are close to my age, might be familiar with Eric Clapton, the Grammy Award winning English guitarist, singer and composer. He is one of the most influential musicians of the rock era, and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times. One warm spring day in 1991, he received a phone call from his wife telling him that their four and a half year old son Connor had just accidentally fallen to his death by crawling out of an open window in their New York apartment. He could not believe what he heard, so he rushed home and found emergency personnel everywhere. Only then did he realize that what his wife told him was true. Several months later he told Rolling Stone magazine, “I just turned to stone and wanted to go away….there was no way I could have ever prepared for what had happened. But in time I found that I couldn’t avoid feeling the pain of Connor’s death. I had to go through the suffering”.

In the midst of his suffering, he turned to his music and wrote a very personal song to express his grief. That song became a popular hit called “Tears in Heaven”, and its words speak of his search for the healing of his shattered heart, just like they can speak of the search anyone has for the healing of a shattered heart. These are some of the words he wrote:

“Would you know my name, if I saw you in heaven?

Would you hold my hand, if I saw you in heaven?

I must be strong to carry on, ‘cause I know I don’t belong here in heaven.”

The last words of the song are these:

 “Beyond the door, there’s peace for sure

And I know, there’ll be no more tears in heaven”

Rick Warren once stated, “A crisis creates a moment in our lives when we can shift our dependence to something that can never be taken from us. Through it, God can teach us that we may lose our homes, our careers, our marriages, or our health, but we will never, ever lose our relationship with God. He promised to never leave us or forsake us-and that’s an eternal security we can build our lives on.” God knows our sorrow, and no matter how dark or painful our situation might be, Jesus can bring us hope. There will be times when we feel like rejecting that hope and embracing our despair. In times like that, we must seek God and allow him to light our path through grief and sadness into hope and joy.  

I’d like to close with a personal story. May of 1987 was a busy month for my family. In the space of 10 days, we had my brother’s wedding, my university graduation, and the death of my father’s brother. My uncle was suffering from lung cancer and for years he and my father had not been very close. Unfortunately that did not change until we heard from a mutual friend that my uncle was dying and that my father should go and see him for one last time. My parents went to spend a few days with him, and just before they left to return home, my uncle said to my father, “Why are you leaving?” In other words, he knew his time was short, and in fact he died ten days later. Dad went to the funeral, and sometime later he told me that the last thing my uncle said to his wife before he died was, “I’ll see you in heaven”.

My uncle was a licentiate in the Baptist church, so he had a strong faith-a faith that did not waiver in the face of his terminal illness and death. He knew that in spite of his suffering Jesus would show him and his family compassion. He knew that Jesus is the Great Comforter-and that same knowledge can give us hope and comfort in times of pain and suffering.

 Thanks be to God, AMEN

Bibliography

1.      “Donations in Heaven”. Retrieved from www.FunnySermons.com

      2.      Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New American Standard Version

      3.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch Bible software program.

4.      Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. Part of Wordsearch Bible software program.

5.      “Proper 5, Ordinary Time 10, Year C” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

6.      Dr. Philip W. McLarty, “I Believe in Miracles”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

7.      Dr. Randy L. Hyde, “When Grief Turns to Fear”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

8.      Rev. Dr. Kimberleigh Buchanan, “From Procession to Party”. Retrieved from www.day1.org

9.      King Duncan, “A Time of Grief”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

10.  Larry Powell, “But God Can”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

11.  King Duncan, “Does Jesus Care?” Retrieved from www.esermons.com

      12.  Maurice Fenerty, “How to Rise Above Discouragement”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

13.  George M. Bass, “Tomb for Sale”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com

14.  John Hamby, “Even Death is Not a Barrier”. Retrieved from www.sermoncentral.com

15.  Tim Zingale, “Jesus’ Loving Heart”. Retrieved from www.sermoncentral.com

16.  Tom Shepard, “Come to the Celebration”. Retrieved from www.sermoncentral.com

17.  Aaron Burgess, “A Widow’s Hope is Your Hope”. Retrieved from www.sermoncentral.com

18.  Andrew Chan, “What Could Jesus Do With Grief”. Retrieved from www.sermoncentral.com

19.  Mark Woolsey, “Jesus’ Calloused Hands”. Retrieved from www.sermoncentral.com

20.  Lew Slade, “Life Isn’t Fair”. Retrieved from www.sermoncentral.com

21.  John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, “Second Sunday After Pentecost-June 6, 2010”. Retrieved from www.seemslikegod.org

Mark 3:20-35 The Awesome Power of Good

Have you ever done something that made other people wonder if you have lost your mind? If so, you can probably understand what is going on in Mark 3:20-35. This takes place early in Jesus’ ministry when word of hid teachings and miracles is starting to spread. Jesus’ earthly family and friends didn’t understand his ministry. They didn’t understand that he was the Son of God. To the people of Nazareth, he was just the son of Mary and Joseph-earthly parents.

 

 

We are the same. Sometimes we can’t understand Jesus and his ministry. Sometimes it’s hard for us to understand who Jesus is, what he does and why he does what he does. Often we make a rash judgment about Jesus. We need to ask God what his will is for our lives. We need to ask God why he is doing what he is doing in our lives.

Because the Pharisees did not understand what Jesus was doing, they accused him of being possessed by the devil. They wanted to discredit Jesus in the eyes of the people, but their claim had one big flaw. How could the devil defeat the devil? The devil and his angels are of equal strength, so evil can’t defeat evil. A strong man can only be defeated by someone who is stronger. Since good is always stronger than evil, good will always defeat evil. Jesus is the champion of everything that is good, so he will always defeat evil.

Normally, when there is a champion of any type-sports, politics, etc. - most people will follow the champion. In other words, many people will “jump on the bandwagon”, but there will still be some opponents. There is a similar situation in this passage. By accusing Jesus of using the devil’s power to cast out demons, the Pharisees rejected the work of the Holy Spirit. They willingly rejected Christ as their Saviour because they did not want to give up their power, prestige, authority, etc.  Because they chose not to believe, they refused to accept forgiveness for their sins. Refusing to accept the Holy Spirit is the only sin that cannot be forgiven-and not blasphemy as most believers would think.

How many people in our modern world have refused to accept Christ because it would mean giving up an earthly way of life that is more important to them? The list is endless, but it includes the famous and not so famous. It includes people such as actor John Belushi and singers Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse and Michael Jackson-people whose desire for the good things of this earthly life led to their downfall and death from drug and alcohol abuse (even though Whitney Houston was raised in a strong Christian church and with a strong Christian faith).

If you are worried about sinning against the Holy Spirit, don’t be worried. The fact that you are worried means that you are likely not guilty. The fact that you are concerned means that you have a conscience that will keep you safe.  

Jesus’ earthly family was concerned about his physical and mental health, but Jesus was more concerned about the spiritual health of the people he dealt with. True “family” is not a matter of biological relationship, but of kinship in obedience to God, and that kinship begins when God through his grace adopts us into his family. In a world where there is so much opposition to the Christian faith, and where our homes and families demand so much of our time, our one priority is to love one another wherever we are, and with every breath of our being.

Those who accept the Holy Spirit will do the will of God and thereby become part of the new concept of family that Jesus creates. That is, they will become part of the family of God. This is not meant to exclude our biological family unless they refuse to accept the Holy Spirit and therefore refuse to do God’s will. When we allow the Holy Spirit in our lives, nothing can stop us. We have a power that can overcome everything the devil throws in our way-even the opposition of our earthly family. That power is the awesome power of God! When we unite with fellow believers, the power is even greater.

Bibliography

1.      Stanley, C.F., “The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB”. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2009)

2.      Exegesis for Mark 3:20-35. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

3.      Max Lucado, “Dealing with Difficult Relations”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

4.      Bob Brine, “Team Spirit”. Retrieved from www.christianitytoday.com

5.      Pastor John Barnett, “All Sins are Forgivable”. Retrieved from www.dtbm.org

6.      Pastor John Barnett, “The Unforgivable Sin”. Retrieved from www.dtbm.org

7.      Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 10^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

8.      Mark D. Roberts, “A New Kind of Trinity”. Retrieved from Newsletter@TheHighCalling.org

9.      Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible Software package.

10.  ESV Study Bible. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible Software package.

11.  MacArthur, J., “MacArthur Study Bible, NASV”. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006;2008)

12.  McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J., “The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 25: Mark” (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

13.  Meda Stamper, “Commentary on Mark 3:20-35”. Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching_print.aspx?commentary_id=1315

14.  Dr. Philip W. McLarty, “Who Are My Mother and My Brothers?” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

15.  Dr. Mickey Anders, “Was Jesus Out of His Mind?” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

16.  John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, Proper 5, Ordinary 13. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod.org/archives/year-b-season-after-pentecost-proper-5-ordinary-13.html