Get Up and Walk

Get Up and Walk

Good News - Part 6

Sunday, February 11, 2024
Mark 2:1-12

So many gathered that there was no longer space, not even near the door. Jesus was speaking the word to them. Some people arrived, and four of them were bringing to him a man who was paralyzed. They couldn’t carry him through the crowd, so they tore off part of the roof above where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they lowered the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven!”

 Mark 2:2-5 (CEB)

Listen to this Week’s Sermon here:

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This may be one of my favorite scenes in the gospels partly because it is so absurd, but even more because it shows how far people will go when something matters enough to them.  In this case, what mattered most for these four individuals, was their paralyzed friend.

Most of us are probably good friends.  We care for those we love in times of need.  We will visit them in the hospital and call to check in if someone is alone.  I’m guessing these four also were good friends to the paralyzed man.  They probably made sure he could get where he needed to go and helped him with food and other basic needs.  Without friends like that, someone in his condition would not have lived very long.  It is truly a humbling experience to depend on someone that much just to survive. 

At a previous church I regularly visited a man, who at age 18, became a quadriplegic after a tragic diving accident in a pond.  He spent 38 years in a hospital bed at home, unable to move except for his head.  I was privileged to preside over his funeral in 2015.  He was strong and always did what he could to help others primarily on the phone, arranging anything his mom needed taken care of in the house even as she struggled to care for his medical needs.  He was also a brilliant artist, having taught himself to paint by holding the brush in his mouth.  During the final years of his life, he knew his mother’s health was declining and he constantly felt like a burden to her no matter how much she said otherwise.  His last words to me expressed his desire to go home to Jesus so she could finally get the rest she so desperately needed.  I imagine Jesus’ first words to him in heaven may have been something like, “get up and walk,” just as he said to the man in this passage.

As I saw modeled in his mom, it takes a tremendous amount of strength to care for someone in that situation.  The man’s friends in Mark must also have been like that, even as they carried him on a stretcher for who knows how far, just to see Jesus.  But when they got there, it was too crowded.  There was no way to get anywhere near this increasingly famous healer.  So they raised his stretcher up to the roof, removed a section of thatch, and lowered him down to Jesus.  Setting aside the issues of destruction of property and cutting in a very long line, their dedication to him and their faith in Jesus was incredible. 

It makes me wonder, as we care for our friends and family and others in need around us, how far would we be willing to go to get them to Jesus?  Do we even mention Jesus’ name when we are in their company?  Do we share what our faith means to us and how Jesus has strengthened and healed us in our own lives?  Do we ask them to share stories of the beautiful things in their lives and celebrate together as we reflect on the amazing ways God keeps showing up? 

Who in your life needs you to bring them to Jesus this week?

Be Clean

Be Clean

Good News - Part 5

Sunday, February 4, 2024
Mark 1:40-45, 2:13-17

A man with a skin disease came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”  Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I am willing. Be made clean!”  Immediately the skin disease left him, and he was made clean. 

Mark 1:40-42 (NRSV)

Listen to this Week’s Sermon here:

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“If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

At first glance, I find two very interesting things about this simple line.  First, it is not actually a question.  The man with the skin disease, likely leprosy, does not directly request healing.  Perhaps he feels unworthy or afraid to ask, especially given his unclean status in society.  But whatever the reason, he only acknowledges his faith in Jesus’ ability to cleanse him. 

The second point is the issue of willingness.  Other translations say, “If you want to…”  In today’s prayerful language, we might say something like, “If it be your will…”  The man seems to be hedging his bets.  On one hand, he believes Jesus can heal him, but on the other hand, he’s not sure Jesus would even want to help.     

The writer says that Jesus was moved with pity or compassion and declares that he is willing and wanting to heal.  This is consistent with Jesus’ actions throughout the gospel, healing sometimes even without intentionally doing anything, such as when the healing power simply flowed out of him to the unknown woman who touched his cloak (Mark 5:28-30). 

Other Greek manuscripts, however, say that Jesus was moved with anger, or incensed, when he responded.  There is much scholarly debate as to which translation is the most authentic, but regardless of the answer, I find the possibility of anger interesting indeed.  I confess, I printed this scripture in the NRSV instead of the CEB which I typically use, precisely because the language of pity felt more comfortably in line with Jesus’ nature than the word “incensed” used in the CEB.  However, that choice may reflect my own discomfort at the idea of Jesus’ anger at a man in need of healing.  Which raises the question, is there a good reason why Jesus might be angry at this man’s request?

Some say that Jesus was angry at the suffering this man had endured.  Perhaps, but I wonder if he might have also been upset about the way the question was raised.  “If you want to…”

Almost every day after school our daughter asks “What’s for dinner?”  Sometimes, especially if we are going out, I say, “You’ll see when we get there.”  Her response is, “Well is it at least something I like.”

In this response, I can imagine why Jesus might get frustrated with the question.  I answer, “Have we ever gone someplace that didn’t have something you like?” to which she sheepishly responds, “Well, no…” and then continues on with her persistent curiosity.  The negative assumption in the question is that we might not take her into consideration or care about what she wants.  Similarly, the assumption of Jesus is that though he could certainly help, he may simply not feel like it, or may not think this man worthy enough.  It challenges Jesus’ character.  It questions Jesus’ desire for an abundant, flourishing life for all people and God’s nature as one abounding in mercy and steadfast love.

I wonder if in our attempt to hedge our bets about whether something is God’s will, just in case it doesn’t happen, if we may be unintentionally causing people to question whether God would even want to help us at all.

Come Out

Come Out!

Good News - Part 3

Sunday, January 21, 2024
Mark 1:21-28

The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the legal experts. Suddenly, there in the synagogue, a person with an evil spirit screamed,  “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God.”

“Silence!” Jesus said, speaking harshly to the demon. “Come out of him!”  The unclean spirit shook him and screamed, then it came out.

 Mark 1:22-26 CEB)

Listen to this Week’s Sermon here:

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When we get too close to Jesus, our inner demons cringe.  They make excuses for us to stay away.  They remind us of our faith and our church involvement.  They tell us that we wrote our prayer needs on cards at church so others will take care of them for us.  They remind us of all the good things we’ve done so we don’t feel too bad when we neglect the good we know we should do.  They remind us of all those church services, Sunday school classes, and Bible Studies we’ve sat in on so that we can take a well earned break from our devotions.  They make us feel good, so that we will never know how sick we really are.

So long as we keep our distance from the Son of God, our inner demons are comfortable and they will do everything they can to keep us comfortable.  So long as we keep our distance from the Holy One, our Un-holiness doesn’t look so bad compared to others.  So long as we keep our distance from the Truth, it’s so easy to believe the Lie.

People experienced healing and wholeness when they came close to Jesus in faith because the demons could not remain in His presence.  When the light is turned on, the darkness disappears.  If the darkness remains, either the light is burned out, or we are not close enough too it.  Since the Light of Christ burns eternally, we must not be close enough if darkness continues to cloud our lives.  Imagine yourself in a pitch black room when a spotlight comes on and shines in your face.  You cringe and shut your eyes in pain.  It would be easier to go back to a dark corner than to look into the light.  But we must keep our eyes on the light no matter how hard.  We must take up our cross, surrender our will, and follow him even unto death.

We say we believe, but what does it mean?  Of course we have faith.  We believe in God the Father, Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ His Only Son Our Lord.  Many of us recite it week after week. 

But I wonder if our inner demons have more faith than we do?

Demons fear God… demons recognize the Son of God… demons obey the authority of the Spirit sent from the Father through the Son.  Do we? 

People stare in amazement as the demons flee at His command.  They experience His healing among them, yet they still question His identity.  Jesus Himself silences demons so they don’t reveal it.  Does Jesus’ teaching, healing power and authority have more impact on the devil Himself than on we who claim to be His disciples? 

What darkness is holding on inside of you, trying to keep a safe distance from the Light of Christ? 

What are the things that control you, that consume your thoughts and life, that Jesus wants to cast out? 

What do you fear losing if you truly surrendered every part of your life to Christ? 

How would your life look different?

Your Faith Has Healed You

Your Faith Has Healed You

A Service of Healing & Wholeness

Sunday, June 11, 2023
James 5:14-16, Mark 5:21-43

Are any among you sick?  They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them,  anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.  The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.

James 5:14-16

Listen to this Week’s Sermon here:

From The United Methodist Book of Worship, pp. 613-614

Scripture strongly affirms ministries of spiritual healing, which in recent years have received renewed emphasis throughout Christ’s holy Church. The root of the word healing in New Testament Greek, sozo, is the same as that of salvation and wholeness. Spiritual healing is God’s work of offering persons balance, harmony, and wholeness of body, mind, spirit and relationships through confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Through such healing, God works to bring about reconciliation between God and humanity, among individuals and communities, within each person, and between humanity and the rest of creation. The New Testament records that Jesus himself healed the estranged and sick and sent out his disciples on ministries of healing. James 5:14-16a calls us also to pray for and anoint the sick, that they may be healed.

All healing is of God. The Church’s healing ministry in no way detracts from the gifts God gives through medicine and psychotherapy. It is no substitute for either medicine or the proper care of one’s health. Rather, it adds to our total resources for wholeness.

Healing is not magic, but underlying it is the great mystery of God’s love. Those who minister spiritual healing are channels of God’s love. Although no one can predict what will happen in a given instance, many marvelous healings have taken place.

God does not promise that we shall be spared suffering but does promise to be with us in our suffering. Trusting that promise, we are enabled to recognize God’s sustaining presence in pain, sickness, injury, and estrangement.

Likewise, God does not promise that we will be cured of all illnesses; and we all must face the inevitability of death. A Service of Healing is not necessarily a service of curing, but it provides an atmosphere in which healing can happen. The greatest healing of all is the reunion or reconciliation of a human being with God. When this happens, physical healing sometimes occurs, mental and emotional balance is often restored, spiritual health is enhanced, and relationships are healed. For the Christian, the basic purpose of spiritual healing is to renew and strengthen one’s relationship with the living Christ.

Patterns of healing services grow out of both Church traditions and the needs of the moment. Prayers for healing, accompanied if desired by anointing with the laying on of hands, may be incorporated into any service of congregational worship as a Response to the Word. Also, there may be a healing service at a stated time each week or month, or healing may be ministered privately to individuals. Many find not only prayer but also Holy Communion, laying on of hands, and anointing with oil to be healing.

Laying on of hands, anointing with oil, and the less formal gesture of holding someone’s hand all show the power of touch, which plays a central role in the healings recorded in the New Testament. Jesus often touched others — blessing children, washing feet, healing injuries or disease, and raising people from death. Biblical precedent combines with our natural desire to reach out to persons in need in prompting us to touch gently and lovingly those who ask for healing prayers. Such an act is a tangible expression of the presence of the healing Christ, working in and through those who minister in his name.

Anointing the forehead with oil is a sign act invoking the healing love of God. The oil points beyond itself and those doing the anointing to the action of the Holy Spirit and the presence of the healing Christ, who is God’s Anointed One.

A prayer for healing:

O God, the giver of health and salvation, we give thanks to you for the gift of oil.

As your holy apostles anointed many who were sick and healed them,

so pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on this gift,

that those who in faith and repentance receive this anointing

may be made whole; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

May the power of God's indwelling presence heal you of all illnesses—

of body, mind, spirit, and relationships—

that you may serve God with a loving heart. Amen.