Sermon Manuscript070206
Sermon Manuscript – 7/2/2006 Robert Hutcherson, Jr.
Sermon: “The Risk, and The River…”
TEXT
Mark 5:21-43
Madeleine L’Engle wrote, “A drying well will often lead the spirit to the river that flows from the throne of God.” When we realize, at some point in life (often when we’re facing personal tragedy), that our own inner resources for dealing with trouble are running out, that our well is drying up - if we are to survive, at that point, we must find the endless resources (“the river”) of God. Sometimes, that understanding of our own helplessness comes as we face an intractable addiction, or some other harmful habit, which try as we might over many years we’ve been unable to conquer. Or, some incurable illness. Or our inability to make someone else be what we want him or her to be. There’s no more kidding ourselves, we can’t lick the problem on our own, our well is dry. We either find the river or we die. “A drying well will often lead the spirit to the river that flows from the throne of God.”
It happens in old age, when, as T.S. Elliot described it, we have seen “the moment of our greatness flicker, seen the eternal footman hold our coat and snicker, and, in short, we are afraid.” Injuries don’t heal, illnesses don’t get better, as they used to. We can’t stop the onslaught of death. One older gentleman said, “After I turned 70 the question was never one of being well but only of being less sick.” That’s why the churches are full of old people – not because they are nearing death and want to guarantee themselves a place in heaven (as the cynics say), but because old people are wise enough not to be taken in by that wonderful conceit of youth – that they, themselves, can fix everything that ails them. They know that’s not true.
A lot has been made of the different socio-economic classes of the two main characters in today’s scripture. Jairus is socially prominent, a leader of the synagogue, probably wealthy. The nameless woman in the crowd, on the other hand, who snuck up on Jesus and touched his robe, was poor and an outcast. (Remember, her unending hemorrhage would have made her permanently impure, unfit to mingle in polite society. Other women only suffered that indignity once a month.) Not much in common between the two. Except that they were both utterly desperate! They had come to Jesus as their last and only hope. Their springs had run dry. They needed to find the river. Jairus, of course, was facing an unspeakable tragedy, the impending death of a child. At this moment, his wealth, his rank, even his piety, weren’t worth a thing. His public image no longer mattered either, nor did any dispute that may have existed between Jesus and the synagogue. Mark tells us he was “beside himself”. He took a risk of faith. With eyes full of tears, and with the whole town watching, this respected leader fell on his knees and begged Jesus for help – using not the formal word for “daughter” but a diminutive nickname: “…my little sweetie” is at death’s door. PLEASE…Come lay your hands on her …” This is a secret many people never learn. Before you are ever going to get anywhere with the Lord, you are going to have to humble yourself in His presence. You are going to have to get small before Him. You are going to have to come to the place where He is everything and you are nothing. One of the greatest truths in the Bible is this: The way up is down! When we come to the place where we see our own inability and His ability, then we are in a position to receive what we need from Him! Utterly desperate, Jairus would either find the river or die.
The woman faced a different kind of death, a lifetime of illness and isolation. She was probably through with her HMO. For twelve years she had tolerated their voice mails, and their touch-tone menus. (“If your problem is above the waist, please press 1; If your problem is below the waist, please press 2.”) She had probably been treated by a different doctor every time. They had taken her money, but hadn’t made her one bit better. Desperate! She had to either find the river or die. She, too, took a risk of faith. She crawled between the legs of the crowd. “If only I could touch the hem of his robe….”
Often in life there’s an enormous difference between what we think we need and what we really need. Jairus thought he needed his little girl to be saved. (The word for “save” and word for “make well” is the same word in the New Testament.) And, of course, he did need that at one level. And Jesus gave it to him. The woman thought she needed healing, and, of course, she did. So Jesus gave her that. But what they both needed, he said, more than anything was faith. (There it is again, the mysterious “F word” of Christianity.) Miracles are never magic in the Bible. Our woman here had a very magical view of what she wanted to happen. Jesus, for her, was a magician whose magical powers somehow soaked into even his clothing. Jesus searches the crowd for the one who had touched him, and received healing, and for a moment she hides, afraid. For she is sure she has stolen a magic power from a professional magician and will be scolded for it, maybe even expected to pay for it. Jesus takes the trouble to find her because he wants her to understand what really happened: it was her faith, not magic, that made her well. If it were magic, and if she were to become ill again (say tomorrow), she would have to seek another magician, and that might take twelve years more!
But if she could understand that miracles like hers come from faith, and demonstrate the presence of God, who brings health and wholeness, she would understand that such blessings could be hers always and everywhere.
We need more than physical healing. In the last century we made giant strides in medicine. We learned to cure and prevent many diseases. We kept people, especially children, amazingly alive so that they could go off and be killed in war, or so that they could destroy their lives with drugs and alcohol. John Stuart Mill said, “Wherever I go, there I am again, and I spoil everything.” We need more than physical cures. We need a change of person, and that is the great prize Jesus has to offer. That’s why he didn’t want to be known only as a healer. Now, every one of us has been impacted by tragedy to some degree. Whether it be illness, infirmity, death, or any of the thousands of things that can touch us humans, we have all experienced pain. Whether it be the pain of a broken body, a broken heart, or a broken spirit, tragedy has touched us all. Whether the pain is physical in nature or spiritual, we have all been affected. Jesus said it would be this way. I want you to remember that when tragedy comes your way, Jesus is more than adequate to take care of the situation.
The central problem of the Christian church today is that most of us fear the cure more than the illness. The illness, of course, is sin and everything that grows out of it: war, and disease, racism, poverty, and all the rest. And we’d like to be rid of these things. They cause us endless pain. But the cure is faith, a relationship with God that is based on confidence and trust. And faith is risky. (Issue Challenge)
Why do we have to be at the end of our rope to adopt a life of faith? Why do we wait until our well runs dry? Why can’t we drink from the river of God and live with him, in faith and in trust, before we are in crisis? I believe it is pride. We like to think we can take care of ourselves. Sooner or later we learn that’s a lie. And sooner or later we must come to the river, or we die. You see, the supply for our need will only be found in Jesus Christ. I invite you to do what Jairus did so long ago. Get up, go to Jesus, fall at His feet and tell Him what you need. Do you need to be saved today? He can do that! Do you need to see a loved one touched and saved? He can do that! Do you need help with a problem? He can do that! Do you need grace to get through a valley? He can do that! Do you need healing for sickness or a broken heart? He can do that!
Jesus is not a magic genie! But, He is a Sovereign Lord! He can take an impossible situation and turn it into a miracle of His power and glory. Do you have a need this morning? Come to the river…