Seeing Jesus in the Ordinary

Pentecost 6b15, July 5, 2015 (II Samuel 5:1-10; II Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13

Focusing on Mark 6:1-13

Have you ever seen Jesus' work or teach? Think about that right now for a moment (Pause). Any of you – let's see hands.

 

I have seen Jesus teach. Many times – sometimes even at church. I remember old Olga. In her 80's she didn't consider herself too old to teach. Olga knew Jesus loved her. An important part of her life was wanting others to know that Jesus loved them too. So, she did talk about Jesus. But she also did more than that. She tried to live out Jesus' love. I know because I watched her. I was in Olga's Sunday School class one year. Sometimes I would talk or giggle, even while she was praying out in class. And after the prayer was over, Olga would open her eyes and tell us the stories about Jesus and his love. Somehow eventually I "got" it – or Jesus' love that Olga knew so well, got hold of me. I realize now that Olga was showing me not just about Jesus- but through her Jesus was right there with me – embracing, correcting, but never giving up on that 8 year old me.

 

Yes, I have seen Jesus teach - through a number of people – often especially women. One of my colleagues mentioned a time when he was considering a call to a different congregation. He was afraid. The congregation that was calling him had recently split. In those days there was (can you imagine this) debate over the interpretation of the Bible and what our seminaries were teaching "those pastors" -  this was nearly 30 years ago. The Pastor wasn't sure that the congregation would be able to pay him. He and his wife had young children at the time. He decided to tell his wife about his fear. She had already been travelling around with him for some time – hither, thither and yon. After he told her about his fear, she said to him – do you really think God is calling you and us there? He had to say, "Yes". She replied further, "And has God taken care of us all of our lives with more than enough to eat and drink, with friends and opportunities for our children, with a roof over our head?" Again he had to say, "Yes". "Well then", she queried, "Do you think God is going to stop taking care of us now – especially if God is the One calling us to this new place?"

 

My friend then realized – Jesus is right here, teaching through this amazing woman, my wife – who has more trust in God than I do. (Pause)

 

And I have seen Jesus teach through action. I remember a woman with considerably less financial income than over 80 %  of that congregation.  I watched as she joyfully served and gave of both her time and financial resources in ways that were absolutely amazing.  Often she was in the top 4 financial contributors to that congregation. (I found this out only by accident, certainly not from her). She was so thankful for all God had given her. This is an interesting perspective on her life – since she was widowed when her kids were under 12 – and her husband left her nothing but a very small pension. This is an interesting perspective on her life because her only daughter was struck by a cab late at night and rendered legally blind after having been in a coma for weeks. This is an interesting perspective on her life because when I knew her, her eyesight was beginning to significantly fail. But this woman knew the love of God, perceived God's many blessings in her life and joyfully responded by giving to serve God and help others.

 

As she lived well in to her 80's and as she came to Bible studies and faith growth opportunities regularly she often told me, that she was preparing for her "finals". She did this just about always with a smile on her face. As I watched her for years, I began to realize that Jesus is teaching all of us through her. I was amazed. Through her I began to see anew the power of Jesus' life, death, resurrection and teaching.

 

Do you ever see Jesus' teach – the power of His words and action?

 

Some/many do not. Sometimes I confess that I miss the power of Jesus' presence and teaching– even though often the power of His words and life are right in front of me.

 

Unfortunately, that's the way it was in his hometown that day. After doing some amazing things on both sides of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus returns to Nazareth. As was his custom, on the Sabbath, he goes to the synagogue. He begins to teach. Many are astounded. But they also begin to question. Isn't this 'little' Jesus, Mary's boy? Don't we know his brothers and sisters? Isn't he just a tradesman? Isn't he JUST ONE OF US? As these questions flood their beings they take offense at what he is saying, proclaiming, even at what he has done. Who "is he" to do or say any of this? Surely, God could not be work through him, little Jesus, the carpenter? No way!

 

They close themselves off from him. Mark notes that Jesus is limited by their unbelief to "laying his hands on a few sick people and curing them." Jesus is amazed at their unbelief. How sad for them! How sad for us – because sometimes we also are closed off to Jesus. Sometimes, just like his hometown folks we may think to ourselves that surely God couldn't or wouldn't draw near to us at home, or through a child or a sick person or even call us to something new? No way!

 

But Jesus will not stop his mission, his call from God because of other's unbelief. He moves on. Now he sends out his disciples two by two – to do exactly the same things that he has been doing. They are given authority over the realities that cause brokenness in people's lives –separation from God and other people. They are to go out with words and their presence, with being sent by him. Sometimes they are to touch others, even pour oil on them in God's name. They are to go out, not with all kinds of things that they may think that they need, but rather only the basic necessities - sandals, a staff and one "set" of clothing. They are to depend not on themselves but on God and others God directs them to, for doing what Jesus is calling them to do. They are to realize, just as Jesus shows us in his hometown – that their job, their calling is not a guaranteed success – whatever that may be – but rather to do as Jesus tells them – to aid and help others – to even speak a word of God's ability to help with any and all whom they meet.  It is up to God to take care of the rest. Some will respond positively. Others will not.

 

And so, the disciples go out, as Jesus sends them.

 

How about us? Are we astounded by Jesus' presence, His teaching in and throughout our lives? Do we see him? ...

 

Or, do our questions, our preconceptions of the way things are, the way they have to be, preclude us from seeing Jesus even though sometimes he is right in front of us? Might he ever be amazed at our unbelief? O God, forgive us.

 

As we are taught and by God's grace "caught" we are not just to have a "head" knowledge about God and Jesus. Although that may be somewhat helpful, Jesus wants and expects more from and with us. Jesus also sends us out – to embody His love, His forgiveness, sometimes to even use words to tell others that Jesus loves them. We can be Olga's, loving friends, colleagues, spouses – given authority and a giving power from Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

 

The need is as great as ever for the love, grace, mercy and hope of God in Jesus Christ.

 

 So, may we see and hear Jesus, go and help others– for the sake of the world and the love of God. Amen.

 

 

Even After the Large Lady Sings - Don't Be Afraid

Pentecost 5b15 (Mark 5:21-43 with II Cors. 8:7-15 in background) June 28, 2015

 

Have you ever been desperate? I mean desperate – not just for a moment, not just hoping for a team to win so that you feel good for that day – and have nostalgic memories – but desperate to your core. Desperate – because you love someone and they are in such pain that all you want to do is for their pain to be over. Desperate because you don't know if given your current situation there can be lasting life or resolution. Given the reality you now see  you can't imagine that any of the possible results will be good or life-bringing. When you are so desperate you may do anything, not really caring what others may think about you or even do to you. 

 

I've been desperate a few times in my life. One long morning and afternoon I sat by my mother's bedside while she was in uncontrollable pain. My mother has a high threshold of pain. Through her life she has undergone 3 spinal surgeries and laid in a hospital bed in a body cast for weeks. But this particular day as she was writhing in pain, seemingly beyond any physical help,  the seconds became hours, the hours became days and that day to me felt like a year. Can nothing be done? Her pain rendered me desperate. I begged, bugged and may even have harassed any whom I felt might, just might be able to help.

 

Some[T1]  years ago I watched a movie, John Q. Denzel Washington played John Q, the father of a young boy who had an enlarged heart. Living in Chicago they were awaiting a much needed heart transplant. However John's employment status was undergoing change. And not for the better. He now was only a part time employee. This means that he and his family were far from being fully insured.  They need to raise $ 75,000 just for his son to be placed on a donor's list. And that number for them despite all of their efforts and the efforts of those closest to them is impossible. It is during this time, while John's young son is playing baseball that he collapses and is rushed to the hospital. He is literally dying. His only hope is for a heart transplant. But none is forthcoming.

 

John is desperate. He takes matters into his own hands. He comes into the hospital with a concealed hand gun. While in the and ER John takes 11 people hostage. His plan is to get a heart surgeon there and then kill himself so that his son can receive his heart and live. John Q is DESPERATE – desperate for his son to live, whatever the cost to himself. What happens to him, what others may think of him – none of that matters. All that matters is that his son lives. 

 

In today's Gospel we meet 2 seemingly very different people. Jairus is one of the leaders of the synagogue. He had some wealth, influence and many friends. The second person is a nameless woman who seems to be all alone.  She is alone, because she has been hemorrhaging for 12 years. Her bleeding would have made her incapable of bearing children, and prevented her from being accepted at the synagogue or temple. She literally was alone.

 

Jairus has a 12 year old daughter who is dying. This reality renders him desperate. The nameless woman is also desperate. She has tried everything – every available human resource to get better, to be able to have a life. And all of these attempts have failed. Now she is worse off than ever. Now she is poor and alone. 

 

Jairus and the nameless woman are joined together by and in their desperation. Desperately needing help beyond themselves they look to Jesus. Jairus falls on his knees and repeatedly begs Jesus to help his daughter. Jesus agrees to go with him.

 

Now a crowd gathers around them.  Aren't we human beings drawn by the spectacle of pain and tragedy? Even as all of this is happening the woman approaches Jesus and touches his robe.

 

Amazing things begin to happen. The woman's bloody discharge ceases. Jesus senses that power has gone out of him. Isn't it true that when we help others – although that can be wonderful – there is a power, an energy that is demanded and gone for at least awhile?

 

Now Jesus looks around. He asks, "Who has touched him"? Perhaps he longs for her to be completely well. Again, she is drawn to him. She tells him the whole truth about herself.  Now she is no longer nameless. Now Jesus calls her by name – "DAUGHTER! ... YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL; GO IN PEACE AND BE HEALED OF YOUR DISEASE."

 

Daughter! She is his daughter – and she has been restored, given life! (Pause)

 

There remains at least one desperate person in today's Gospel. Almost before the word, "Daughter" is out of Jesus' mouth, news reaches Jesus and Jairus. Jairus' daughter has died. The bearers of this news ask, "Why trouble Jesus anymore?" The feared worst has occurred. It's all over but the crying.

 

Yet Jesus will not be deterred! Looking at Jairus he says,  "Do not fear (keep on being afraid). Only believe."

 

Jesus limits who will accompany him as he goes to the child. The mourners are already there – wailing and making a great commotion. Jesus queries them, "Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping". They laugh at him...

 

He then puts them all outside (I bet he does!) Then, He reaches out and touches that young girl – the one supposedly dead. In touching her Jesus would have been seen as unclean. He takes her by the hand and in his language speaks, "Talitha cum" – Little girl get up. And she does! ... Can we imagine Jairus' relief, joy – the relief and joy of his wife, that girl's mother?  P

 

I do not know where you have been desperate or where you now are desperate. I only know that as human beings throughout our lives, sooner or later, and sometimes frequently we become desperate.

 

But I also know this – that God takes on our frail human flesh in Jesus. That One still has the capacity to transform our desperation, move our fear beyond paralysis to trust – to see beyond seeing, to lift us by the hands and give us new life, new life now and new life forever. And that life changes everything – makes us see beyond ourselves, has the capacity to take pain and still give us courage and hope.

 

Does this mean that things are easy – that we will never be afraid or in great pain? No!

 

But – even then, especially then, we are not alone. God is with us, even now, especially now. In this Word, in the Word become flesh in Jesus, in the Spirit moving in and through people and events. And new life comes into the midst of pain, suffering and death, to us and through us. We are no longer nameless, or defined by our sicknesses or the words that others speak over us. Instead we are Son, daughter, Jesus' own child. And we can be made whole.

 

May God open our eyes, hearts and minds to behold our desperation, individually and collectively. May we then not care what others think. Instead may we with Jairus and the formerly nameless woman be driven to be open to jesus' making us and those we love whole.  And may we so live, joyfully, generously, fearlessly.

 

Let us pray - Come lord Jesus, make us whole. Come lord Jesus – help us to share that wholeness with others – that all may have enough and live. Amen.

 

 

 

 

---

 [T1]