Mark 1:29-39
There are three major events that take place in the
excerpt we heard from Mark this morning – our 3rd Sunday in the
first chapter of the gospel – and I’d like to draw out each one, then draw some
conclusions on how these very first century, ancient world stories – like
exorcisms – still have meaning in our 21st century lives.
So – we’re on the same day as we were last
Sunday. In the morning on that Sabbath –
Jesus went into the synagogue and wowed everyone with his teaching – teaching
not as a scribe but having authority.
Jesus knows who he is and whose he is – and the people can see that.
And it was that authority – that sense of
self-knowledge – that compels him to break the rules. In the midst of that Sabbath worship he healed
a man of an unclean spirit. We can
assign all sorts of modern day maladies to what that might mean – unclean
spirit – but Jesus sets the person free – releases him – unbinds him. Jesus casts out whatever it is that it
keeping that person from being the child of God he is meant to be.
And – that gets noticed. It’s noticed by the people in authority –
they don’t have authority, they are just in the right position – because Jesus
broke the rules. It gets noticed by the
people – who are amazed at his teaching and healing. And, as we see again this morning, it gets
noticed by the demon. A recurring theme
of Mark’s gospel is that until the very end – until the crucifixion – the only
ones who recognize Jesus as the Holy One of God are the demons! We’ll get to that.
So – Jesus then leaves worship – I’m sure he stayed
for coffee hour, though…and goes with his disciple to visit Simon’s
mother-in-law. And it’s annoying she
doesn’t have a name – so let’s just call her Esther. Women weren’t important enough when the
scriptures were written to always be given a name – BUT – amazingly – they are
important enough for Jesus to talk to, eat with and to heal. Jesus and Simon go into the house – Simon
says, Esther is really sick – can you help?
Another important point of context. In the time of
this gospel – when you’re sick there are major societal ramifications. Just like a person who is considered
“unclean” because they have a demon – a person who is sick is shameful, a
disgrace. Remember in John’s gospel, the
blind man – and everyone around him is arguing over who sinned so badly that
this man went blind? Was it his fault? His parents?
To be sick was to be at fault – to be deserving of your illness. This reflected badly on you – and your
family. We still have that, with some
illnesses, don’t we?
Being sick also kept you from being able to fulfill
your role in the family. Look – it’s old
fashioned to us now – but the role of the woman in the household was to serve –
and we can’t take that in a pejorative sense.
Esther being sick meant she not only brought shame onto her family from
the outside – but inside the family, she couldn’t do her job. None of us like it when we are in that state
do we? Work gives us purpose – makes us
feel like a contributing member of the world. None of us want to be a burden,
right?
So what does Jesus do? Don’t forget it’s still the Sabbath – not
supposed to do any healing – but just like that man bound because of a demon –
Esther is bound by her fever – and Jesus wants to set people free.
And notice how he does so…Jesus came, he took her by
the hand and lifted her up. Picture that
for a minute. Picture the tender action
of Jesus gently taking her hand and lifting her up. I doubt that was how he cast out demons – but
Esther was a different person with different needs.
Jesus takes her by the hand, lifts her up – and THEN
the fever leaves her. Jesus isn’t one of
those charismatic preachers who needs an audience to put on a show of
healing. He meets individual people and
relates to their particular needs – always with the purpose of restoring them
to wholeness in themselves – AND – within their community. Jesus lifts people up. Jesus sets people free.
Which allows her to turn and follow. Someone cared for her – so she turns and
cares for Jesus.
And then, forget about it – its been a busy day and
word has gotten out! So
S’maltimore. And droves of people
surround poor Esther’s house wanting to be lifted up and set free – and who
could blame them?
But – notice what it says – all who were sick and
possessed came – the whole city – but – not all were healed. Many were.
Many demons cast out – many healed with various diseases – but not
all.
Why? I don’t
know. Just like today – I don’t know why
some are healed and some are not. Go
back and reread what we heard from Isaiah – another reminder about the mystery,
the incomprehensibility of the Holy One.
But it’s important for us to remember – Jesus did not heal every person
he met in the way that they wanted. And
even those he did – they had the same mortal life that we do.
Moving on – as Jesus did. The next morning – he gets up goes and
prays. Look I don’t do it every day
either – but I do it, fairly regularly – and it makes a difference in my life –
and I know I’m not the only one here who has that same awareness. To start our day connecting with the Holy One
– matters. It certainly mattered to
Jesus.
But check out this phrase – Simon and his companions
go “hunting” for Jesus. Hunting? Yep – that is a direct translation – they
aren’t just looking, they aren’t eagerly seeking – they are on the hunt. Because Esther’s house is still surrounded by
people clamoring to be set free, to be lifted up. Which makes Simon and his companions anxious
and nervous. Just like the disciples
surrounded by all those hungry masses in the feeding of the 5,000 story who
turn to Jesus saying – what are we supposed to do about this?
We get anxious when there is a crisis of some kind and
we don’t know how to solve it or fix it, immediately. So we hunt for someone to give our anxiety to
– because we have this not always true notion – that there is always something
“to do” – sometimes there isn’t.
Anyway – probably because Jesus connects daily with
God, probably because Jesus knows who he is and whose he is - Jesus doesn’t
react, doesn’t give in to their anxiety.
He did what he could do in Capernaum – and it’s time to move on. Some were healed, some weren’t – he can’t do
everything. He doesn’t do what they want
– he lives into his calling - let us go on to the neighboring towns to proclaim
the good news – because that is what I came to do – Jesus tells them.
And – if I may be so bold as to reference my sermon
of two weeks ago – the good news is this – the time is now. God is here.
Turn and trust. Jesus knows that
when some people hear that message they will be set free – they will be lifted
up.
Wait – the demons.
I believe in demons that want to thwart the power of God in us and in the
world. As individuals – the demons are
those things that keep us bound – they are the addictions – not just to vices –
but to anxiety and fear, to basing our sense of who we are on what other people
think. Those critical demonic voices in
our head that cut us down. The demons
are also the voices of our own pride and maybe even guilt – that keeps us from
going into the neighboring towns and cities – to help lift people up. Keep us from going into our own hearts to ask
Jesus to turn and lift us up.
That’s why they always know Jesus – darkness never
wants to let in the light, because anxiety and shame are the fears that keep
demons alive.
The good news is the same then, now and always – we
hear it again and again because it doesn’t always get through, it doesn’t
always lift us up, it doesn’t always encourage us to turn and serve in grateful
response. But many times it does. Be grateful for the good news today – God is
here, the time is now, turn and trust – for maybe just in the hearing you will be
lifted up – and you in turn will go and lift up another. Amen.
The Rev. Arianne R. Weeks
No comments:
Post a Comment