Rally Day: Sunday, September 9, 2012: JESUS HEALS
Mark 7:24-37
PREACHER: Pastor Carrie B. Smith
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
There’s a good ol’ bluegrass gospel song that goes like this:
On Sunday when the church bells start ringin'
They're ringin' for you and for me
Let's all gather 'round at the altar
And pray that our souls may be free
I'll meet you in the church Sunday mornin'
And we'll all kneel down and pray
We'll pray to our Lord up in heaven
To guide us safe home on our way
Many thanks to our Bluegrass Band, the Chordfields, who have come to us from the metropolis of Harvard and its outlying suburb, the beautiful Capron, Illinois!
This is an exciting day, as we welcome fall and the launch of another year of Sunday School. It is a beautiful thing to see and hear the children of Bethany once again. And it’s good for us all to be together today, rallying around the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we have our life, our hope, and our salvation. Amen!
But I must say, having just read the appointed Gospel text for the day, I can’t help but ask this question on Rally Day: Who would want to rally around this guy?
Jesus, in the two scenes we heard today from Mark chapter 7, is one weird dude. He may not be talking to an empty chair on national television, but he’s putting on a mighty strange performance anyhow.
First, we see Jesus brushing off a desperate woman who has come asking for healing for her daughter. And he doesn’t just say no, either! Instead of an eloquent sermon or a compassionate prayer, Jesus answers her very serious request with the equivalent of a folk saying: “It’s not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” Not only does he effectively call this woman and her daughter “dogs”, Jesus is seriously lowering his preaching standards by using such a folksy phrase. One expects more from the savior of the world than clichés like “Stay on the sunnyside of life”, or “If you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on”, or “The belly hates a long sermon!”
And his strange behavior isn’t done yet. In the next scene we see him stick his fingers into a deaf man’s ears, spit, grab the man’s tongue, and cast his eyes toward heaven like a Pentecostal preacher, speaking in tongues: “Ephphatha!” or "Be opened!"
Now come on, Jesus! We know you can heal without all that show. You just cast out a demon without even seeing the little girl! You multiplied bread and fish without so much as a prayer! You walked on water without breaking a sweat! What’s up with this performance? Who is this guy, and what is he up to?
Again, you might be asking: who would rally around this Jesus?
It’s a good thing Jesus isn’t running for office. Can you imagine what the spin doctors would do with this scene? Can you imagine what the campaign managers would be saying the next morning?
“You see, the Savior was just tired. He hasn’t had a day off in many weeks.”
“He was ambushed! That lady was planted!”
“It was just a joke! He was smiling when he called that woman a dog.”
“Jesus made a mistake. He used to be against salvation for the Gentiles, but now he’s for it.”
“He was testing her faith. He intended to heal her daughter all along.”
“Where Jesus comes from, spitting is a form of flattery. And haven’t you heard about the medical benefits of sticking your fingers in your ears?”
Countless theologians have written explanations just like these to explain Jesus’ behavior in this Gospel text. But there’s really no good way to spin this. And I’ll tell you right now: I don’t fully understand what Jesus is doing, especially in the scene with the Syrophoenician woman. In fact, this Jesus kind of ticks me off.
I like the loaves and fishes Jesus better. I like the walking on water Jesus better.
I like the Jesus who loves everybody, who never gets angry and never judges, who answers all our prayers when and how we want, and who sits on clouds all day painting rainbows in the sky.
But then…maybe that’s someone else. Maybe that’s the Jesus I want to believe in. That’s certainly the Jesus I would prefer to rally around. And that’s a Jesus who could run for office! Amen?
The thing is, this isn’t the Jesus we meet in today’s Gospel lesson. This isn’t Jesus Christ, candidate for office or slick politician.
This is Jesus Christ, born to a teenage mother, and raised in a carpenter’s home. He’s an itinerant preacher, a faith healer, and a man on a mission. This is the sandal-wearing, backwoods, audacious, politically incorrect and fully human Son of God. He did some strange stuff, including eating with prostitutes, sitting with sinners, healing the sick, raising the dead, and dying on a cross when he clearly had the power to escape.
And, apparently, when he encountered the Syrophoenecian woman, he made a mistake. Or he changed his mind. Or he had a bad day. Or the woman’s bold words opened his heart to a new mission. Or…we have completely misinterpreted this story for thousands of years.
I wish I knew.
But you know what? I’ll take him anyway. I’ll “stand by my man”! Amen?
I’ll stand by Jesus, because even when I don’t understand what he’s doing—why he heals some and not others, why some suffer more than others, or why his timing isn’t the same as mine—I continue to be astounded beyond measure at the power of Jesus in the lives of those around me.
Jesus cast out the demon that was plaguing the Syrophoeneican woman’s daughter. He opened the ears of a man who was deaf and gave him the ability to speak for himself. He raised Jairus’ daughter when others had given up on her.
And I’ve also seen the love of Jesus heal families that had been torn apart for years. I’ve seen Christ’s forgiveness heal friendships threatened by hurt feelings and betrayal. I’ve seen grieving parents find healing at the foot of the cross, knowing they do not suffer alone. I’ve seen the Word of God heal hearts weighed down by depression, addiction, rejection, and anger.
Sisters and brothers, the Good News I can’t stop preaching, the News I can’t stop telling you about, the Good News I will zealously proclaim just like the friends of the deaf man healed by Jesus, is this: No matter who you are, there is healing in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Say it with me: Jesus heals.
Whether you’re an insider or an outsider—Jesus heals.
Whether you have much faith, or just a little—Jesus heals.
Whether you’ve been in church all summer or you’re just finding your way back—Jesus heals.
Whether you can come to Jesus on your own strength or if your friends have to lift you up—Jesus heals.
When everyone says you’re a lost cause—Jesus heals.
When you’re on your knees in desperation—Jesus heals.
The love of God, which we have seen in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, has the power to cast out demons, heal hearts, open minds, and free tongues for bold proclamation. Our Lord does everything well—he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. Thanks be to God! Amen.
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