Reconnection

Mark 5

Last week, we read Mark chapter 4. We focused in on the parable of the Sower, but we also read the other parables and then the story of the stilling of the storm. We finished last week with the question that ends Mark 4… who is this that even the wind and the waves obey him?”

In Mark 5, we will see Jesus reconnect that which has been disconnected… restore what is broken…heal.

Have you ever experienced healing? ankle sprain…

Cure vs. healing? Not always the same thing?

This came up in our Sanctuary Course session this week, too.

Healing vs cure - three kinds of healing

Miracle: Healing can refer to immediate and supernatural instances of curing. In the Gospels we learn that Jesus opened blind eyes and deaf ears, banished fevers, helped the lame walk, and even raised individuals from death. This form of healing is a wonderful gift, but it is very different from the concept of recovery outlined in this session. Natural process: Healing can also refer to natural processes and resources that God has given to humanity. Broken bones are designed to mend over time, and antibiotics can cure infections. These are just two examples of the healing grace that infuses our everyday lives—a grace that appears so organically and incrementally, we may not even recognize it as a divine gift. The journey of recovery is best understood as another example of this form of healing. Future promise: Scripture tells us that healing is the ultimate destination of creation. Hear these verses from Revelation: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4, NRSV) The promise of complete restoration is the unique and glorious hope of our faith. On the day when we finally experience this form of healing, recovery will no longer be necessary.

Reconnection - with ourselves, with God, with others (and with creation?)

Two locations

Gentile territory, outsiders. Lots of space. No one (except the demon) seems to know or care who Jesus is.)

Or back in “home” territory, among the crowds of people.

Three stories. Three people. Or four, maybe.

The man from the region of the Gerasenes. (mention of evil spirits, destruction of a large number of animals, and symptoms that from a modern perspective, we might see as “severe mental illness”… so just a word of caution. Let’s remember that we’re reading an ancient text. So, it will express things differently that we might be used to hearing. Secondly, with a couple of exceptions, most of us are not experts in mental illness nor in

Jairus - a Jewish leader of the local synagogue. A desperate father who comes to beg Jesus to come and help his daughter.

A woman who had been bleeding for 12 years.

Jesus demonstrating authority (just as he did at the end of chapter 5 - who is this that the wind and waves obey him? But what about evil spirits? What about social isolation? What about sickness? What about chronic physical suffering that drains our hope, our finances, and cuts us off from others? What about death?

Let’s read chapter 5 to find out. (It’s a longer than usual reading, so I’ll invite you stand as you are able, but mostly, please listen attentively to Mark chapter 5:

Reading

Mark 5 NRSVue

1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. 3 He lived among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain, 4 for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces, and no one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him, 7 and he shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he had said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region. 11 Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding, 12 and the unclean spirits begged him, “Send us into the swine; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, stampeded down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea. 14 The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the man possessed by demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion, and they became frightened. 16 Those who had seen what had happened to the man possessed by demons and to the swine reported it. 17 Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 But Jesus refused and said to him, “Go home to your own people, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and what mercy he has shown you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone was amazed. 21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him, and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue, named Jairus, came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and pleaded with him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians and had spent all that she had, and she was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, “If I but touch his cloak, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her flow of blood stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my cloak?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” 35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the synagogue leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the synagogue leader, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the synagogue leader’s house, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42 And immediately the girl stood up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this and told them to give her something to eat.

Reflection

Where are you in the stories this morning? Where do you see yourself in the reading we just heard?

The man from the region of the Gerasenes. Rescued from spiritual oppression. Restored to sanity. Freed from the spiritual oppression and returned to community. And sent to tell his story. (Jesus says, “no you can’t follow me.” Does that surprise you? But Jesus also commissions him to stay and to tell his community what happened. (Which would be easier? Sticking around having all those conversations… “you look familiar, but I just can’t place you…” Do we ever long for escape - and wish that Jesus would call us “somewhere else” so we could just start over where no one knows?

Jairus - a father desperate to have Jesus heal his dying daughter. He succeeds only to have Jesus interrupted. For the waiting to resume.

A woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. A woman whose faith heals her (according to Jesus). Cured when she touches Jesus garment. But then also healed, restored to her identity as “daughter” and set free from 12 years of alienation and isolation.

Jairus - and his daughter - Jesus has come “too late” and yet not. A little girl called back to life.

Or maybe you see yourself in the little girl. Waiting and unable to do anything to help yourself. Weakening. Too late. But then Jesus takes your hand and calls you to life.

What needs reconnection this morning? Is is your connection to yourself? To God? To others?

… Name it. Tell God. I need you. As we sang earlier. I need You to help me be me. I’m not sure who I am. I’m not sure that I am who I’ve been trying to be. I need You to help me feel, see, hear You. I’m disconnected from others. I need a friend. I need community. And I don’t know how to get it. I don’t know how to offer it to others.

Name whatever is rising to the surface for you in the silence that we’ll hold now.

Two ordinances in the Baptist tradition… Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

Remember your baptism! In baptism, we participate in the story of Jesus’ death & resurrection, telling the story of how our lives are now part of the Jesus story. We have been buried with Jesus and are raised with Him into life that is being made new. And there are three important truths that get communicated in a baptism. The first is that you are LOVED. The second truth that today proclaims is that you are NOT ALONE. We live out our Christian faith in community. Not as an optional add-on, but by necessity. We need one another - cannot do this alone. The third truth is that you have responded to God’s love by choosing to TURN towards Jesus. You have already turned, you are turning, and today, you promise to KEEP TURNING towards Jesus for the rest of your life. When you start wandering off, this day will be part of what calls you back. For today, you make promises to God, but God is also making promises to you. You are promising to follow. And God is promising to keep calling you back if ever you should wander away. God will be faithful even when you can’t be. That is good news.

Response

As we move to the Table, there are a number of ways to respond as a community during this time:

We will gather at the Table in just a moment.

Another is that we will sing something together after we've all been served.

And a new one of them is how we’re going to do the Prayers of the People.

(Last week, you participated in this by helping to write the Call to Worship, sharing your gratitude around the table, and then writing your prayer requests)

This week, we'll do it a little differently, but same idea.

During the serving of Communion and the song we sing together afterwards, please come to one of these small tables. On it you’ll find index cards and some pens. If you would like to write a prayer to be prayed by all of us—a need, a joy, something arising from the teaching—whatever it is. Write down your prayer only, don’t include your name, and simply leave it on the table. It will be collected and we’ll pray it together afterwards.

Table

INVITATION

This is the table, not of the Church, but of the Lord. It is to be made ready for those who love him and who want to love him more.

So, come, If you have much faith and if you have little, if you have been here often and if you have not been for a long time, if you have tried to follow and if you have failed.

Come, not because it is I who invite you: it is our Lord. It is his will that those who want him should meet him here.

THE STORY

On the night on which Jesus was betrayed, he sat at supper with his disciples. While they were eating, he took a piece of bread, said a blessing, broke it, and gave it to them with the words, ‘This is my body. It is for you. Do this to remember me.’ Later, he took a cup of wine, saying, ‘This cup is God’s new covenant, sealed with my blood. Drink from it, all of you, to remember me’. So now, following Jesus’ example and command, we take this bread and this wine, the ordinary things of the world which Christ will make special. And as he said a prayer before sharing, let us do so too.

THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Loving God, we praise and thank you for your love shown to us in Jesus Christ. We thank you for his life and ministry, announcing the good news of your kingdom and demonstrating its power in the lifting of the downtrodden, and the healing of the sick, and the loving of the loveless. We thank you for his sacrificial death upon the cross for the redemption of the world, and for your raising him to life again, as a foretaste of the glory we shall share.

We give you thanks for this bread and wine, symbols of our world and signs of your transforming love. Send your Holy Spirit, we pray, that we may be renewed into the likeness of Jesus Christ and formed into his Body. This we pray in his name and for his sake. Amen.

THE SHARING

Taking and breaking the bread Among friends, gathered round a table, Jesus took bread, broke it and said, ‘This is my body, it is for you’.

Taking the cup of wine And later he took the cup of wine and said, ‘This is the new relationship with God, made possible because of my death. Take this – all of you – to remember me’.

Look, here is your Lord coming to you in bread and wine. These are the gifts of God for the people of God.

(After the serving, invite people to stand, remind them that they still have time to add a prayer to our gathered prayers)

Song

Cornerstone

Prayers of the People

“I’m going to read the prayers that have been offered. After each one, I will say, ‘Lord, in your mercy,’ and you are invited to respond with, ‘Hear our prayer.’ (This is indicated on screen as well.)