July 01, 2018
ASTONISHED BY HIS LOVE
Mark 5:21-43
“Astonished by His love”
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
This past Friday was filled with astonishing things. Alicia and I went to the Cubs game. It was announced that the game time temperature was around 97 degrees with a heat index of 107 degrees. It was astonishingly HOT! We got to see our Cubbies come back and take the lead… later in the game Kyle Schwarber hit an astonishing home run… over 500 feet to center… a drive that Pat Hughes described as being one of the longest he has ever seen hit to that part of the ballpark. Astonishing! And do you know how I know that Pat Hughes, the radio broadcaster, said this…because Alicia and I left the game early. It really was astonishingly hot in our seats that offered no shade. We stayed as long as we could. The heat got to us even after drinking 3 bottles of water a piece.
On our not so delightful 1/2 mile walk back to the garage I noticed some things not so astonishing. I saw the pan handlers (the same ones I have seen at past games) begging for money. Taxi drivers scaring passengers with their driving. People caught in the hustle and bustle of things. And one man stop and give a panhandler who was in a wheelchair some cash. And the first thing that came into my head when seeing that…wasn’t astonishment…wasn’t pride, envy, or shame… but the thought that the man was so gullible. What a waste of money.
How often do we walk past, ignore, detest, shame, and become aggravated with those begging on the street asking, begging, pleading with us for help…especially those that come just a little too close to us? I’m guilty of this. Partially because of news reports that show many persons that take advantage of this by begging when they aren’t in need. Partially because I feel like I have been gullible with trying to help people in the past that took advantage of my help. And mostly because I’m a sinful person that doesn’t want to bother with the problems of others. Maybe that describes you too.
Thankfully that doesn’t describe Jesus. Jesus was regularly called on to help others; to help beggars in their needs. And Jesus did help them… from casting out demons, to healing the sick, lame, blind, deaf, and diseased; to helping a group of lepers or feeding thousands at a time. Our text describes people in desperate need:
“And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him.
And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.” (Mark 5:21-42)
The people were amazed; astonished by Jesus. They were astonished; amazed at the situation. Who had ever seen someone brought back to life. They were astonished; amazed by Jesus compassion on Jairus and his daughter…someone that Jesus didn’t know. Jesus had compassion on this stranger and his daughter.
Throughout Jesus ministry people were astonished and amazed at Jesus. They were astonished and amazed at his mercy… and we recall the 10 lepers who cried “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” (Luke 17:13) They were astonished with Jesus’ pity. And we are reminded of how he healed “..a leper [who] came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” (Luke 1:40-41)
Over and over again Jesus healed and forgave sins…and the people were astonished. And while we might use the words compassion, pity, and empathy…what is truly astonishing in all these acts are Jesus love. Love for strangers. Love for friends. Love for sinners. Jesus love was for all people; for all sinners; for all His enemies. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
This very day I am astonished. I am astonished by Christ’s love for me; Christ’s love for my family; Christ’s love for you and all people. And I pray that by faith others in this world: believers and non-believers alike…are astonished by Christ’s love that He gives through you. May the world know that we are Christians by our love and give thanks and glory to God from whom that love flows. Amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
