Are You Ready to Go in a New Direction?
Good Morning Friends,
It goes without saying that almost everyone wants something. People under the stress of being unemployed are looking for a job. At our church we are looking for new staff to complement our relatively new pastor. As a leader of a Social Service Mission I am looking for sustainable funding. People who are sick want to be healed. Well that is what we say we are looking for, but what are we really looking for anyway? Are we hungering for food? Knowledge? Companionship? Love? Beauty? Happiness? In the seeking, my experience has been that the process of satisfying these hungers almost always ends up being a challenge that ties us up in a knot emotionally but then takes us to an unanticipated place of faith where we are tied up in the healing knot of love. Are You Ready to Go in a New Direction?
Scripture: My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “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.” So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him.
Mark 5:21-24 (NRSV)
Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ 29Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ 31And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?” ‘ 32He looked all round to see who had done it. 33But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’
Mark 5:25-34 (NRSV)
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then 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. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement.
Mark 5:35-42 (NRSV)
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NRSV)
13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13 (NRSV)
Message: Today we look at two stories…one sandwiched in between another and tied together in some elegant ways. Their positioning is part of a story that spans twelve years that begins with the birth of a child and the hemorrhaging of a woman. Jesus calls the woman he heals “daughter.” The child he heals, perhaps as she is coming of age, is the daughter of a leader of the synagogue. Together they give perspective on the overarching power of the love of life and the law of love and an insight into the politics of the time related to woman and the Messiah. To understand this you need to understand the word play. In Biblical times Jewish men and perhaps women as well wore a garment called a Talith or prayer shawl. The word Talith is made up of two words: tal meaning tent and ith meaning little. These little tents were prayer shawls… prayer closets that substituted for the tent of the meeting. Jewish men would pull them over their head forming a tent…their own private sanctuary for prayer. The prayer shawl had 613 knots on it symbolizing the 613 laws. The woman reaching out to touch Jesus’ clothes would have made the connection. That Jesus uses the words “Talitha cum” in addressing the child ties these two stories together in a prayer. You see everybody has burdens. Some are on the outside and some are on the inside. And sometimes our issues define who we are. Notice in today’s scripture the woman’s name is never mentioned. She had issues and not only did they define her they, according to Hebrew law basically disqualified her from participating in doing anything of service or in relationship with others. She was cut off. And yet her issue drove her…consumed her…It became all she could think about. She was driven to desperation. She had tried everything and was devastated by the reality of her failure. She spent all her money tried everything and it still got worse. She had no dignity, resources or energy. All she had was a belief in Jesus. So she snuck up on him to touch the tassel of his robe. She sought divine deliverance from the inside out. The story on the outside of the sandwich comes up with a similar solution but from the outside to the inside… Friends, if you want joy, let Jesus come into your heart. That is what Jarius did. Here is a man of faith, a leader, a worshipper, a man of prayer, focused on the most important thing in his life at that moment. The amazing thing is that Jesus, on one of the busiest days of his life, was willing to go in a new direction to help him realize that God will take care of our needs in accordance with our willingness to put faith into action. Jesus took advantage of this opportunity to demonstrate how the Messiah could take Israel in a new direction by helping others to stand up for the law of love. Here we discover the importance of trusting God. Maybe we have to be desperate. Maybe we have to believe we need a miracle. Tying up all the loose ends in in these two stories helps us to understand that the intensity of our commitments are really a reflection of our commitment to love. Here faith show up and takes us in a different direction…the way straight to Jesus.
Pray we realize that there is no greater love than God’s love. Pray we realize that God wants to make us beautiful on the inside. Pray we realize that the source of happiness is God. Pray we put our faith into action, trust and believe. Pray we, like Jesus, have the resolve to do what is right. Pray that when we face the bearers of bad news, we introduce them to the one who commands good news. Pray that Jesus has the last word. Pray we follow Him when He takes a turn in a new direction. Pray we realize that Holy desperation can open doors. Pray we realize we need Jesus. Pray our lives have the tie that binds us in Christian love.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 