Healing (2)

Context

Summer Series: The Life of Faith

Current theme: Faith Awakened

Last week: Jesus and his disciples caught in storm at sea. He calms the storm, they are faced in a new way with the fact that he is the son of God.

Today: Jesus continues to show his disciples that as Son of God he has come to help and to save.

Text

Mark 5:21–43 ESV

And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “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.” And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But 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. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Introduction

Storms of the sea. Jesus the Son of God. Face to face with him. Who brings salvation to the great storm.

What does that look like in our real lives.

Ancient Problem

Jairus. Synagogue ruler. Think ruling elder. Known by the people. Local. Maybe they knew of his daughter’s condition.

His daughter, about 12, is dying. Could there be a more distressing situation? Implored him earnestly. That she might be made well = saved. And live.

Jesus went with him. He leaves off teaching and heads toward Jairus’ home.

The crowd goes with him. They are in suspense about a miracle.

En route. A woman in the crowd makes her way closer to Jesus.

She had a discharge of blood. Continuous menstruation. But duration of 12 years. Suffered much under medical care. Spend all her money. Only gotten worse. Socially isolating. Open bleeding never good, even today, but then it meant strict isolation and barred from many religious setting, which were integrated into everyday life. Distancing from husband and family and friends.

She says to herself, if I but touch his garments, I will be made well (saved). Which she does. Comes up behind and touches his garments. Seemingly as quickly as she got there, she felt healing power, and she retreated back into the crowd. Did not want to call attention herself or pollute the rabbi. Not even supposed to be in the crowd. Making everyone unclean.

Jesus knows and comes to a full stop. Worst thing for the synagogue ruler.

Jesus starts asking, Who touched me? The worst thing for the woman.

While all this is going on…messengers arrive. The girl is dead. Ripple of dismay and grief through the crowd.

Social shame, confusion; mortality; all swirling together. Different kind of storm than last week’s rain and wind. But a real storm nonetheless! Storm of human need.

Sadly: his detractors may have secretly gloated:he’s getting his comeuppance: He can’t meet the needs of the people who believe in him…this will show them he is not the Messiah or the Son of God!

Current problem

We all encounter problems in life.

Two aspects can make our problems seem insurmountable.

First: when our suffering is socially devastating. We humans can tolerate a lot…but shame, being shunned, from community is highly destructive.

The pillory was abolished was not because it was so physically cruel, but because it was so psychologically damaging. People could not recover from the shame. Heads and arms locked. Crime labelled. People come to mock, throw things, etc.,

Those practices were now considered ‘humiliating’ because they violated basic civic rights of honour and dignity. (https://psyche.co/ideas/the-history-of-humiliation-points-to-the-future-of-human-dignity)]

Today, a similar, perhaps worse, pillory is in place: social media shaming. In recent years, social media has greatly expanded the opportunities for, and the effects of public humiliation. The internet puts no constraints on how widely a humiliating video, image or text can be circulated. It also invites more and more people to actively participate in the humiliation game and thus gain ‘followers’. Individuals who find themselves on such lists of shame can hardly protect themselves. (https://psyche.co/ideas/the-history-of-humiliation-points-to-the-future-of-human-dignity)

outcome: Fear, anxiety, depression, even suicide. Young people are especially vulnerable.

As social creatures, shame and social isolation can be the worst part of our suffering.

The other great crisis is finality. Mortality. When death happens there is no retrieving what has been lost.

When a parent dies. Sibling dies.

EG - I was at a retreat. Relatively young. A young dad. Realized for the first time something that I might not be able to handle…the loss of a child. Parents do deal with it.

We humans can tolerate a lot of pain. But two things are particularly difficult: Shame/finality.

And the opponent of our faith says: Not even Jesus can help you with that!

Hinge

But Jesus is not at a loss in our story.

Offers healing and help — salvation— in a way that surpasses the expectations around him.

Ancient Solution

Jesus isn’t looking around for the woman because he is lost and confused…but because she is lost and along. Jesus wants to connect with this woman.

He looks for her until she has to come forward. Kneels. Confesses all. Her eyes from side to side fearing that people may be judging her. Which they may have been doing. What are you doing here? How dare you touch him? Now the good ruler’s child is dead…

But Jesus surprises them all.

He calls her daughter.

He commends her faith, it made her well. In other words, right that she should touch him. Touch was the usual way that healing was conveyed.

Be at peace. Be healed, henceforth.

What is Jesus doing? Healing her socially. Dealing with the shame and the isolation. He adopts her, he affirms her, he comforts her, he says to all that she is healed — included.

The woman never expected THAT healing. That saving, but that is what Jesus gave her. Not merely physical healing, but emotional, spiritual, and social healing.

As for the man, he says do not fear, only believe. In other words, let us proceed, continue to lead the way.

Embarks onto high spiritual ground. Signaled by the fact that he takes with him only his inner circle. Peter, James, and John. They are with him at transfiguration, when he goes into prayer at Gethsemane. He is about to do something that the crowds will misinterpret, but he wants his closest disciples to know.

They go to the rulers house. Professional mourners on scene, along with mom and other family. Jesus asks, Why are you weeping? She is not dead, but only sleeping.

They laugh at him, they know the difference between someone who is asleep and someone who is dead. And Jesus is about to make a fool of himself if he thinks he can help. Though perhaps mom and dad are clinging to any hope.

We might think Jesus is speaking metaphorically.

He is being literal. Jesus view of death is contrasted with everyone else. To Jesus, death really is only a temporary thing — like sleep. We die, but death is not final. There will be a resurrection. He himself will be the first resurrected. All will be resurrected at the great day. She is but asleep, this is but temporary and as the Lord of the resurrection he goes to her.

He takes her by the hand and speaks. Aramaic, the familiar language of a child in that time and place. AND Mark records the Aramaic because what happened next seared the words Jesus said into the minds of them all. Arise, the same word for resurrection. Raise up.

And immediately she got up and started walking around.

Overcome with amazement, like the stunned awe on the sea of Galilee.

Not to tell. Not because it could be kept secret, but to prevent popular focus on it and mob take over his ministry.

give her something to eat: to prove she is raised and well and normal. Like the woman he had just healed from being ostracized.

he gave the daughter back to the parents more than they had expected.

They had expected him to heal her, he raised her from the dead.

He redefined what death is. It is just a brief thing. Which means when death comes again, to the daughter, to the mom, to the dad, they NEVER have to say goodbye forever.

When Jesus saves the woman, the child…he saves completely: physically, emotionally, socially, spiritually, eternally.

Current Solution

Jesus saves. Jesus means Savior.

If you are dealing with shame and isolation in life.

Jesus knows what that is like. He was shamed on the cross. His own pillory, arms stretched out, sign overhead,

He took that shame and put it in the grave.

It is right for you to come to me and touch me and be healed.

He looks FOR you and AT you like he does at hiding woman: as a son, as a daughter.

There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:1)

Therefore, you can come to him and know that he will accept you.

AND, church: It is absolutely imperative that we are never a community that shames. isolation on top of what already wound.

Only sees the divinely appointed dignity of every person.

Every person, is someone whom Christ loves, died for, and rose for.

creed: we will never do anything to drive away someone for whom Christ is searching.

rather draw near to Christ…Get close to him! Make way like did for Jairus!

Dealing with the finality of loss and grief.

Death is temporary.

Goodbye is not forever.

Where O death is your sting

We shall all be raised at the trumpet on the last day.

God is the God of the living, not the dead for all are alive in him.

because we believe in resurrection we believe in reunion!!

we grieve but nor as if there were no hope. Not like those who do not have Christ!,

Jason Gray lyrics,

“Sorrow may close the chapter But the story will end with laughter Cause the worst thing is never the last thing No, the last thing will be the best thing Of all the things I've ever heard Let me remember when it hurts That love will have the final word As long as God is on His throne I am carried by the hope That love will have the final word

Conclusion

Savior. Healer. Full and complete. Let’s come to him now.