July 2, 2000
A Sermon by Rev. Laurel Bobb
Have you seen the sign out front
advertising our 50-Day Spiritual Adventure? It has a lighthouse
and fireworks on it. I think that's an appropriate decoration
seeing as how it is the Fourth of July weekend. Today we'll even
talk about fireworks. Fireworks call attention to things; they
also fizzle out quickly. Jesus didn't need them to advertise himself,
and he didn't fizzle out. He finished the work he began.
During the next several weeks' adventure we'll be celebrating the characteristics of Jesus. Today's focus is his compassion. We are given a bonus in our Gospel for this day in that we have two stories for the price of one. There is one healing story interjected into the middle of another healing story. These are examples of Jesus's concern for and acceptance of insiders and outsiders. There were no fireworks to call attention to Jesus or his miracles, like our magician, Pat, used last week; there was just humble service.
I think it is important to note that Jesus wasn't sitting around looking for something to do when these opportunities for ministry came about. Our text tells us he was surrounded by a great crowd, which probably meant he was preaching or teaching. Along comes a stranger, most likely interrupting his lesson, the man falls down at Jesus's feet and begs him repeatedly to come and lay hands on his little daughter so she might be healed.
Imagine yourself at work when all of a sudden someone interrupts you and begs your help. If you agree you will have to drop what you are doing and travel a ways. Do you go? And what about the people that were left standing there? I wonder how they felt? How would you feel if I would stop in the middle of my sermon and leave? (It was a tempting object lesson, but I decided I didn't have anything as important as a resuscitation to do, so I'd better just keep preaching).
Jesus also knew his priorities. The people would have another day to come and hear him, but this man's need was immediate. The little girl needed him; she couldn't wait one more day or it would be too late.
The crowd may have been calmed by knowing that this man was a leading citizen, a head of the synagogue. Still, it must have been disconcerting for the crowd to have their plans for the day upset. I wonder how many knew what was happening. What differences would there have been had it been the woman begging for his help? Many followed along to see where Jesus was going and what he was going to do. They were the ones who made up the crowd that was pressing in on Jesus that caused the disciples to think he was a little off when he asked who touched him. Have you ever been trying to get somewhere that hundreds of other people are trying to get to as well? It's not possible to move around a crowd without someone touching you. Even getting out of church is impossible without some kind of physical contact being made.
We hardly notice when someone touches us as we pass by, especially when we're on a mission. Fairlie reminds us that this walking around not noticing is not Jesus's way. He wrote, "...one of the true signs of strength of character and moral fiber is paying heed to what is happening on the periphery of your vision, especially if it involves someone who is in need. Little people get marginalized; that means that the only way they can attract the attention they so much require is by signaling their need when there are crowds who choose not to notice.
It is interesting and informative that in case after case, Jesus knows where human need really is and reminds his followers not to be handicapped by blinders." Jesus knew there was someone touching him. Many had probably been touching him, but Jesus was aware of a difference in this touch. It was every bit as much of a begging for help as Jairus's falling down at Jesus's feet was. But this woman didn't want Jesus to know she needed his help. She was not allowed to be part of the community because of her ailment and didn't dare ask for his touch. If he touched her, she knew he would be made ritually unclean because she was bleeding and there were strict laws against messing around with that life-giving stuff. So she thought what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him, and it just might help her. How she thought this man would have power to heal her and yet not realize that he would know what she was doing is a little illogical, but when we're at the end of our ropes and out of options we rarely think clearly.
She only touched his cloak, but he knew she had done it. He wouldn't let her get away with it. Her physical healing wasn't his only concern. He wanted her whole healing, her salvation, her restoration, so he forced her to be encountered. He looked her in the eye and called her daughter. She who was outcast was brought back into community and made family. She left in peace.
What a witness to the crowd, but even more so to Jairus. It must have boosted his faith to know the power Jesus had, and that was good, because he was going to need all the faith he could muster. As they were walking along they were met by people who were telling him Jesus's visit would be a waste of time. His daughter was dead. The professional mourners had already been hired.
Jesus, however, wasn't going to give up. He told Jairus not to be afraid, but to believe. They arrived at the house and sent everyone outside, except Jairus, his wife, and Jesus's three Musketeers as I like to call Peter, James, and John. He then took the girl by the hand, which was another ritual no-no--touching a dead body--and told her to get up. And she did! Again, there were no fireworks to accompany this miraculous resuscitation.
Jesus told them to do two things after this. First, in his compassion he told them to give her something to eat. That shows that she was restored to perfect health. Next, they were to tell no one what had happened.
Now I don't know about you, but when I've got good news, it's awfully hard to keep it to myself. Just imagine what you would have said to the professional mourners when they asked what happened. "Oh, we made a mistake," or "Jesus was right; she was only sleeping." Perhaps he let the mourners bear the burden of telling what happened so the parents could focus on their blessing and give adequate praise to God. Whatever the reason they weren't supposed to tell, but who knows whether they obeyed or slipped. Often when people are asked not to tell they tell even more than they would have if they hadn't been so instructed.
So we see Jesus as a man of compassion and concern for those who are a part of the fellowship and those who are on the fringe. Jesus's desire is for all to be made part of God's family. He died to bring reconciliation and true healing for all. He rose in victory over all those things that hold us captive--even eternal death. It is our job now to be those agents of compassion and healing.
How do we do that? We follow his example. In our 50-Day Spiritual Adventure we will be learning about these eight characteristics of Jesus we should emulate. One, he stayed spiritually connected and directed. We also need to study and pray. Two, he broke down the stereotypes of "us" and "them," like who is worthy of our help and the laws about what was clean and unclean. Three, he liked people and drew out the best in them; the woman who was healed could have just run and blended into the crowd, but she stood up and admitted what she had done because he inspired trust as we should. Fourth, Jesus knew his identity, but served with humility. He could have said he was too busy to help Jairus or yelled at the woman for making him ritually impure, or not touched the girl, but he didn't worry about these things. He served humbly and so should we. Fifth, he spoke God's truth in everyday language; he didn't try to impress the common people with his fancy prayers as some of the Pharisees did, nor should we. Sixth, by his preaching, teaching, and living he cast a vision of a better kingdom both now and yet to come; we should too. Seventh, he followed through on his mission. He knew what he had to do, he agreed to do it, then he carried out what he said he would do. We should keep our word in the same way not only when it is convenient, but always. Finally, Jesus broke the power of darkness so all can live in the light. We need to shine our lights through holy living, so others will see God's truth about sin and be called into the light. It only takes a little light to snuff out the darkness, so if we put all our lights together we can set this world ablaze for Christ.
Let's follow Christ, then and be people of compassion. Let's try to become aware of those around us who are silently crying out for help. Let's not be too busy to drop what we are doing and offer a helping hand to meet their needs. In so doing we will be bringing health, wholeness and light to our world, and that will be even better than the greatest fireworks show we'll see this week.
Copyright 2000 by Rev. Laurel Bobb