Sermons From My Heart

The Gospel reading which we just heard from John 6:1-21 is full of rich imagery.  Although the story of the feeding of the 5,000 appears in all four Gospels, John’s version has a slightly different meaning. In fact, John includes only seven of Jesus’ miracles in his Gospel, and in each miracle the believer is brought closer to God. Each miracle invites us to reflect on what the miracle says about Jesus.

John most likely included this version of the feeding of the 5,000 to provide additional information that was not recorded in the other three Gospels. For the early Christians, this story got to the heart of something they knew was important about Jesus, about who he was, what he was up to, and what he found to be important. John’s recording of this miracle showed the creative power of Christ and set the stage for Jesus’ talk about the “bread of life” in the remaining verses of Chapter 6. The purpose of John’s Gospel is to show that Jesus is the mind of God in human form, so the signs in John’s version of the feeding of the 5,000 are designed to show God at work in the lives of his people.

The feeding of the 5,000 represents both the manna that came from heaven while the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years and faith in Jesus. It is also a sign of the Last Supper. It represents the covenant that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is God’s provision for the world’s salvation.

The barley loaves represented Elisha’s feeding of the 100 people with a small supply of barley loaves as mentioned in 2 Kings 4:42-44. Barley bread was a bread of poor quality that was eaten by poor people. Barley loaves were less nutritious, less tasty and harder to digest than bread made with wheat. The small lunch represents the great things God can do with whatever we bring to him, no matter how big or how small. The 12 baskets of leftovers represent both God’s abundance (which means that there is enough for everyone) and the 12 tribes of Israel. The crowd’s desire to make Jesus an earthly king represents our desire to fit God into our expectations of him instead of fitting ourselves into God’s expectations of us. Jesus walking on the water in the midst of the storm represents God in our midst and God coming to us when we are in trouble.

The Bible uses the word “signs” to speak of miracles because God has a special place for miracles. Jesus used his miracles to point people to God, and it was God’s power that made Jesus’ miracles possible. In other words, Jesus opened the people’s eyes to see and their hearts to believe, but the people in the crowd only saw Jesus as a provider for their earthly needs. They did not see the signs as indications that God would provide for their heavenly needs and their spiritual needs. Jesus wanted the people to live in him and partake of his spiritual food, but the people wanted Jesus to stay with them so they could continue to enjoy the physical food that he offered.

In order to make room for the spiritual food Jesus offers, we must starve our human weaknesses such as judging, indifference and isolation and feed on kindness, compassion, community and generosity. In other words, we must feed on the characteristics of Jesus in order to become more like him. The crowd did not understand what was happening. They got their stomachs full, but their spirits were still hungry. They did not realize that if they accepted the spiritual food Jesus offered, they would never be spiritually hungry again.

The disciples learned firsthand that God is greater than the needs of 5,000 people, and this gave them confidence that they could trust him for their daily needs. Likewise at times the Lord will set a seemingly impossible task before us to test us and see whether we react in fear or faith. That is because He is training us to have faith in Him and trusting Him means looking beyond what we can see and do to what He is able to accomplish, especially when he works through us. We can trust God in the storms of life. Faith is the key to the storehouse of God’s ample supply. When we believe God, we will have rest and peace in our lives. In spite of opposition, Jesus will enable his people to achieve the goals he has set for them-including salvation.

John Wesley, the great Methodist preacher of the 18^th century, once said, “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth”. Can you imagine what would happen if every believer took that advice to heart? No, we are not perfect, but God uses imperfect people to do his perfect work in our world. In fact, he seems to go out of his way to find imperfect people to work through. Just look at Moses, David, and Samson, to name just a few.

Moses was a stutterer who murdered an Egyptian, but God used him to free the Israelites from slavery. David was an ordinary shepherd boy who was used by God to lead the Israelites to greatness and prosperity, in spite of committing adultery and murder. Samson was used to destroy the Philistines in spite of giving in to temptation by having his hair cut. If God can use people like them to do great things, just imagine what he can do through us if we let him. God makes the impossible in our lives possible when we act on His word and trust Him for what only He can do. As the old hymn says, “It is no secret what God can do. What He’s done for others, he’ll do for you”.

Bibliography

1. Stanley, C.F., The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc., 2009)
2. Exegesis for John 6:1-21. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
3. Lucado, M., The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2010)
4. MacArthur, J., MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006; 2008)
5. Frederikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J., The Preacher’s Commentary Series: Volume 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.; 1985)
6. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible Software package.
7. Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible Software package.
8. ESV Study Bible. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible Software package.
9. Jude Siciliano, “First Impressions, 17^th Sunday (B)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
10. John North, “Time With God, John 6:6”. Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
11. John Piper, “The All-Providing King Who Would Not Be King”. Retrieved from www.desiringgod.org
12. John Piper, “Twelve Baskets of Bread and the Walk on Water”. Retrieved from www.desiringgod.org
13. Harold Sala, “The Mother of All Storms”. Retrieved from www.guidelines.org.
14. Anne Graham Lotz, “Give All That You Have”. Retrieved from www.angelministries.org
15. Sharon Jaynes, “Sit Down and Be Quiet”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
16. The Rev. Debra Metzger Shaw, “Living Loaves”. Retrieved from www.day1.org

“Are we almost there?” Noelle asked, eagerly leaning forward from the back seat of the car. “I can’t wait to go swimming!”

“There it is!” Cameron shouted as the car rounded a bend in the drive and the little cottage came into view. Dad parked by the front door, and Noelle and Cameron helped unpack the car. The smaller children played on the swing set in the yard, and Mom swept and dusted inside the cottage.

“I’m starving!” declared Cameron when they finished their work. “Me, too,” said Noelle. “When are we going to eat, Mom?”

“Soon,” Mom replied, getting out some sloppy joe meat, chips and buns. She put the meat in a pan and turned on the burner. Then she plugged in the coffeepot. “How about macaroni and cheese with your sloppy joes?” she suggested as she turned on another burner. Immediately, all the lights went off. “Oh, no!” exclaimed Mom. “I must have blown a fuse.”

Dad got up and went to find the fuse box. “Looks like there are too many things on one of the circuits,” he said when he came back. “We’ll have to turn off a few lights whenever we want to use the stove.”

Soon their lunch was ready, and they sat down to enjoy it together. “This is fun,” said Noelle. “It’s our first real vacation in ages.”

“I know,” said Mom thoughtfully. “That over-loaded fuse reminds me of our family lately. We’ve been so busy getting Dad’s business started and redecorating the house. Then with piano lessons, Little League games, housework, and homework, I think we’ve been overloaded, too. We’ve been so busy that we haven’t had much time to spend together and enjoy each other.”

Dad nodded. “Let’s evaluate our activities during this vacation and see which ones we could cut out of our schedules,” he suggested. Dad turned to Cameron. “How about getting my Bible from the shelf over there, Son? Let’s have family devotions right now–that’s one activity we should always take time for.”

“Right,” said Cameron getting the Bible. “That and my Little League games. But we could skip the piano lessons,” he added with a grin. “And homework.”

Dad chuckled. “I don’t think so,” he said. “We’ll talk about it later.”

How do you handle it when your plans get changed, even for good reasons? Do you feel disappointed or angry? The passage from Mark’s Gospel gives us some ideas about how to handle unexpected changes in plans.

Jesus’ disciples led busy lives. They were tired. They were too busy from ministry with Jesus and the people to even find time to eat. Jesus displayed His concern for practical matters. His disciples had just returned from a ministry trip, so He expected them to “come aside…and rest awhile.” Jesus saw the problems and suggested that they get away and get some rest.

Jesus also recognized, honoured, and tended to His own tiredness. He pulled His disciples away from their labour and striving. We see a Saviour who probes below the surfaces of our busy lives and pinpoints the hunger our culture won’t allow us to name: the hunger for space, reflection, solitude, nourishment, recreation, rest, and sleep.

Jesus was also tired emotionally. He had just lost John the Baptist, his beloved cousin and prophet. We read about his death in Mark 6:14-29. John the Baptist baptized Jesus and spent a lifetime in the wilderness preparing the way for Jesus. To make matters worse, Jesus lost him to murder. This was a terrifying reminder that God’s faithful servants are not immune to violent, senseless deaths. If we want proof, all we have to do is look at what happens to Christians in countries such as North Korea and China. Perhaps Jesus felt that His own death was closer and His own ministry was more ominous. He had many reasons to feel heartbroken and tired emotionally.

Jesus made sure that His disciples took care of themselves both spiritually and physically. He wants His modern disciples to take care of themselves as well. That’s why He created the Sabbath. We are well-advised to heed the words of this prayer:

Slow me down, Lord.

Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.

Steady my hurried pace.

Give me, amidst the day’s confusion

the calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tension of my nerves and muscles

with the soothing music of singing streams

that live in my memory.

Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.

Teach me the art of taking minute vacations…

slowing down to look at a flower,

to chat with a friend,

to read a few lines from a good book.

Remind me

of the fable of the hare and the tortoise;

that the race is not always to the swift;

that there is more to life than measuring its speed.

Let me look up at the branches of the towering oak

and know that…it grew slowly…and well.

Inspire me

to send my own roots down deep…

into the soils of life’s endearing values.

That I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.

Slow me down, Lord.

How long has it been since we were quiet and still in God’s presence with no agenda other than a desire to sit at His feet? A little solitude can give us an opportunity to reconnect with our spiritual life. It is an important time to rest, pray and renew our spirits.

According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. The man laughed at Aesop and asked him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity. Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the man, “Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bow implies.”

The man looked at it for several minutes but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained, “If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually, but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it.”

Rest is essential, especially for ministers. Time alone with God is important. We aren’t built to keep going at full steam without stopping until we fall over. We need breaks once in a while. Unfortunately, to quote the great Scottish poet Robert Burns, the best laid plans often go astray.

Despite His own weariness, Jesus ministered to the needy crowd because He saw them as “sheep not having a shepherd.” This phrase appears repeatedly in the Old Testament; it refers to the fact that the leaders in Israel had abdicated their role as shepherds. Also significant, Jesus’ compassion for the multitudes is expressed by His staying to teach them. We are familiar with verses that say Jesus had compassion and fed people or healed them. We often forget that teaching is also compassion. Jesus saw their need.

Jesus had compassion for the people. He saw them as sheep without a shepherd. In other words, they were leaderless. They were dumb and defenseless. They wanted a spokesperson. They were vulnerable. They were a milling mass that could be turned by a leader, a voice or a protector to the uses of good or evil. Today the masses can also be vulnerable to fickle and volatile movements. If we want proof, all we have to do is look at Donald Trump, especially when he was the President of the United States. People saw his rhetoric and statements on Twitter as gospel. It was his supporters who stormed the United States Capital building in January of 2021 in an attempt to block the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

The Shepherd promised by God arrived and taught the bewildered flock. He was the true Shepherd they lacked. He did not leave them on their own because God did not leave them. Through Jesus they learned about God’s reign. He taught them these things:

1. God loves them and is ready to forgive their sins.
2. Though the world treats them as last, in God’s eyes they are first.
3. God is their true Ruler, and God’s reign is one of justice, peace and love.

Jesus also taught them that, if they accept His teaching and receive the reign of God into their lives, then they must treat others as God treated them: love one another, welcome the stranger, forgive their enemies, care for the needs and welcome the least and forgotten to their table. 

Jesus helped the masses by teaching them, organizing them, speaking for them and feeding them. Many leaders play on people’s emotions in order to gain control. For example, Adolph Hitler had the verbal ability to whip the German people into a frenzy. The people did not ask if what Hitler said was right or wrong. Jesus did not play that game. He did not want to make the people shallow believers whose faith had to be constantly reinforced by emotional jabs. He taught them many things in order to build up their enthusiasm for the foundations of truth that would sustain them.

Jesus saw people as more important than His own plans and need for rest. He saw them not as an interruption but as an opportunity to reveal His loving care and His compassionate power to meet their needs. He saw them as God sees them. Similarly, we must also see people as God sees them and do what we can to meet their physical, spiritual and emotional needs.

Rather than chronicling this part of Jesus’ ministry in Gennesaret in detail, Mark says only that wherever Jesus went, people ran to Him, hoping to be healed and blessed. All those who touched Him in faith were made well. Was Jesus disappointed to think that the people missed the substance of the truth? We don’t know, but we do know that He chose to be known as a servant. Rather than being insulted by the sick who were brought to Him, He was flattered to know that the first purpose of His earthly mission was being accomplished. The sick people had faith and determination. They were freed from their illnesses and they were made whole. Are the people who touch our lives set free and made whole, or do we add to their chains and increase their fragmentation?

If we didn’t know it before, we now know the world’s need for a Shepherd. As we navigate a world where the losses from COVID-19 have been too many to count and where in the wake of the resulting grief and uncertainty many have not been able to make sense of it, there are people who need our Christian hope, help and love. People who are sick want to be healed. People who are hungry want to be fed. There are needs all around us. Sometimes these needs are in our congregations and sometimes they are spread throughout our communities. In both cases our faith communities can play an active role in meeting these needs. God welcomes us into His healing power, grace and peace. When we are filled and renewed, we are sent out to share these gifts within our world. When we are tired from that ministry, we are welcomed again into His healing power, grace and peace, and the pattern continues.

Jesus knows that we often feel tired and overwhelmed when we do His work in our world. He went through it Himself. He gave Himself completely for us. He laid down His own life to meet our needs—first through His years of living, working, teaching, preaching, healing, suffering, dying and rising again. He gave Himself for us so we might live even when we are overburdened, overstretched, over-matched in every way.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 1353-1355)
2. “Teach Strong.” Retrieved from teenlilfeministries@gmail.com
3. “Overloaded.” Retrieved form keys@lists.keysforkids.org
4. McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 25: Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982; pp. 132-143)
5. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
7. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010; pp. 1363-1366)
8. Richard Innes, “Slow Me Down, Lord.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
9. Dr. Ed Young, “Your Spirit and Strength Renewed.” Retrieved from ministry@winningwalk.org
10. “Strength from Solitude.” Retrieved from notifications@opperroom.org
11. Anne Graham Lotz, “Jesus Saw the People as God Does.” Retrieved from info@angelministries.org
12. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 16^th Sunday (B).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
13. Richard Innes, “Come Apart and Rest A While.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
14. The Rev. Janet Hunt, “Seeing With the Eyes of Jesus: Like Sheep Without a Shepherd.” Retrieved from https://dancingwiththeword.com
15. Debie Thomas, “The Gift of Rest.” Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net
16. Dr. Kari Vo, “Balancing Needs.” Retrieved from www.lhm.org

How many of you have ever watched a horror movie or read a horror story? It’s not always a pleasant experience, is it? As strange as it might seem, there are actually some horror stories in the Bible, and one of the most famous of its horror stories is the story of the death of John the Baptist.

John condemned Herod’s marriage to Herodias because it went against the Law of Moses. Herodias was the wife of Herod’s brother Philip, and she divorced Philip in order to marry Herod. Herodias was also Herod’s niece (She was the daughter of Herod’s half-brother Aristobulus). She wanted the intrigue of palace politics and a man whom she could not have lawfully. John’s condemnation upset Herodias so much that she looked for an opportunity to have him killed, and that opportunity came at Herod’s birthday party.

Herodias hated John so much that murder was in her heart. There is an old saying that someone who tries to get even by making others suffer for their sins is interfering in God’s business. Revenge is all-consuming and all hatefulness. Revenge is in the business of hurting others. Revenge is the destructive force in life. Herodias had all of these characteristics and one more-coldness.  She was an example of another old saying: revenge is a dish that is best served cold.

Herodias’ daughter Salome was not an innocent bystander. On the contrary, she had an active part in the plan. Salome’s dance, which some modern commentators labelled as pornographic in nature, pleased her stepfather so much that he made a promise he would later regret. When he promised her anything she wanted, he thought she would ask for material goods, but she didn’t. She fell under the influence of her mother and asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

Herod should have relied on the following advice, which is the same advice we need to rely on when we face temptation:

1. Recognize temptation for what it really is and what it can do to us.
2. Run away from temptation’s seduction and turn to God. Do not walk.
3. Rely on the power of God through the Holy Sprit’s power to give us strength as we ask for his moral courage.

Herod allowed John to speak the truth and protected him, even though John’s words puzzled him (according to some ancient manuscripts). Herod listened to John because John told him the truth, even though it hurt. Herod was surrounded by “yes men” who would tell him anything he wanted to hear, and he got tired of it. Herod wanted to hear the truth.

John spoke the truth about Herod and his wife, but he also spoke the larger truth about repentance in our lives and the even larger truth that he shared as he always pointed to Jesus. The same certainty rings true to us today as we also clear the way and get ourselves out of the way so that others can encounter Jesus.

Herod beheaded John and did not give him a formal trial. This was in violation the Law of Moses. Herod did this because he wanted to save face and not look like a fool in front of his guests. Many of the sins we commit today are done in order to save face. How many lies have we told because we are more concerned with looking good in front of others than we are with pleasing God?

Herod’s story was one of impulse, pride and stubbornness, and the story of our lives is similar. Herod gave his word to his stepdaughter Salome in front of his friends, so he had no choice but to agree to her demands. To do otherwise would have led to a loss of power. Politics overruled principle. Herod was infected with guilt both physically and psychologically. Guilt does that to everyone. Herod had greater concern for his pride and reputation than for truth and integrity. Believers and unbelievers alike can easily allow peer pressure and public opinion to turn them away from doing what they know in their hearts is right.

Herod ordered the execution of John the Baptist even though he wanted to spare his life. He made a foolish promise to his stepdaughter. When Herod heard about Jesus’ work, his guilty conscience made him wonder if John the Baptist rose from the dead. His conscience bothered him. He could not forget the evil he did by having John beheaded.

Herod is an example that speaks to leadership. People in positions of power are subjected to pressures that threaten their security or cause greed, the desire for prestige or the influence of ambitious advisors to take control of their lives and their careers. As a result, the desire to serve truth and the common good can fade. The results can be damaging. Even great leaders who are devoted to the welfare of the people they serve find themselves in conflict with human greed.

John’s life counted for something. He put himself in God’s hands, went where God told him to go, did what God told him to do and said what God told him to say. God was in control of John’s life. John is a good example for us as believers to follow. In the case of Herod, the voice of God cane from the mouth of John. This same voice comes to us today in many forms. It can come in the form of a sermon or a friend. It can even come in the form of beauty in nature. In any event, something or someone awakens our spirit to the fact that there is something more in life. When we realize that there is more to life than our earthly circumstances, we have a choice. If we make the wrong choice, it leads to more bad choices. Instead, we need to listen for the voice of God, decide to make our relationship with God the top priority in our lives, keep our eyes on who we are in Christ and remember that no one can take the place of the inheritance we have in Christ.

In Mark’s Gospel, John’s death was crucial because it was a preview of the death of Jesus. Both men were put to death by secular rulers who did not want to execute their prisoners. Both secular rulers caved in because of pressure from outsiders.

This story also serves as a warning of the dangers involved to those who proclaim God’s word. Mark included this story to encourage us by reminding us that nothing can stand in the way of God’s kingdom. The story also suggests that just as the mission of the disciples followed the death of John the Baptist, the mission of the church must follow Jesus.

Those who do good and right things still won’t be protected from being badly hurt. The story of John the Baptist’s death is meant to shock us out of our complacency. We are called on to confront the evil we see around us. Confrontation is never comfortable, but it is necessary. Those who proclaim the truth of God’s word will certainly face opposition, and John was no exception. John condemned Herod for marrying his brother’s wife, and the condemnation was based on Leviticus 18:16 and Leviticus 20:21. Herod knew that his life was wicked, and John’s was holy. Herod recklessly abused his power and privilege. He took dead aim at every standard of decency and morality. He was not the first ruler who sinned because they took advantage of their God-given power to challenge God himself. Herod still had some characteristics and conscience that were not destroyed by sin.

Some might think that God doesn’t care about them deeply. Just when we feel forsaken, God appears and assures us that we have an eternal inheritance. We might be martyred for our faith. Our martyrdom is a symbol of a deep commitment to Jesus and the truth and value of the Gospel. Martyrs inspire us, lift us up and energize us to the same quality of commitment to Christ and his values that the martyrs had.

John and Jesus are linked to Herod, the man who would play a role in both of their deaths. Herod killed John for telling the truth. In time Herod became involved in Jesus’ death. Herod was ambivalent about both John and Jesus. Neither Herod nor Pilate wanted to kill Jesus, but they were persuaded by crowds. John’s disciples took his body and laid it in a tomb. Joseph of Arimathea did the same for Jesus. Both John and Jesus continued to wield power after their deaths. John’s death haunted Herod, and he thought Jesus was John resurrected. Of course, Jesus was in fact resurrected later on.

John was faithful to his calling-faithful to death. He prepared the way for Jesus, and so should we. John’s life was intended to prepare the way for Jesus and point people to Jesus. The church needs to make these same two roles the centre of its ministry. We as individuals and as the church need to spend our lives preparing the way for Jesus, pointing toward Jesus and drawing people to Jesus.

Herod wasn’t the first person who had a false opinion of who Jesus was. People then and now have different opinions about who Jesus is. Some people in Jesus’ time thought he was a reincarnation of the prophet Elijah. Others saw him as the prophet foretold by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. Still others thought of Jesus as someone like the prophets of old-a remarkable holy man and teacher, but nothing more.

Christianity is not about knowing about Jesus. It is about knowing God as represented in Jesus. It is about having a relationship with God through Jesus. Our affirmation and allegiance to the truth of the Gospel is all or nothing regardless of the consequences. We have a choice-be like John or be like Herod. Will we be weak like Herod, easy tempted and easily manipulated, or will we be strong in our moral convictions like John? We are often fascinated by the wealth, power and intrigue of Herod’s court, but the death of John in Herod’s prison is the most significant point of the text. Mark invites us to look closely at success, and then choose significance by following Jesus on his way.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2013)
2. McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 25: Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
3. Macarthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2006)
4. Exegesis for Mark 6:14-29. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
5. “Barriers to Blessings.” Retrieved from www.lectionarysermons.com/jul_16_00.htm
6. The Rev. Dr. Catherine Taylor, “Remembering Faith.” Retrieved from www.day1.org/507-remembering_faith.print
7. Mark G. Vitalis Hoffman, “Commentary on Mark 6:14-29.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.oerg/preaching.aspx?commentary-id=348
8. Rev. James M. Childs, Ph.D., “The Downfall of Giving Into Fear.” Retrieved from www.huffingtonpost.com
9. Preaching Magazine, May/June 2015 (Nashville, TN: Salem Publishing Inc.; pgs. 50-51)

John came into the family room where his parents were watching the news. He heard the end of a report about a man trying to collect a large inheritance. “If that man’s parents died, why can’t he get the money that was left?” John asked after Dad turned off the TV.

“He ran away from home when he was sixteen years old,” Dad explained. “That was thirty years ago, and he never contacted his family again. They searched and searched for him and found out he’d moved to another state. They wanted to have a relationship with him again and made repeated efforts throughout the years to contact him, including several visits to the city where he lived. But he wouldn’t even speak with them.”

“But he’s back now, so won’t he get at least some of the money?” asked John.

Dad shook his head. “Apparently not. His parents gave up trying to get a response from him and didn’t include him in their wills.”

“But now, after they’ve both died, he’s finally shown up and thinks he should have the inheritance?” asked John.

“Yes, but now it’s too late,” replied Dad. “He contested the will, but the courts upheld it. They said he’s not entitled to any of the money.”

“Wow!” said John. “I bet he’s sorry he didn’t make up with his parents when he had the chance.”

Dad nodded. “He learned a hard lesson–and a very common one. Do you realize that something similar happens every day?”

“It does?” asked John in surprise. “You mean there are lots of people who leave home and refuse to have a relationship with their parents?”

“That happens often enough,” said Dad, “but what I really meant is that God offers an inheritance to everyone who comes to Him through Jesus Christ. Because of our sin, we’re cut off from God, so He sent Jesus to pay the price of our sin so we could have a relationship with Him. But many people ignore His offer of reconciliation. When life ends, they’re going to want the inheritance–eternal life–given to those who are part of God’s family, but it’s going to be too late. That’s why it’s important to accept God’s offer to have a relationship with Jesus now, while we still can.”

The passage we heard from Ephesians expresses a new understanding that Paul has talked about in his other letters but never fully developed. The abolishment of the barrier between Jews and Gentiles is the key to understanding God’s plan for the universe. His plan was and is to unify the entire universe in Christ Jesus. That is God’s gift to us, and we should be grateful for what He has done for us.

The author of Ephesians refers to God’s gift of grace as a lavish inheritance. Something we didn’t earn, but which is gifted to us. How often do we settle for less when God is dying to give us grace? How often do we settle for the tired old habits of religion—legalism and dogmatism- instead of waiting in expectation for the lavish gift of forgiveness, the mystery of adoption by God? How do we correct our vision?

When the New Testament speaks of a mystery, it normally refers not to a secret but to a truth that has previously been unknown. The mystery of God’s will focuses on God’s great plan to centre all things in heaven and on earth in His Son, Jesus Christ. The dispensation of the fullness of the times refers to the time when God’s plan will be fully revealed at the Second Coming of Christ. Then everyone on earth will recognize that Jesus is Lord.

The fact that we are chosen by God gives us a purpose that we can hang on to in our slippery world. Our wide-open, permissive society is similar to the sinfulness of first century Rome. It doesn’t provide a purpose, but God does, and that purpose is to be holy and blameless in love. Second-best isn’t good enough for us as Christians. To be chosen for a purpose means that to be human and Christian is to be holy, and to make our lives an offering to God. Our destiny as Christians is in the hands of a God that loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins so we can have eternal life with Him.

Those in Christ have every spiritual blessing needed for spirit, soul and body; for the past, present and future; for salvation and service; for time and eternity, both now and forever. The spiritual blessings believers have in Christ encompass every need and aspect in their lives. Paul specifies that these blessings are in the heavenly places so that readers will understand: this promise is not one of earthly blessings that will pass away but of spiritual blessings that will endure forever!

God hates uncleanliness. He hates to see anger boiling in the heart rather than the love that He placed there. God hates the lackadaisical heart that finds it hard to care about God, let alone anybody else. God hates gossip flowing freely off the tongue rather than encouragement or words of praise. God hates the self-indulgence that often replaces compassion and attention to the needs of the people around us. God hates the uncleanliness of the jealousy that chokes off our ability to have healthy relationships.

God hates uncleanness because he hates anything that sells us short-short of what we can be, short of our destiny. God hates anything that harms us or prevents us from being the people He designed us to be. God hates anything that chokes off the life He desires for us.

God hates uncleanliness because God is holiness and we are not. God has higher hopes, holy hopes for us, and yet we fall short. And let’s be honest-cleanliness is next to impossible. But God is holiness, yes. At the same time, though, give thanks because God is also pure mercy.

God is love, and love does not wish to live alone. By definition, love requires relationship, so God chose for himself a people to be His own special possession. Love and sacrifice go together. We have been redeemed, justified and drawn near to Christ through His blood. This is the power of God because the love that initiated it is God’s love. Through God’s forgiveness we have redemption because of Christ’s sacrifice. As a result of this forgiveness we can respond to God in all wisdom and prudence. Through God’s forgiveness we are gathered into one body and we become God’s children. We become what we want and need. We become part of God’s family. We find unity in Christ.

When you were in school, were you ever among the last children to be chosen when teams were formed in Physical Education classes? Perhaps you felt the same way a little boy named Ronnie did. Ronny squirmed back and forth unable to peel his eyes from the black asphalt below him. He hated this part of physical education class. He shifted his weight back and forth and listened; wishing and praying that he would hear his name called.

“Simon.” The boy next to him smiled and hustled over to his team. Ronny sighed. There were only a few kids left and he knew he would be the last one picked. He was right, as he found himself standing alone, again. Ronny, shoulders drooping, joined his team. Getting picked last stinks.

There are none picked last in the Kingdom of God. God does not choose us because we are the most athletic, the smartest, the strongest, or the most religious. We cannot do anything to earn the salvation God graciously and freely gives us. It has always been a part of God’s plan to adopt us into His family, so we cannot take the credit. There is no room for pride.

Our team captain is Jesus Christ. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are holy and blameless in God’s sight. We are set apart. Through Jesus we are a part of the body of Christ. We are on His team. We are not picked last, but first. In fact, Jesus picked us long before any of us existed! We are valued by Him because He had us in mind from the beginning of time. He took the time to create us. We belong to Him. He has a plan for us. Most important, He will never stop loving us.

The word “beloved” is a reference to Christ. The believer’s relationship with the sinless Christ is what makes him or her acceptable before God. When we believe in Christ, He works a miracle in us. We are purified and empowered by God. We obtain the riches of God’s grace in abundance. We have everything we need for life and godliness. We are to share these gifts with an unbelieving world. That is the point of the parable of the wicked, unforgiving servant. We didn’t deserve grace, but now that we have it, we have to give it as liberally and as graciously as we received it.

Six times in the Letter to the Ephesians Paul reminds readers of God’s riches: grace, the glory of His inheritance in the saints, His mercy, Christ and his glory. Because God is the source, this wealth can never be depleted and can never be lost.

The original form of the term “redemption” recalls the word “forum”, the place in ancient cities where slaves were bought and sold. Believers have been redeemed from the bondage of sin and freed by the shed blood of Christ. The believers’ inheritance consists of the promise of eternal life with God and all the spiritual blessings the heavenly Father supplies until then. Not only do God’s people receive an inheritance from God, they also make up His inheritance.

When something is sealed, it is marked with the owner’s name and secured as being in his or her possession. God marks believers as His very own by sending His Holy Spirit to live in them. The Holy Spirit Himself is the seal.

Whatever our situation may be, we are assured that God will work things out after the counsel of His own will. He will turn our sorrow into joy, and our groaning into glory. There will be times in our lives when our spiritual growth will be slow and times when it will be fast. God doesn’t always hurry in the development of our Christian life and He is not bound by time. Those of us who are deeply spiritual will be the ones who have made up their minds that they are going to stick with the Word of God, love other people and allow Him to live His life through them.

The Gentiles heard and responded to “the word of truth, the gospel of salvation”, which must include both the message of divine forgiveness and the vision of a transformed world. The Spirit is the advance instalment of the fulfilled vision. What will the vision be like? It will have the features we recognize in the Spirit. And what are they? Some might think of ecstasy and wonders. People who have listened to Paul will answer: love.

This elaborate and somewhat flowery acclamation is grounded in its underlying vision of divine love. People and things will be one when they acclaim love and compassion and acknowledge those alone as what rules. That vision of Christ is then a vision for the church and the whole world. It already shows itself where barriers and prejudice are broken down.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: NKJV (Nashville, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p. 1639)
2. Dunnam, M.D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 31: Galatians/Ephesians/Philippians/Colossians/Philemon (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982, pp. 144-153)
3. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
4. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Bob Christopher, “It is Finished!” Retrieved from www.basicgospel.net
6. Kenny Luck, “God’s Influence in Us.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
7. Bayless Conley, “It Will All Work Out.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
8. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “A Glorious Inheritance.” Retrieved from mydevotinal@leadingtheway.org
9. “Lost Inheritance.” Retrieved from info@keysforkids.org
10. Kelly McFadden, “Not Last, but First.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
11. “Received and Accepted.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
12. “Spiritual Growth.” Retrieved from Oneplace@crosswalkmail.com
13. Christine Caine, “Obeying Matilda.” Retrieved from Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com
14. “Global Positioning System.” Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System
15. William Loader, “First Thoughts on Year B Epistle Passages from the Lectionary: Pentecost 7.” Retrieved from www.staff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/BepPentecost7.html
16. “I Exam.” Retrieved from http://morrisokcumc.blogspot.com/2006/07/sermon-july-16-i-exam.html
17. The Rev. Dr. Allen Hunt, “God’s Promises for You: I Forgive You.” http://day1.org/1026-gods_promises_for_you_i_forgive_you.print

The Gospel reading from Mark 6:1-13 occurs just after the healing of the woman with a hemorrhage and the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead. It is two different stories about faith, and that’s where the similarity ends. Unlike the two miracles that we heard about in Mark 5:21-43, which demonstrate faith in Jesus, the first parable we heard in this passage is about the lack of faith.

By the time Jesus returned to his home town of Nazareth, the stories of his healings and miracles had spread far and wide. Even the people in his home town had heard of his popularity, so you would expect that he would have been accepted by the hometown crowd and welcomed with open arms. Unfortunately that was not the case. He was seen as the son of a carpenter or the son of Mary and Joseph, and not as the Son of God.

Jesus was surprised by the unbelief of the crowd, and not because he was expecting to be welcomed as a hometown hero. The lack of faith always caused Jesus to be amazed because he is all-knowing, almighty, all-present and all-loving. Why would someone not trust him?  If you consider the population of Nazareth at the time of Jesus, you can understand why he was not accepted.

For starters, most of the people were poorly educated if they had any education at all. They could not read the precious scrolls in the synagogue, so the only way they could learn their religious heritage was to listen to the rabbis, who were educated. Jesus did not have the formal training required for rabbis, so in the eyes of the people, he was just a local boy who was “putting on airs”. To make matters worse, the scribes in Jerusalem spread rumours about Jesus—rumours which had also reached Nazareth. For example, in Mark 3:23 Jesus was accused of working with the devil.

A son was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps but not go beyond them. If a boy’s father was a carpenter, then the son was to be a carpenter as well-but nothing more. When the people heard Jesus teach in the synagogue, they were on the verge of applauding him, but they didn’t because they saw him as just a carpenter.

What they failed to see was that Jesus was following in his father’s footsteps-his heavenly father’s. Jesus really upset them when he told them that it takes outsiders to see what the locals refuse to see.

So why couldn’t Jesus perform many miracles in Nazareth? It was because of a lack of faith. We know that unbelievers, like the people of Nazareth, often fail to tap into God’s power. If they had put faith in Jesus’ wisdom they would have heard God’s guidance and encouragement. If they had looked deeper into Jesus’ cures, they would have seen God reaching out to rescue them. Instead, they missed out on the greatest miracles of all.

Jesus took the rejection in stride and continued his ministry be sending out the twelve disciples. He sent them out with only the barest of essentials-one cloak and a staff. He wanted them to trust God to provide for their needs. They were to concentrate on their mission. Plus, Jewish custom at that time was to offer hospitality to travelers. Jesus wanted the disciples to stay at the first house that offered them a place to stay in each city or town that they visited, rather than moving from house to house.

Warnings about the trappings of affluence need to be heard again today, especially when we hear stories of millions of dollars flowing into Christian ministries-dollars that are used to finance the leaders’ lifestyles instead of being used to do God’s work in the world. They need to be more like Roman Catholic priests in that functional simplicity is better.

God calls us to let go of some of the assumptions and rules we have about how we have always done things. The rules can be more of an obstacle than an aid in our spiritual journey. He calls us to leave behind our pride and ego. He strips these things from us so that we might travel light again and rely on God’s power alone to guide us and trust His grace to support and sustain us.

So why did Jesus send the twelve out in pairs? He had three main reasons. First, a partner provides strength, protection and companionship. Second, a partner also provides credibility. Deuteronomy 15:19 required two or three witnesses in order to convict a person of a crime, because a single witness was likely to make a mistake. For the same reason, one witness had less credibility than two (and perhaps that is why Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses always come knocking on our doors in pairs today). Finally, a partner holds people accountable. A person is less likely to succumb to temptation when accompanied by a partner.

Jesus wanted the disciples to know that they would travel the open roads of Palestine penniless and expecting to be welcomed with open arms, especially in their own home towns. He also wanted them to know that the Gospel message was a hard one to preach and a hard one to hear-not popular, not easy, and not automatically earning respect, especially at home.

Those who refused to show proper hospitality, or those who refused to listen to the disciples’ message, were to be treated as pagans. As such, the disciples were to do what the Jews did after they walked through Gentile lands-namely, shake the dust off of their feet as they left. Not only did this warn the offenders, it freed the disciples to move to more fertile territory-just like Jesus did after the people of Nazareth rejected him.

Jesus and the disciples always challenged the status quo, and we need more people like them today. We need people who will speak the truth and shake us out of our comfortable lives. We need people who will comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. We need people who will cooperate with God’s plan for their lives. In other words, we need people of faith.

Just like the people of Nazareth did not really know Jesus, it is possible for us to not really know Jesus. We can understand him and what he can do for us, but we often play it safe and refuse to take risks. More important, we might not know him personally. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in our world. Jesus was just an ordinary man in the eyes of the people of Nazareth, but he was God in human form and could do extraordinary things. Every Christian has a part to play in God’s master plan.

This story represents one of the few failures in Jesus’ ministry, but it also shows his human side. Like Jesus, we will all face failure at some point in our lives. Failure is hard because society has conditioned us for success, but it has not adequately prepared us for failure. We look at people such as Tiger Woods or Sidney Crosby and see only success. The only time we really see failure is when it involves someone famous such as Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston or even evangelists such as Jimmy Swaggart or Jim Bakker.

Those who accept God’s call to follow him will face rejection in its many forms-persecutions, insults, hostility, contempt, scorn, etc. They are the common situation for those who accept the call. Just like Christ rejected the way of glory and found glory in obedience and death, we must also reject the way of the world and accept the way of the cross. Christianity is not a religion for those who want success or power in the traditional worldly sense.

Jesus faced failure, but he kept on going. We can face failure and keep on going if we have the faith, courage, wisdom and strength that come with both believing in Jesus and fellowship with fellow believers. When Jesus sent the twelve disciples out, he prepared them to handle failure. He constantly prepares us for failure through his word and our faith. If we want to do something for the Gospel or for God, we have to believe them and behave according to their teachings. We must have faith and let our actions match our faith. When we do, Christ will do deeds of power thought us, and the world will be blessed by our having been here.

Bibliography

1. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2009)
2. Exegesis for Mark 6:1-13. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
3. Ron Hutchcraft, “The Home Folks’ Hazard”. Retrieved from www.hutchcraft.com
4. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexcchange.org
5. Richard Inness, “The Power of Little Things”. Retrieved from www.actsweb.org.
6. Dr. Mickey Anders, “The Sacrament of Failure”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
7. The Rev. Amy Butler, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
8. MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers: 2006;2008)
9. McKenna, D.L., & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 25:Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.: 1982)
10. ESV Study Bible. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible software package
11. Commentary on Matthew & Mark. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible software package
12. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible software package
13. Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker 8 Bible software package
14. The Rev. David Shearman, “Hometown Celebrities”. Retrieved from http://seemslikegod.org/articles/hometown-celebrities/
15. The Rev. Anthony Robinson, “Buying the Ticket”. Retrieved from www.day1.org

How do you react when you find out that someone you have known has died? Does your reaction depend on how well you knew the person who has died? Does your reaction depend on whether the deceased was a close friend or a bitter enemy? The death of a loved one calls for prayer of honour. When someone we know passes away, we must take time to honour them in conversations with God.

In the passage we heard from 2 Samuel, David teaches us how we should react when someone dies, especially if that person is our worst enemy. What David did was customary at that time. It was the custom of Eastern people, on the death of great kings and warriors, to celebrate their qualities and deeds in funeral songs. Verses 18-27 have been referred to as the Song of the Bow. These verses are a classic funeral dirge from which many dirges or eulogies have been adapted. The lament, “How the mighty have fallen!” is the key refrain in the song and brackets the entire poem for emphasis.

David’s extreme grief at the death of the man who tried to kill him for 30 years is astonishing, but it is consistent with David’s believe that Saul was God’s anointed. Whenever there is a report of one of God’s choice servants falling by the wayside in moral or physical defeat, the response should follow David’s response-not gladness, not smug complacency or a superficial piety but sorrow for the person, sorrow for the people, and sorrow for the work of God that person committed his or her life to do.

David’s sincere grief over Saul is striking. As a fugitive from Saul, David went so far as to work for the Philistines as a mercenary. Despite Saul’s hatred, David refused to treat him as an enemy. David spared Saul’s life on many occasions. Whatever relief David might have felt at the death of his tormentor is overshadowed by the loss of Saul and Jonathan. David’s mourning might have been so intense because he was unreconciled to Saul and exiled from Jonathan when they died.

David knew that God placed Saul in office and David respected what God did. We need to learn the same thing. We might not like our current leaders or the previous ones, but we have to consider that God might have put them there.

Hearing that Philistine cities such as Gath and Ashkelon rejoiced over Saul’s death, as the women of Israel did in 1 Samuel 18:6-7, distressed David. Despite Saul’s poor leadership and repeated efforts to kill him, David eulogized Saul in glowing terms and did not mention any of Saul’s faults. These words model the way to honour someone who has died.

David never read the words Jesus said in Matthew 5:44, but he practiced those words. Matthew 5:44 reads, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” David was able to practice this teaching without ever having read this teaching because David was a man after God’s own heart. David thought and felt as God does. David knew instinctively what God wants and how God operates.

There is nothing more natural than to grieve the death of a friend. The ability to grieve is God’s gift which allows us to process our loss in such a way that we can go on living without a sense of grief. Just like Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus, David and his men grieved when they heard of the death of the soldiers, Saul and Jonathan. David honoured Saul, but he celebrated his dear friend Jonathan. David did this because what he was at least in part was because of Jonathan. Friends play important roles in shaping our spiritual destinies.

David sorrowed over Jonathan as he would a brother. There is no hint of an inappropriate or sexual relationship between David and Jonathan as some modern translations allege. Besides grieving the closest of friends, David also honoured Jonathan for his extreme sacrifice in giving up the throne.

In God’s plan every life is long enough and every death is timely. We might wish for a longer life, but God knows better. We don’t know the final thoughts of a dying soul, but we do know that God is a good God. He wants our loved ones in heaven more than we do, and He usually gets what He wants. Do you know what else God wants? He wants us to face our sorrow. Denial and dismissal are not part of God’s grief therapy. If we have faith, we can face our sorrow head-on, especially is we ask God to give us inner peace.

All of us eventually lose our friends to death-theirs or ours. The best thing we can do is to make sure that our friends follow Christ and that we also follow Christ, because after death we will be with our friends forever. We will never be separated.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 402-403)
2. Jamieson Fawcett Brown Commentary. Part of Wordsearch 12 Bible software package.
3. Chafin, K.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preachers’ Commentary Series, Vol 8: 1,2 Samuel (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1989; pp. 221-2224)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
6. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
7. Ron Moore, “A Prayer of Honour.” Retrieved from www.ronmoore.org

Good morning boys and girls!

What do your parents do when you’re sick?

If you are sick to your stomach or if you have a headache, they probably give you some medicine from the drug store and wait and see if you get better. What would they do if you don’t get better? What would they do if you are so sick they think you might die? They would take you to the doctor.

Our Bible story today is about a man who did just that. His name was Jairus, and he had a daughter who was very sick. She was so sick that he thought she was going to die and he wanted to do everything he could to help her get well. Jairus heard about the best doctor in the area-a doctor who was healing many people. His name was-and is-Jesus. Jairus ran to meet Jesus, fell down at his feet and begged Jesus to put his hands on her and heal her so she could live. Jesus did not say, “Give her two aspirin and call me in the morning.” He made a house call by walking with Jairus toward his house.

As they got closer to the house, some men came up to Jairus and told him that his daughter was dead, and that there was no need to bother Jesus. Jairus was heartbroken, but Jesus told Jairus not to be afraid, but to believe. When they got to Jairus’ house, there was a crowd of people who were crying. Jesus asked them why they were crying. “The girl is not dead, only asleep.” The people laughed, so Jesus told them to leave. Jesus took Jairus and his wife into the room where the girl was. He took her by the hand and said, “Little girl, get up!” Immediately the girl got up and walked around the room. Her parents were amazed. 

Boys and girls, what did you learn from this story? In this story we saw how much Jairus loved his daughter and would do anything for her. God our heavenly father is the same. He loves us so much that he would do anything for us, including sending his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.

Something else that we learned was that with God anything is possible. Jairus’ daughter was dead, and the situation was hopeless, but Jesus raised her from the dead because of Jairus’ faith. When we face hopeless situations, we must remember what Jesus said-“Only believe.”

Let’s bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for your love. Help us to remember that all things are possible if we only believe and trust in you. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

Bibliography

1. “Only Believe.” Retrieved from www.sermons4kids.com

Have you ever wanted something so much that you were willing to do anything to get it? If so, you can appreciate what Jairus and the woman did in Mark 5:21-43.

Jairus was one of a group of key people who oversaw some of the administrative duties of local synagogues. He was not a priest. In this passage, he fell at Jesus’ feet. Jairus was a Pharisee, so how did the word of the Gospel penetrate the hardened heart of a Pharisee? The answer is simple. He had a daughter who was sick, and like any parent, he was willing to do whatever it took to heal her. That included risking ridicule and embarrassment by falling at Jesus’ feet and asking him to heal his daughter.

Jairus came to Jesus in faith, and the woman reached out to Jesus in faith also. Jesus felt her tug of faith on his robe. He ignored the disciples’ response to the question of who touched him. It was no ordinary touch. He wanted to bring the woman out of the crowd and into a public profession of faith.  He responded to her need and Jairus’ need by giving of himself just like anyone who responds to human need by giving something of themselves.

Both Jairus and the woman had given up on human efforts. They reached out to Jesus as a last resort. We are often the same. We often try to solve our problems by human means, and only when human means fail do we turn to God. A better alternative is for us to turn to God first for help. Sometimes that means God will use human means to help us.

In this passage, Mark shows Jesus’ power over physical ailments and death. When Jesus uses this power, he shows that he is equal to God. Jesus’ resurrection of the girl shows his authority, his identity and his power to give life. Death will not have the final say.

God does not always act immediately. For example, when Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus was sick, he waited for three days until he went to see Lazarus. Sometimes when we wait for God to act, things can go from bad to worse. When that happens, we start to wonder if God loves us or if we are worthy enough for God to answer our prayers. Jesus invites us to have faith in his power. The voices of death and suffering are strong in our world, and we can’t face them on our own. When we hear these voices, we must listen to Jesus when he tells us not to be afraid and just have faith. We have to take a risk by reaching out to Jesus in faith for healing. Jesus can release us from our suffering and then use our story to encourage others. He hears our cries when we hurt. He feels the touch of faith from us when we reach out to his heart. 

When God acts in our lives, he acts with authority. When Jesus felt the woman touch him, he called her to come out from the crowd. His aim was not to embarrass her or to ridicule her. He called her to a reckless faith-a faith that includes taking risks when necessary. Likewise, he did not condemn Jairus. On the contrary, he went to Jairus’ house.

Jesus healed or restored people regardless of the amount of faith the person had or the expectations of the person being healed. Sometimes he healed because the person or their loved one had faith in his power to heal. When Jesus heals, he makes the person well-complete or whole. Even though Jairus heard that his daughter had died, he did not stop Jesus from going to his house. Why? Because unlike his friends, who believed that death is final-Jairus believed that Jesus could still help him. Many of the mourners were probably either onlookers or professional mourners because unlike genuine mourners, their tears turned quickly to ridicule. Death doesn’t have the last word thanks to Jesus. Jesus’ statement that the girl was asleep was a statement that death is not final. In fact, in Luke 8:53-55, which is part of Luke’s version of this story, Luke states that the girl is in a comatose state.

Jesus does not exercise authority as a mechanical response in a clinical setting. His decisive action as the Son of God is mixed with his emotions as the Son of Man. When he cures people, he mixes the raw power of God with feeling respect for a woman who has become a full partner in the faith. When he raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, his all-seeing, all-knowing nature carried the touch of a father’s love.

Jesus allowed only his closest disciples-Peter, James and John-to go with him. These special few were allowed to see a special miracle. There were the same three disciples who later saw Jesus transfigured. Jesus did not want large crowds to hinder his ministry, so he told onlookers not to tell about the miracle with others. He told the girl’s parents to give her something to eat to relieve her hunger and to prove that she was not a ghost.

Jairus and the woman were given the gift of peace. Only God can give peace. Our sin-filled world can never give us peace. It can give us the absence of war, but there will still be conflict. God can give us peace in our hearts and minds-and it’s no secret that many health problems are caused by the lack of peace that we have in our hearts and minds.

Faith is not the belief that God will do what we want. It is the belief that God will do what is right, such as healing the woman and Jairus’ daughter. The more hopeless the circumstances, the more likely salvation will happen. The circumstances in both cases in this reading were very hopeless. Healing happens when we do something. Healing begins when we reach out. Healing starts when we take a step in faith. It started when Jairus and the woman reached out by taking a step of faith. It happens to us when we step out in faith and reach out to Jesus.

We have to take a risk by reaching out to Jesus in faith for healing. Jesus can release us from our suffering and then use our story to encourage others. He hears our cries when we hurt. He feels the touch of faith from us when we reach out to his heart.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2013)
2. McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J. : The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 25: Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
3. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2006)
4. Jude Siciliano, O.P.: “First Impressions, 13^th Sunday (B).: Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

The Gospel reading from Mark 5:21-43 is a pair of stories about faith and Jesus’ power over life and death. The woman with the hemorrhage showed great faith in spite of obstacles. The story of Jairus and his daughter demonstrated great faith on the part of a religious leader. Both came from different social classes. Jairus was a well-to-do member of the religious establishment-a group that often opposed Jesus. The woman with the hemorrhage was poor and a social outcast. The difference in social classes did not matter to Jesus. He treated both of them equally.

In each case, the “establishment” could not offer a solution to the problem, but Jesus could, in spite of opposition and laughter. Jairus was desperate because his child was dying, and as those of you who are parents know all too well, a parent of a sick or dying child will do almost anything to save the child. Jairus was so desperate he knelt at the feet of the one person who could help him-Jesus.

The woman with the hemorrhage also sought a solution from the one person who could help her. All the doctors she saw failed her. Society failed her because her bleeding made her unclean along with everyone and everything she touched. She is an example of women today who struggle to break through in business and society. She is an inspiration to women in religious settings who feel that their ministerial gifts are ignored or rejected.

Jesus did not fail her. He saw her as a person and as someone of value. She believed that by just touching the clothes of the one man who could help her, she would be healed, and her healing changed her, her heart, her body, her life and her soul.

There are many Biblical texts that refer to the relationship between sickness and sin or between forgiveness and healing. These relationships exist not because God has decided to inflict sickness on some poor unfortunate souls, but because sickness and sin define everything that is wrong with our world. In other words, they define the mess that God comes to clean up. The religious leaders of Jesus’ time are good examples of the mess.

Some people believe that God should rid the world of sickness and death, and that belief does make some sense. If God protected everyone who believed in Him, then everyone would believe not out of love, but out of a calculated self-interest. People would believe only so that God would take care of them and their families. Unfortunately, we would also have no freedom to believe or disbelieve. We would be enslaved because of our fear of death, and that is not what God had in mind.

Jairus had to “lower” himself when he sought healing for his daughter. He had to move beyond the rules and expectations of the religious elite in order to be delivered from its assumptions and illusions. He had to move beyond the praises and promises and good intentions of the religious elite and go with what his heart told him to do. He used his social status and power in order to approach Jesus, and then he emptied himself of them. He came to Jesus in humility and earnest faith.

When Jesus brought the little girl back to life, he didn’t fill her empty stomach. That’s because God wants us to be a part of what he is doing. He brought the little girl back to life, but he wanted the people around her to give her something to eat and watch her enjoy every morsel. Then there would be no doubt that Jesus truly was omnipotent-all powerful and great in mercy.

Jesus came to raise the dead-both the physically dead and the spiritually dead. When Jesus is on a mission, nothing can stop him. He did not allow the professional mourners and their laughter to stop him from showing God’s healing power. The mourners represent people who refuse to accept Christ and the gifts he offers.

Only a select few were allowed to see Jesus bring the girl back to life. Jesus wanted the news kept secret. He knew that most of the people could not understand what had happened. He knew that the miracle of the dead being brought back to life could only be understood by those who believe in one who himself was raised from the dead-namely, Jesus.

Most of you have heard of the old saying that “desperate times call for desperate remedies”. Desperate times also call for a desperate faith-a faith we saw in both of these parables. Faith in itself is meaningless, but faith in an all-powerful God means everything. Jesus enters our lives in our hopeless moments and brings us hope. He comes with his healing power when no healing is possible. Sometimes he works the miracle of physical healing, and sometimes he works the miracle of spiritual healing. He may not always come when we want him to come, and he might not always answer our prayers the way we want him to, but we must always be faithful and know that he will help us. Faith is the belief that God will do what is right.

Sometimes God does what is right by not doing anything right away or by doing something other than what we want him to do. Jairus had to wait for his daughter’s “healing” while Jesus healed the woman with the hemorrhage, and as a result his daughter’s situation went from bad to worse. When we have to wait, our faith can be shaken. We wonder if God loves us at all. We might wonder if we are worthy of God’s love. We might wonder if we are praying to God in the proper way. Jairus might have had some of these same feelings, and if he did, it would certainly be understandable. Jesus did not give up on Jairus, and Jairus did not give up on Jesus. Jesus asked Jairus to have faith, and Jairus did have faith. Even when God does not answer our prayers in the way we want him to do, we can have faith that God does love us and he answered our prayer in the way that was best for us and in line with his will for our lives.

Faith empowers healing, but the lack of faith hinders healing. That’s why Jesus ordered the mourners to leave Jairus’ house. Their minds were closed to someone who has the last word over death-Jesus. People who have faith handle life’s problems differently from people who have no faith. This is the story of the true meaning of the term “faith healing”. An act of faith on the part of the woman healed her. Jesus even said that her faith made her well. Jairus never lost faith, even when he was told that his daughter was dead. Jesus did not comfort Jairus when he heard that his daughter had died. Instead, Jesus challenged him to have faith. Regardless of our circumstances, God always urges us to have faith, not fear.

Nothing is too small for God. He notices the little things in our lives, just like Jesus noticed when the woman touched his cloak. Jesus always knows the intentions of our hearts and he distinguishes the touch of faith from the touch of a follower.

Jesus gave out of his abundant power to heal, and we have been called to give out of our abundance and carry out God’s work in our world. He calls us to love one another as he loves us-including showing love and compassion to those who are suffering. Jesus took people where they were and loved them into life. He is love in action. Loving is costly. It takes something out of us, just like each and every healing took something out of Jesus. We suffer when we work against God’s will, especially when it conflicts with our own selfish desires. Sometimes his will interrupts our lives. When it does, can we adapt or do we stick to our plans?

This Gospel passage shows the compassionate face of Jesus. He suffered with those who suffered, and he still serves the suffering today. He served those who reached out to him in vulnerable ways, and he still serves them today. He showed compassion to the suffering and the grieving, and he still shows compassion to them today. This compassionate, suffering servant attitude gives us hope for today and hope for the next life as well.

Something else that we learn from this story is that with God, all things are possible. When things are impossible from an earthly point of view, they are possible from God’s point of view. When things are looking bleak, you can take comfort in the knowledge that God will be there to comfort you and give you strength as you face the challenges in the days, weeks and months ahead.

When we receive God’s grace, we end up taking Jesus seriously. When we do, Jesus will change our tears into joy and our skepticism into amazement. At that time we will find out what it means to be made whole.

It is at times like these when we need to put our differences aside and work together to help those who are facing difficult times.  Just like Jesus treated Jairus and the woman equally, our spiritual differences are put aside when we come together in worship and in faith. He reaches out to us in Word and Sacrament, takes us by the hand and raises us up in faith. Only then can we experience the life God intended all of humanity to have-one that is whole, free, redeemed and restored.

Bibliography

1. Stanley, C.F., “The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB” (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publisher; 2009)
2. Exegesis for Mark 5:21-43. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
3. The Rev. Amy Butler, “Desperate for Freedom”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
4. Michael E. Brooks, “In the Midst of the Crowd”. Retrieved from forthright@associate.com
5. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 13^th Sunday (B)”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
6. Mike DeVries, “The Shalom of God”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
7. The Rev, Sarah Jackson Shelton, CBF, “A Daughter’s Faith”. Retrieved from www.day1.org
8. Arthur Schoonveld, “Jesus Came to Comfort”. Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net
9. Sharon Jaynes, “Valued”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
10. Gwen Smith, “A Desperate Faith”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
11. McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J., “The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 25:Mark” (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
12. Lucado, M., “The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible”. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2010)
13. The Rev. Beth Quick, “Are We There Yet?” Retrieved from www.bethquick.com/sermon6-29-03.htm
14. The Rev. Beth Quick, “On the Road to Jairus’ House” Retrieved from www.bethquick.com/sermon7-2-00.htm
15. The Rev. Beth Quick, “Interrupted”. Retrieved from www.bethquick.com/sermon7-2-06.htm
16. Frederick Gaiser, “How to Preach Healing Every Time You Preach”. Retrieved from www.sermoncentral.com/Articles/Article_PrintFriendly.asp?ArticleID=1291
17. Interpreter’s Commentary. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
18. John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, Proper 8, Ordinary 13, Year B. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod.org/archives/year-b-season-pentecost-proper-8-ordinary-13
19. Maxie Dunnam, “Two for the Price of One”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
20. King Duncan, “Beaten Up But Still Standing”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
21. James W. Moore, “Journey to the Cross II”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
22. Ron Lavin, “The Compassionate Healing”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
23. “Only Believe”. Retrieved from www.sermons4kids.com/only_believe_print.htm
24. The Rev. Dr. Lewis Galloway, PCUSA, “Taking Jesus Seriously”. Retrieved from www.day1.org

Let’s take a walk down memory lane for a moment. Some of you, especially the older members of this congregation, may remember a famous comedian named Flip Wilson. He had a weekly TV comedy show back in the 70s, and one of his favorite characters was a preacher named Brother Leroy.

In one skit, Brother Leroy was leading services one Sunday morning. It wasn’t going very well. People weren’t very responsive. It came time to receive the offering and so Brother Leroy passed the collection plates. They came back empty. So he passed them again. Same thing. Empty. Brother Leroy then went before the people and said, “Now, I know that you all want this church to progress. This church must progress.” No response from the congregation. Brother Leroy shouted a bit louder: “Now, before this church can progress it has to crawl, this church has got to crawl.” And the congregation started getting excited and they yelled back, “Make it crawl, Reverend. Make it crawl!” Brother Leroy continued, “After this church has crawled, it’s got to pick itself up and start to walk, this church has got to walk!” And the people yelled back at him, “Make it walk, Reverend. Make it walk!” “And after this church has walked, this church has got to get up and run, this church has got to run.” And the people were worked up into a terrible frenzy, and they hollered back: “Make it run, Reverend. Make it run!” And then Brother Leroy said, “Now, brothers and sisters, in order for this church to run, it’s gonna need money, it’s gonna take money for this church to run!” And the people yelled back, “Let it crawl, Reverend. Let it crawl!”

The reading we heard from 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 a few minutes ago does talk about giving. Most ministers have to walk a fine line when talking about this subject, especially if they don’t want to give the impression that they are asking for money for the church. I’m also walking a fine line because even though this is summer and the time of the year when offerings decline because people are away, I don’t want to talk about giving in that sense. I want to talk about the spiritual benefits of giving, so I’m definitely not going to be like one minister who was having trouble with the collections. One Sunday he announced, “Now, before we pass the collection plate, I would like to request that the person who stole the chickens from Brother Martin’s henhouse please refrain from giving any money to the Lord. The Lord doesn’t want money from a thief!”

The collection plate was passed around, and for the first time in months everybody gave.

The church in Jerusalem had fallen on hard times financially. It started off great, with believers sharing everything they had in the belief that Christ would return soon. When he didn’t, things became bleak very quickly. To help the church in Jerusalem, Paul appealed to all of the churches he started to give to a collection he was taking up. At first, the church in Corinth gave generously, but in time the giving slowed to a trickle in part because some people accused Paul of taking the collection for personal gain.

In order to counter this claim and to encourage the believers in Corinth to increase their generosity, Paul used the church in Macedonia as an example of how to give. The people of Macedonia were poor, mainly because the occupying Roman forces took all of the resources for themselves. Nevertheless, the believers in Macedonia were more than willing to give generously to support other believers who were less fortunate.

There are several aspects of grace giving. First, grace giving is systematic. Paul told the Corinthians to abound in this grace. He implied that this is a framework in which they and we can grow in faith as Christians. Giving can be spontaneous, but it can and should be planned. There are several examples in the New Testament of planned giving by the church and by individuals. A commitment to give is the start of the system of giving.

Grace giving is sincere. It reflects a believer’s love for God and a sincere desire to expand the ministry of the church. God does not need our gifts to expand his ministry because he owns everything. He does allow our gifts to be used to expand his ministry.

Grace giving is steadfast. It continues regardless of our circumstances. It doesn’t matter if we are rich or poor. Closely connected to this is the concept that grace giving involves sharing with others. The purpose of giving must be to meet equally the needs of both the world and the church. The one who has much is able to share much, and the one who has little is able to share little. As God’s people share in proportion to what God has entrusted them with, the needs of the whole body of Christ are met.

Giving to God and his work must be voluntary, not compelled. When it is voluntary, it brings much blessing. A good example is Christ. He gave up the riches of heaven to be born into a humble, earthly family. He gave himself humbly to service here on earth, and he humbled himself to death on the cross. He did all of this voluntarily so that he could give us the greatest gift of all-eternal life with God in heaven. What he did for us is an example of what we are to do for others-give of ourselves and serve others with humility.

Not all gifts have to be financial. They can be spiritual as well. In the time that Paul wrote 2 Corinthians, the Gentile believers could contribute financially, while Jewish believers could contribute spiritually and with ministry of the Gospel. We can do the same thing today.

When we see generosity acted out in another person, it is easier for us to understand it, identify with it, and follow their example. Giving is more a matter of the heart than of circumstances. Paul used the example of the church in Macedonia which I mentioned a few minutes ago. Poverty does not automatically create unselfishness, nor does persecution automatically produce giving. Those who claim that they were much happier when they had less must remember that it isn’t what we have or don’t have that promotes happiness or generosity. What does matter is the grace of God within us. That grace creates an open and generous heart.

Giving becomes a joy when it comes out of sacrifice, and a good example of sacrificial giving is mentioned in the story of the widow’s offering, which is found in Mark 12:38-44. Jesus and the disciples were sitting in the area of the temple treasury. The treasury contained thirteen trumpet-shaped chests where people could deposit their gifts and the temple tax. Jesus could see how much money people gave. He could see the large sums of money that the scribes and the wealthy gave, and he could also see how much the widow gave. He used a comparison of the gifts to illustrate their significance.

The wealthy gave out of their abundance. That is, they gave out of what they had left after they paid their bills and purchased the necessities of life, including food. In contrast, the poor widow gave all that she had. By putting all of her money into the temple treasury, the widow probably had to go without food for at least one meal. In Jesus’ eyes, she gave more than all the rich people simply because she gave everything to God. Whatever a person has is the resource out of which he/she should give. That’s why there are no references to tithes of any set amounts or percentages for giving stated anywhere in the New Testament.

Setting an example of humility is a way of loving others. Being humble means making sacrifices, but when we remember that all good things are gifts from God, we are free to give them up for the good of others. 

When people give generously out of love for God and his church and they grow and mature in their faith, they don’t count the cost. Joy and Christian growth come to those who do the Lord’s work gladly. Joyful giving flows from the gift of self. When we give from the heart we give one of the greatest gifts we can give. God is most concerned with the heart of the giver, and not the amount he/she gives.

Our giving reflects our attitude toward money. Money can control us or hurt us or we can control money and bless others. Giving to our church shows our love for God. Giving also shows that we want to help the less fortunate and that we want to share the costs of having church. Giving can be fun, especially if we treat it as a competition to out-give God. We must remember though that this is a competition that we can’t win, because no matter how much we give, we can’t out-give God. We can still be winners though just for giving from the heart.

The blood of Christ unites all of us, so we can’t ignore the needs of our Christian brothers and sisters, just like we can’t ignore the needs of our biological family members. If we have been made rich by Christ and his poverty, how can we not be generous toward the needs of others? Giving is not a one-way street, because the poor have an abundance to share-an abundance that includes hospitality, family values, hard work, self-sacrifice and faith in God. The grace of giving is an equalizing force in the body of Christ. Everyone has something to give, and everyone has some need to be met. For example, Acts 4:34 talks about the early church and reads, “Nor was there anyone among them who lacked.”

Giving sacrificially now for the sake of a future goal is a mark of spiritual maturity. An even better mark of spiritual maturity is the willingness to put off earthly reward for the sake of eternal reward. If we want to follow Jesus closely, we must come to terms with self-denial, and this self-denial must be practiced daily.

If we hold back our commitment to give, especially our commitment to give to the church, it means that we trust more in ourselves than we trust in God. When we give to God, he will use our gift and return it to us many times over.

Faith means that God will provide for us in unexpected ways and through unexpected sources. God promises spiritual blessings, but he does not promise material blessings. This is contrary to what the prosperity gospel teaches. God will provide material blessings if it is his will and if it is part of his plan for our lives, so it is no good to go to him and say (in the words of an old song), “O Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes-Benz.”

What we give to God and how we give it shows just how much we really love him, and it shows how grateful we are for the love and blessings we receive from him. We are accountable to God for how we use the gifts he has given us, and that accountability is illustrated in the Parable of the Talents, which is found in Matthew 25:14-30. We need to use those gifts for God’s work and glory so that when we reach the end of our earthly lives, we can hear God tell us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, Dr. David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2013)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
3. Chafin, K.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 30: 1,2 Corinthians (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Pastor David McGee, “The Giving Gauge.” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com
6. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 13^th Sunday (B).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
7. Bill Whittaker, “The Grace of Giving.” Retrieved from www.Preaching.com
8. Dr. Gary Chapman, “For the Good of Others.” Retrieved from Oneplace@crosswalkmail.com
9. Edward Inabinet, “Great Reasons for Great Giving.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
10. King Duncan, “Excellence in Giving.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
11. Fr. John Boll, O.P., “Volume 2, 13^th Sunday (B), June 28, 2015”. Retrieved from volume2-bounces@lists.opsouth.org