National Healing

Transcribed from the sermon preached July 2, 2006

The Reverend Max Lynn, Pastor

Scripture Readings:  Mark 5:21-43, 2 Cor. 8:7-15, Lam 3:23-36 

When choosing the scripture passage for this Sunday I first thought I would cut this passage in half, stopping at the healing of the bleeding woman.  But, though I was not sure why, the two healings are clearly tied together.  Why the connection?

Jesus, having just come to the lakeshore, is met by a crowd.  Out of the crowd comes Jairus, a synagogue ruler.  He falls at Jesus feet and pleads with him to come lay his hands on his sick twelve-year-old daughter.  Jesus goes with him but is interrupted by the advances of an impure woman from the crowd.  The woman had been bleeding for twelve years, for as long as Jairus’ daughter had been alive.  The bleeding woman had trying to get treated but instead of getting better she grew worse.  In faith she presses through the crowd and touches Jesus.  “Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” 

          Jesus realizes that the woman’s touch was not just a bump from the crowd.  “He realized that power had gone out from him.”  Jesus stopped and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”  This seemed like a ridiculous question to the disciples who say, in essence, “Are you kidding, people all around are touching and bumping us.”  Jesus keeps looking and finally the woman, knowing what had happened fell at his feet, trembling with fear, and told him the truth.  Jesus said, “Your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

          Jesus, delayed by the bleeding woman, has failed to arrive at the synagogue ruler’s house to help the girl.  A report comes to them saying the daughter is dead.

          Now let’s stop for a moment and get a little background on the scene.  The honor and status of Jairus and the shame and poverty of the bleeding woman are set together in contrast.  Jairus is a member of the ruling class and no doubt is considered a holy and righteous man of God.  Indeed, as a ruler in the temple, he maintained the standards of righteousness and holiness.  He is known by name, and approaches Jesus as a social equal.  He is the head of his family and thus makes an appeal on behalf of his daughter. 

          We do not know the bleeding woman’s name; she is an anonymous person amidst the crowd of unknown people.  We know from Levitical law that a bleeding woman is considered impure.  Impurity carries connotations beyond physical cleanliness and includes a spiritual aspect.  This may be strange to us today, but these are beliefs deeply imbedded in the culture of Jesus day.  Leviticus 15:25 says, “When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period.  Any bed she lies on while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period.  Whoever touches them will be unclean: he must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening.  When she is cleansed from her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean.  On the eighth day she must take two doves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.  The priest is to sacrifice one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.  In this way he will make atonement for her before the Lord for the uncleanness of her discharge.”  Thus it is clear that the bleeding woman and Jairus could hardly be more different with respect to their readiness, according to the law, to approach the holiness of God.  Not only is she impure, not only will she make anyone unclean whom she has contact with, she is alone, without anyone, in particular without a male, to defend or appeal on her behalf.  She does not openly approach Jesus with a request, but asserts herself without permission, secretly reaching out to touch Jesus from amidst the crowd.  

          This is an audacious act, which, according to the law, would make Jesus unclean along with her.  Jesus feels power go out of him.  This sets up some suspense, for we may wonder, not only if Jesus is now unclean until he has bathed and night falls, but also whether he has the time or power or holiness left to heal the girl.  Under the law, each sickness for each person needed its own sacrifice. When she confesses, trembling with fear of what Jesus and the crowd may do, he says, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” 

          With Jesus, she is no longer alone and impure.  From the perspective of patriarchal, honor and shame culture, we see that not only has she been healed, she now has a defender; she has been included into the family of God.  Yet it her own audacious crossing the boundaries of honor and shame; it is her audacious, assertive faith which has made her well, brought her peace, and freed her from her suffering.

          Sure enough, news comes that the young girl has died; Jesus took too much time and energy on the poor, impure woman.  “Why bother the teacher anymore?”  Your daughter is dead.  Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.”  Jesus continued to the house, took the girl by the hand and said, “Little girl, get up.”  The girl stood up and walked around.

          Jairus and his daughter represent Judaism, and it is on the verge of collapse, on the verge of death.  The future is not looking good. The woman, representing the poor and marginalized, has been sick and getting poorer since the girl had been born.  The message says Ched Myers in his commentary on Mark, “can only be that if Judaism wishes to ‘be saved and live’ (5:23) it must embrace faith of the kingdom: a new social order with equal status for all.”

          So, what could the message be for us today, in America on this 4th of July weekend?  No matter who we are, no matter how poor or sick, no matter how far from holiness the culture says we are, have faith that God will bring us peace and free us from suffering.  Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot approach God. Ain't gonna let nobody turn me round.  Our impurity doesn’t contaminate God. God’s power is available for all and heals us from our impurity.  Not only does Jesus liberate us from our sin, He liberates us from the sinful, oppressive and segregating perceptions of an unjust society who calls us impure and immoral even when our personal morality has little to do with our state or our suffering.  God’s power is available for us to claim, no matter who we are, no matter what the bad timing, no matter what other important things or important people God may have to attend to.  May faith give all of us the initiative to reach out for the loving, healing power of God, to claim our equal place in the family of God. 

          Our story today should also be a warning against religious arrogance.  For just about the time we think our hold of the truth and laws of God are secure, and that because of our righteousness God is walking with us to our house and family, and leaving the impure masses behind, we find God may have a stop or two along the way.  If we and our children are to have a future in God’s kingdom, we must stop and take time with God to care for the poor and marginalized.  This is what Paul is encouraging in the early Church:   “Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. " Peace and freedom from suffering are not given by God only to those who are well off and respected by society and its religious institutions. God stops for those who seek, reach out in faith to Him.  Indeed she breaks out beyond those petrified barriers, religious, patriarchal or otherwise, that keep us from knowing the love and power of God for all life.  This is what we are to do like Jesus: share our time, our power, our resources, our lives, here and now. And do not fear. God will take care of our family.

This is the Kingdom of God.