This Far Shall You Come, But No Further!

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Acts 3:1-10 (NRSV)

Peter heals a crippled beggar

Okay! Today’s scripture ought to be a clarion call for all of us who call ourselves “church folks.” When I read today’s reading I actually had to say, “Ouch!” out loud. Why? Because aren’t we sometimes like the folks who carried the lame man to the Temple Gate?

We often see people who are in need. Perhaps they are hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, imprisoned, depressed, destitute, lonely, or scared. Like the friends of the lame man, we pick these people up and find ways to carry their load. We feed them at the shelter, we visit them in the prison, or we spend time with them in their homes.

We put on a happy face and we tell them everything is going to be alright. But, we rarely find the courage to share with them the GOOD NEWS that will truly improve their situations. In the case of the lame man, he needed more than a few “pennies” here and there gleaned daily outside of the synagogue. It was nice that his friends carried him there every day; but he needed more, much more and it wasn’t until Peter and John came along that he received it.

So often, it seems that we “church folks are willing to donate our old clothes, or cook a meal, or read a book—but aren’t willing to say The Name of Jesus. We find it uncomfortable, embarrassing, or inconvenient to tell someone, “Jesus loves you this I know for the Bible tells me so.” We feel like we will be imposing if we say, “God is love and God loves you very, very much.” We fear the consequences of sharing GOOD NEWS with someone who isn’t receptive. So we carry people with our good works to the very gate of the place of prayer, to the house of refuge, to the place of healing and then leave them sitting alone and on the outside!

This is very, very sad. But, I have GOOD NEWS for us today! God is calling us to take notice of the people that we have brought to the gates and to take that last and necessary step to introduce them to the love and care of Jesus. Like Peter and John we can say to the people we serve on a daily basis, “I don’t necessarily have what you think you need. But, I do know Jesus! In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…Come in. Be welcome. Be transformed. Be changed. Be healed. Be cared for, loved, adored, and affirmed. Know that you are important. Receive prayers offered on your behalf. Experience the joy of your salvation! Become friends with my Jesus!

When we take that last step to partner our good actions with great faith, lives are always changed. When we tell people that God loves them so much that he allowed Jesus to die on the cross for them, people's minds are transformed and hearts are mended in ways we may never fully know, nor understand.

When Peter and John spoke the Name of Jesus into the life of the lame man, he began walking, leaping, and praising God. He ran into the house of prayer and by his witness and his testimony I believe that many more people came to know and love Jesus as well.

Isn’t our God amazing?

Who is the person that is sitting on the outside of faith—or outside of The Church—that you need to take time to notice and speak to today? How will you introduce them to the love and affirmation of Jesus?

Holy God, please forgive us for failing to speak the Name of Jesus into the lives of people in need. We want to marry our good works with great faith so that we can be supremely useful to your Kingdom building work! You love, notice, and welcome all of us; help us to do the same for others. In Jesus Name, Amen.

*The entire scripture reading for today can be found by clicking the ELCA Daily Bible Reading Tab to the right.

*from Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/

*Happy Birthday Daddy!

*EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right! Thanks for reading and please come again.

*Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

OUTSIDE-IN

*If you would like to read this blog in another language, please use the "Google Translate" button to the right!

2/15/2009
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany
Mark 1:40-45 (NRSV)

SCRIPTURE
The healing of one with leprosy

A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, "If you choose, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I do choose. Be made clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

SERMON

If you’ve been reading GOOD NEWS all week, you know that we have been talking about leprosy for four days now. The very fact that the Bible spends so much time talking about this debilitating illness makes it clear to me how very important it was to keep it from spreading in the camp and how painful it must have been for people to be diagnosed and ostracized from the religious and social communities to which they belonged.

In today’s GOOD NEWS reading we find that a leper has approached Jesus asking to be healed. This very action is significant for many reasons. First of all, we know that lepers were considered ritually unclean. That meant that they were perpetual outsiders—they lived outside of the camp, they were not welcome in their place of worship, and they were forbidden to approach or touch a “clean” person for fear of contaminating him or her.

So, one of two things must be occurring in this scripture. Number one, perhaps Jesus is outside of the city milling around with the “untouchables.” Or number two, this particular leper decided to defy conventional wisdom and religious tradition and come to Jesus without permission on the slim hope that Jesus would—or could—do something to help him.

Undoubtedly he had heard, like everyone else, of the miracles Jesus had been performing for “outsiders” throughout Galilee. He might have been told that Jesus had healed a man with an “unclean” spirit in the synagogue. He might have been privy to Jesus’ healing work with Simon’s mother-in-law who had once laid ill on a bed of affliction, but later jumped up ready to serve Jesus after he touched her. Finally, he may have heard the whispers and shouts and tears and joy that were in the air all throughout the city and surrounding countryside after Jesus had spent the night healing many people from various illnesses, disease, dis-ease, and disability.
Unfortunately, we will never know how God orchestrated this “Holy Ghost hook-up” between Jesus and the leper, because it is not recorded in scripture. But, what is recorded are the very simple and humble words of the leper once he found Jesus. He said, “IF you choose, you can make me clean.” IF you choose…

My Lord! Isn’t it amazing that so many people approach Jesus with an IF on their lips. They do not know and have not heard or do not believe that GOD really truly does love them more than they can imagine! This man knew what Jesus had done for others, but it is clear that he wasn’t sure Jesus would do the same for him. He knew that Jesus possessed miracle working salvific and healing power, but he wasn’t sure that Jesus would find him worthy of the touch that would save his life. He knew that Jesus had compassion on "the least of these," but he wasn’t sure he even qualified for that lofty title!

See this man had been told by so many, “You are not worthy. You are not clean. You cannot be a part of us. You are not welcome.” He was told this by society, as well as by leaders in his place of worship. He had been beaten and broken down by so many people he should have been able to trust. He was an outsider, an untouchable, the perpetual alien, the "no-good-don’t-touch-me- now-don’t-touch-me-ever" man who made a home outside of the camp.

My, my…Isn’t that sad? And I wish I could say that this side of the cross human beings have stopped treating people like outsiders or that people have stopped approaching Jesus with the IF, but it’s just not true. Although God has demonstrated God’s great love for ALL OF US by allowing Jesus to die on an old rugged cross to become atonement for our sin and to reconcile us to God and to each other, we still ostracize others and we still approach Jesus with the IF.

IF you really love me you will listen to my prayers. IF you really care you will walk with me through this difficult day. IF you really have compassion, you will see my tears. IF you choose, you can help me through my difficult circumstances.

And do you know what Jesus says to all of us today? Jesus says to us the very same thing that he said to the leper almost two thousand years ago. “I do choose! Be made clean!” And scripture says that immediately the man was restored to perfect health!

Now let me say here that I think that the physical healing was the least of the restoration. By touching the man (and thus ritually defiling himself) Jesus said, in effect, “I reject the lie that you are an outsider. I am angry that you have been treated in this way. You are one of us. You are worthy of love and care and compassion. I bring you inside the circle of my love.” So, whilst the man may have been healed physically, he was also healed mentally, spiritually, and emotionally by the radical welcome and overflowing love of Jesus, his friend.

Isn’t this GOOD NEWS? Since Jesus did this for the leper, he can do this for us too. Unlike the leper we don’t necessarily have a dreaded disease that people can see; but as human beings we are suffering from the affliction of sin-sickness. We now understand that it is not our illness or disease or disability that makes us unclean, it is our sin. Sin makes us dirty and is an offense to our God. That is why Jesus had to die on the cross. Jesus wanted to use his blood to cover up the multitude of our sin. Now, when God looks at us God does not see our sin, God sees the blood of Jesus and when we cry “IF you choose…” Jesus says, “I do choose, be made clean!”

Be made clean from your lying lips. Be made clean from your unfaithful heart. Be made clean from you adulterous ways. Be made clean from your willingness to steal from those who have less than you. Be made clean from your gossiping lips and judgmental tongue. Be made clean from ostracizing others. Be made clean from your erroneous belief that you are better than another human being.

I could go on and on in an effort to include all of us, but only you know what your secret sin is. But, the Bible teaches us that as soon as we confess our sin, God who is faithful and just, forgives us from all of our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)

Wow! Isn’t that GOOD NEWS my friends! JESUS forgives us. JESUS washes us. And Jesus transforms our lives for his glory.

Now, after Jesus did this for the man with leprosy, Jesus told him to go to the temple, show himself to the priest and offer the sacrifices necessary to become “ritually clean” in the eyes of society. He understood that it was important for the man to be reconciled with his family and with his community of faith. But, he also told the man not to tell anybody the source of his healing; rather to just do what was required of him by religious law.

Well, I don’t know what happened to that man on the way to the Temple. But, I can use my Holy Ghost imagination, right? I imagine that he probably started on his way trying really hard to “play it cool” like Jesus had instructed. He probably said, “Thank you.” And turned and walked away. But, as he was walking, he might have begun to examine his skin and to examine the feeling of welcome in his heart. And as he examined himself, he might have begun to skip, then to leap, then to run, then to dance, then to turn in circles…He might have begun to whisper, “I’m healed.” Then to say, “I’m healed.” Then to shout, “I’m healed! I’m HEALED! I’M HEALED!”

Do you know that man got so excited that the Bible says that he began to boldly and freely proclaim GOOD NEWS! “Jesus of Nazareth healed me! Jesus of Nazareth healed me!” This man told so many people, that Jesus became so famous, that he could no longer go into the city. I can only assume that this was because the mobs of "outsiders" seeking his love and welcome was so large that they could only be contained out in the countryside.

Can you imagine? This man determined in his heart to make the name of Jesus famous! He did the easy thing—he told everyone he met what Jesus had done for him. He didn’t tell his mother’s story. He didn’t tell his father’s story. He told his own story. He shared with every man, woman, boy and girl who would listen that Jesus is a compassionate and loving healer who had changed his life.

You know, when we begin to tell our stories, people listen. When we speak with passion about how a relationship with Jesus Christ has changed our lives, people want to learn more. Why? Because it is personal. People love reality TV because we want to be connected to the lives of other people in some way.

By sharing our GOOD NEWS stories, we can lead people to Jesus. We can tell them, “Jesus did it for me; he’ll do it for you. Jesus loves me and Jesus loves you too. Jesus wants me, Jesus wants you too.”

When people get a hold of this truth, it changes their lives. It transforms their thinking. It sets joy bells a-ringing in their hearts!

Who do you need to share GOOD NEWS with this week? How can you make Jesus’ name famous in your own sphere of influence? Where can you make Jesus’ love and compassion real in the lives of people who need it?

Loving and Compassionate God, thank you that you do choose to love us and to heal us from our sin. Help us to share this love with others. Help us to make your name famous everywhere we go. In Jesus Name, Amen.

*The entire scripture reading for today can be found by clicking the ELCA Daily Bible Reading Tab to the right.

*from Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/

*EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right! Thanks for reading and please come again.

*Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

Lessons Learned at Big Mama's House

SCRIPTURE

Fifth Sunday After Epiphany
Mark 1:29-39 (NRSV)

The healing of Peter's mother-in-law

As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

SERMON

Wow! Isn’t today’s lectionary scripture just full of excitement? As we read, we find that Jesus has become quite the man around town. In just a few short hours he’s taught in the synagogue and healed a man afflicted with an unclean spirit. After such a long day of ministry you would think that Jesus would want to go home and take a nap, but he didn’t do that. Instead, he did what most of us are going to do today after church. He went to a friend’s house expecting to eat.

In the African American church we call this tradition “Sunday dinner.” You know what I’m talkin’ about! Like me, you probably remember when you were a child and Mama got up at 5:00 in the morning and started makin’ preparation for Sunday dinner. The turkey went in the oven, the greens got to cooking on the stove, and the rolls were set to rise. Once everything that could be prepared early was on the stove or in the oven, everybody washed up, got dressed, and went to church.

I don’t know about you, but when I was a child all I could think about during church (when I wasn’t praying and singing that is—laughing…) was getting back home to Sunday dinner. I loved Sunday dinner not just because the food was tight (because it was), but also because it meant that the whole family was going to be around the table.

I knew friends who had mom and dad, sisters and brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins galore all around the big Sunday table. It was a huge family reunion filled with laughter, joy, and good food all around…

Since Jesus was ready for some Sabbath dinner, he took himself--and his disciples--over to Big Mama’s house. Scripture doesn’t tell us her name; only that she was Simon’s mother-in-law. But, she musta been somebody’s cook because the scripture says, “As soon as” Jesus left the synagogue he headed straight to Big Mama’s house.

Now when he got there, Jesus must have been surprised because nothing was cooking. There were no sweet smells. There was no preparation made for his coming. It might have even been quieter in the house than normal and when he inquired, he was told, “Big Mama’s sick.” How sad that must have been for Simon and those assembled. Because if Big Mama was anything like the Big Mama’s I have known in my life she was probably associated with big hugs, a big laugh, and big meals that brought everybody together.

Well, scripture teaches us that as soon as Jesus was “informed” (you do know he already knew, but allowed them to tell him all the same), he got straight to work. Jesus went into Big Mama’s room (most assuredly breaking the social customs of the time) and took her hand and lifted her up off of her bed of affliction. Now here’s where you must remember the song, “He touched me.”

The chorus goes, “He touched me! Oh! He touched me! And oh what joy did flood my soul…Something happened and now I know! He touched me and made me whole!” Is that anybody’s testimony today? Have you ever been touched by the Master?

When Jesus touches you, you cannot remain the same. When Jesus touches you, your life is changed irrevocably. When Jesus touches you, you leap to your feet ready for service!

And this is just what happened to Simon’s Big Mama! Scripture teaches us that just as soon as Jesus healed her, she began to serve him. This is one of the most important lessons from today’s pericope. Jesus touches us, heals us, lifts us up, turns us around—not so that we can have bragging rights, or because he loves us more than others, but because HE WANTS US TO BE OF SERVICE TO HIM.

Now do we serve him in order to repay a debt? Of course not! Salvation and healing from Jesus is a free gift given with no expectation of return. So, if Jesus has blessed your socks off you could just sit there on your hands and do nothing to share that GOOD NEWS. But, that would be a terrible way to live, wouldn’t it?

How could you keep such GOOD NEWS to yourself? You couldn’t! The only response to experiencing the radical love of God as revealed by Jesus Christ on the cross and in his miraculous healing power is to immediately begin to serve Jesus.

We must begin to spread the GOOD NEWS everywhere we go; we must become partners with God in sharing the greatest love story that has ever been told. We are invited to tell somebody, “God is good, all the time--and all the time God is good!” You get to share with people who are down- and-out that Jesus is no respecter of persons. In effect we get to tell everybody that we meet that, “If Jesus did it for me he’ll do it for you too!”

Well, apparently a whole lot of folks began to serve Jesus after witnessing the miracle at the synagogue and then hearing about the miracle at Simon’s house. So many people heard the good news that by nightfall the whole city was gathered outside the door.

Are you surprised by this? I’m not. Who doesn’t need a word or a touch from the Master? Who wouldn’t want to just get into his presence? The folks in the town brought the sick, the lame, the diseased, and the dis-eased and Jesus healed them.

But, here’s the interesting part. After Jesus spent the night healing; he did not sleep-in the next morning as you might expect. Instead, scripture teaches us that early in the morning (likely while it was still dark so he could slip away unnoticed), Jesus went to a solitary place to pray.

Jesus was depleted. He had given his all in service. He was tired, likely in body, mind, and spirit and he just needed to recharge--all by himself. To commune with the three persons of the one trinity. And so he did.

Now if Jesus, who is Alpha and Omega, needed to recharge in the presence of God through prayer, how much more so do we frail and sinful humans need to do the same? My friends, it is good to be of service to Jesus. It is good to bear witness to the GOOD NEWS everywhere that you go. It is good to pray for others. It is good to give drink to the thirsty, food to the hungry, clothes to the naked, homes to the homeless, and visit the sick and imprisoned. But after you do, please make sure you go to a solitary place and pray. You don’t want to burn out. You don’t want to lose your passion. You don’t want to forget why you do what you do—or your fire will grow dim and perhaps even burn out…

Now, let me close with this last thought. After Jesus prayed and was recharged he said to his disciples, “Even though we did a lot of work on yesterday, there is still more work to do. Let us get moving friends! There are others who need to hear the GOOD NEWS!”

This is the final lesson from today’s text. There are always others who need to hear the GOOD NEWS. There are always others who need to be healed in the Name of Jesus. There are always others who need to know and believe that God loves them more than they could ever hope or imagine and he proved it on Calvary’s cross.

This Sunday, let us get recharged through the ministry of Word and Sacrament, so that we can go back out into the world to be of service to God and to our neighbors.

Let’s spread the GOOD NEWS, shall we?

*The entire scripture reading for today can be found by clicking the ELCA Daily Bible Reading Tab to the right.

*from Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/

*EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right! Thanks for reading and please come again.

*Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

*Check out the map to the right! Do you know anyone in Canada, Alaska, Greenland, South America, Australia, Africa, Western Europe, or Asia that you can share GOOD NEWS with today?