Sermon from 15th July 2007
Today our sermon is given by our Associate Vicar, John Itumu, based on the reading from Luke 8: 40-56
Miracles and faith
A Sunday school class was presenting their end of the year program for the congregation - telling about the life of Jesus. When it came to the part about Jesus' miracles, one little child said, "Yes, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead!" The teacher urged the child to say more.He said, "Well, Jesus told them to open the tomb, and then He said, 'Lazarus, come out!' And it's a good thing he didn't just say 'Come out!' because there would have been a stampede of dead guys."
I wonder what your reaction is to these incredible stories of one miracle after another. A woman who has been bleeding for twelve years touches the cloak of Jesus and is instantly healed; then Jesus resurrects a twelve year old dead girl. Just what do you make of that?
We live in a questioning age where rationalism rules. It is very difficult – if not impossible to easily convince anyone of anything that cannot be logically explained. The need to show cause and effect in an occurrence or phenomenon has never been greater.
Scientific rationalism which has infused western culture for about 300 years would rather put the miracle stories of Jesus down to the ignorance and superstition of these ancient people who lived more than 20 centuries ago. That way it is easier to help make sense of these bizarre happenings. Why don’t we see them anymore? Show me a miracle – people easily challenge!
Doubts have been expressed on the authenticity of miracles, and the evidence for miracles dismissed as unconvincing. Alternative explanations have even been often sought:
for instance, Jesus did not walk on water but on a half-submerged plank – heard that one?
the loaves and fish were so many because people followed Jesus’ example of sharing – his example was so infectious that soon people produced their own and shared it around…
So where do we stand? What do we understand by a miracle? Do you believe in miracles?
15 years ago, electronic mail would have been a miracle to me..
A couple that has been trying for a baby after many years may regard it a miracle when the baby finally comes.
Someone else may attribute that to fertility treatment. A similar event, depending on our perspective may elicit different explanations/responses.
We need to broaden our understanding of miracles. Personally, I think being alive today is one!
So were there miracles in the bible before Jesus?
Yes. It’s full of them. The waters in the Red Sea separated to allow the Israelites to pass through. The sun stood still overhead for one day when Joshua asked God for more time to fight Israelite’s enemies. Joshua 10:12ffd
What other evidence is there?
A secular historian called Josephus (AD 37-100) who was a contemporary of Jesus has recorded an exorcism which he witnessed. Elsewhere he also writes: ‘… about this time a rose Jesus, a wise man, if indeed it be lawful to call him a man. For he was a doer of wonderful deeds…’
Another ancient document The Babylonian Talmund reports that Jesus was executed because he practised sorcery. Actually this seems to reinforce the comment made by the teachers of the law in Mark 3:22 when they say, He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons!
Religious people seem to have had no quarrel about Jesus’ ability to perform miracles – just that his miracles were not considered as indicators of God at work.
What about other religions/pagans?
Belief in miracles is not peculiar to Christianity; almost all religions feature miracles in their teachings. People have even debated as to which of the miracles - pagan or Christian are backed by more credible evidence.
The miracles of Jesus are however different and unique. They point to the wider context of his mission and ministry. He himself puts them in the context of the kingdom of God. When accused of using demonic powers to perform his miracles he responds: Luke 11:20
If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. His miracles point people to God. They are not intended to impress or even satisfy idle speculation about the supernatural. That is why he categorically says no when Pharisees ask for a miracle to satisfy their curiosity. Matthew 12:38ffd
We also need to view and understand these miracles against the background of the Old Testament expectations the prophecies; that the long waited for kingdom had at last come. Jesus is the final fulfilment of all that there was to be. If we deviate from this understanding, then we easily fall into the trap of seeing Jesus’ miracles as simply magic actions which pagans and other religions easily claim. The ancient world was full of them. Remember the magicians in Pharaohs palace in Egypt? Our world is full of them – witchcraft and the occult.
Jesus is unique and different. Jesus is God!
So, yet another day out with Jesus! He has just returned from Gentile country, from interacting with a demoniac and in close proximity with pigs – not exactly ritually clean. He is then confronted with the needs of a synagogue leader, Jairus, whose duty is to keep up the teaching of the commandments and reading the law. Jairus’s twelve year old and an only daughter is dying. Matthew records that she had died…. This is a critical age, at the point of puberty and nearing betrothal and preparation for marriage. It was a common Jewish practice to betroth a 12 year old girl. She is therefore dying just before life can really begin!
Leaders like Jairus didn’t typically respond well to Jesus. We don’t know what his attitude was before this time, or even as he fell down on his knees.
Did he believe that Jesus was the Messiah? What about all the synagogue rules and issues of purity? There is pushing and pulling and yelling; including the presence of a ritually unclean and bleeding woman. But none of this seems to deter the determination of Jairus. His daughter is dying! And so this synagogue leader, with humility, falls at Jesus’ feet.
When nothing else is left to hold onto, it becomes possible to reach for Jesus. It is impossible to hold on to Jesus when our hands are full, holding onto other things. And he does not disappoint; he embraces us.
Someone once said; faith is not faith until it’s all you are holding on to.
It is George Muller who also wrote:
Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where human power ends.
Faith in God begins when we stop looking sideways, being distracted by others, feeling embarrassed, worrying what others will think…
Jairus was a leader in his community that people looked up to. Deep inside he knew of a deep human need that his synagogue leadership credentials and powers could not sort – and fortunately he came to the one person who could make a difference. So Jairus falls at the feet of Jesus. The kingdom of God is also for synagogue/church leaders like Jairus and the centurion that we heard about recently. If only they will submit, they will find Jesus waiting with good news! He is accessible to all!
But that is not the end. The ministry and compassion of Jesus is even broader. It accommodates the down trodden and the marginalised like this woman whose sickness is socially devastating. Her bleeding had made her perpetually unclean. She would have lived in isolation from her community for the 12 years, the length of time that Jairus’ daughter had lived! When she presses forward to reach Jesus, it is guaranteed she will infect others with her impurity. What will the synagogue leader say – presumably he was walking with Jesus back to his home to heal his daughter. What will other people say?
This was clearly a premeditated thought – but nothing would stop her. And just what was in her mind as she planned to touch the one who the synagogue leader had just bowed to? Her touching Jesus was irregular and ‘wrong’. It was open to misinterpretation. It violated the biblical purity code. However, for her to cross over from the land of the dead – for that is where she had been for twelve years –to the land of the living, some radical decisions had to be made.
Such is the determination of anyone who really wants an encounter with Jesus. Her faith drove her actions and was actively expressed. For faith to express itself freely, it must traverse the perimeters of our piety and religiosity that stifles and suffocates our little faith. The good news is that Jesus receives us – just as we are! He knows who we really are and nothing is hidden from him.
We must watch out for ‘faith killers’ in our lives and in our world!
why is it more comfortable to hide our Christian identity and faith in public?
why does our faith and believe in Jesus increasingly become a very private matter?
why am I afraid that my colleagues know that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour?
Friends we need to cross the boundaries of acceptable worldly behaviour and standards in order to obtain salvation. Our feet cannot be at both sides! Jairus and this woman crossed difficult boundaries and met the Saviour. Faith is the bridge over which we cross from the world of disbelieve to believe.
Do you feel alienated from all this faith stuff we are talking about? Does Jesus feature anywhere in your life? Would you like him to? Life is/can be tough, and Jesus offers an easier way of going about life, whether we meet with spectacular healing miracles or not. He says elsewhere (Matthew 11:28) come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
That is an offer, for us to take or reject. Taking this offer is radical, counter-cultural and inconsistent with the world, but it is life changing. The world hates this tune. May be you took this offer a while ago but feel you need to touch base again with Jesus. He has not moved. He is still waiting. He says, come.
One thief on the cross joined the worldly chorus –aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!
His friend crossed the boundaries of acceptable worldly response and instead sung a different radical tune. He said:
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. This man has done no wrong.
The turning to Jesus he said:
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
And Jesus answered:
Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.
So what?
Something begins to happen in our lives when we raise our expectations from God. Something happens when we begin to pray with a conviction that God indeed listens.
Something happens to our relationship with God when we refuse to give in to fear – what others might say…
Something happens when we truly mean as we often sing – and I will trust in you alone…
Something happens when our optimism with God takes us to a point of hoping and being certain of what we do not see.
That’s the stuff called faith!
Amen.
Miracles and faith
A Sunday school class was presenting their end of the year program for the congregation - telling about the life of Jesus. When it came to the part about Jesus' miracles, one little child said, "Yes, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead!" The teacher urged the child to say more.He said, "Well, Jesus told them to open the tomb, and then He said, 'Lazarus, come out!' And it's a good thing he didn't just say 'Come out!' because there would have been a stampede of dead guys."
I wonder what your reaction is to these incredible stories of one miracle after another. A woman who has been bleeding for twelve years touches the cloak of Jesus and is instantly healed; then Jesus resurrects a twelve year old dead girl. Just what do you make of that?
We live in a questioning age where rationalism rules. It is very difficult – if not impossible to easily convince anyone of anything that cannot be logically explained. The need to show cause and effect in an occurrence or phenomenon has never been greater.
Scientific rationalism which has infused western culture for about 300 years would rather put the miracle stories of Jesus down to the ignorance and superstition of these ancient people who lived more than 20 centuries ago. That way it is easier to help make sense of these bizarre happenings. Why don’t we see them anymore? Show me a miracle – people easily challenge!
Doubts have been expressed on the authenticity of miracles, and the evidence for miracles dismissed as unconvincing. Alternative explanations have even been often sought:
for instance, Jesus did not walk on water but on a half-submerged plank – heard that one?
the loaves and fish were so many because people followed Jesus’ example of sharing – his example was so infectious that soon people produced their own and shared it around…
So where do we stand? What do we understand by a miracle? Do you believe in miracles?
15 years ago, electronic mail would have been a miracle to me..
A couple that has been trying for a baby after many years may regard it a miracle when the baby finally comes.
Someone else may attribute that to fertility treatment. A similar event, depending on our perspective may elicit different explanations/responses.
We need to broaden our understanding of miracles. Personally, I think being alive today is one!
So were there miracles in the bible before Jesus?
Yes. It’s full of them. The waters in the Red Sea separated to allow the Israelites to pass through. The sun stood still overhead for one day when Joshua asked God for more time to fight Israelite’s enemies. Joshua 10:12ffd
What other evidence is there?
A secular historian called Josephus (AD 37-100) who was a contemporary of Jesus has recorded an exorcism which he witnessed. Elsewhere he also writes: ‘… about this time a rose Jesus, a wise man, if indeed it be lawful to call him a man. For he was a doer of wonderful deeds…’
Another ancient document The Babylonian Talmund reports that Jesus was executed because he practised sorcery. Actually this seems to reinforce the comment made by the teachers of the law in Mark 3:22 when they say, He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons!
Religious people seem to have had no quarrel about Jesus’ ability to perform miracles – just that his miracles were not considered as indicators of God at work.
What about other religions/pagans?
Belief in miracles is not peculiar to Christianity; almost all religions feature miracles in their teachings. People have even debated as to which of the miracles - pagan or Christian are backed by more credible evidence.
The miracles of Jesus are however different and unique. They point to the wider context of his mission and ministry. He himself puts them in the context of the kingdom of God. When accused of using demonic powers to perform his miracles he responds: Luke 11:20
If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. His miracles point people to God. They are not intended to impress or even satisfy idle speculation about the supernatural. That is why he categorically says no when Pharisees ask for a miracle to satisfy their curiosity. Matthew 12:38ffd
We also need to view and understand these miracles against the background of the Old Testament expectations the prophecies; that the long waited for kingdom had at last come. Jesus is the final fulfilment of all that there was to be. If we deviate from this understanding, then we easily fall into the trap of seeing Jesus’ miracles as simply magic actions which pagans and other religions easily claim. The ancient world was full of them. Remember the magicians in Pharaohs palace in Egypt? Our world is full of them – witchcraft and the occult.
Jesus is unique and different. Jesus is God!
So, yet another day out with Jesus! He has just returned from Gentile country, from interacting with a demoniac and in close proximity with pigs – not exactly ritually clean. He is then confronted with the needs of a synagogue leader, Jairus, whose duty is to keep up the teaching of the commandments and reading the law. Jairus’s twelve year old and an only daughter is dying. Matthew records that she had died…. This is a critical age, at the point of puberty and nearing betrothal and preparation for marriage. It was a common Jewish practice to betroth a 12 year old girl. She is therefore dying just before life can really begin!
Leaders like Jairus didn’t typically respond well to Jesus. We don’t know what his attitude was before this time, or even as he fell down on his knees.
Did he believe that Jesus was the Messiah? What about all the synagogue rules and issues of purity? There is pushing and pulling and yelling; including the presence of a ritually unclean and bleeding woman. But none of this seems to deter the determination of Jairus. His daughter is dying! And so this synagogue leader, with humility, falls at Jesus’ feet.
When nothing else is left to hold onto, it becomes possible to reach for Jesus. It is impossible to hold on to Jesus when our hands are full, holding onto other things. And he does not disappoint; he embraces us.
Someone once said; faith is not faith until it’s all you are holding on to.
It is George Muller who also wrote:
Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where human power ends.
Faith in God begins when we stop looking sideways, being distracted by others, feeling embarrassed, worrying what others will think…
Jairus was a leader in his community that people looked up to. Deep inside he knew of a deep human need that his synagogue leadership credentials and powers could not sort – and fortunately he came to the one person who could make a difference. So Jairus falls at the feet of Jesus. The kingdom of God is also for synagogue/church leaders like Jairus and the centurion that we heard about recently. If only they will submit, they will find Jesus waiting with good news! He is accessible to all!
But that is not the end. The ministry and compassion of Jesus is even broader. It accommodates the down trodden and the marginalised like this woman whose sickness is socially devastating. Her bleeding had made her perpetually unclean. She would have lived in isolation from her community for the 12 years, the length of time that Jairus’ daughter had lived! When she presses forward to reach Jesus, it is guaranteed she will infect others with her impurity. What will the synagogue leader say – presumably he was walking with Jesus back to his home to heal his daughter. What will other people say?
This was clearly a premeditated thought – but nothing would stop her. And just what was in her mind as she planned to touch the one who the synagogue leader had just bowed to? Her touching Jesus was irregular and ‘wrong’. It was open to misinterpretation. It violated the biblical purity code. However, for her to cross over from the land of the dead – for that is where she had been for twelve years –to the land of the living, some radical decisions had to be made.
Such is the determination of anyone who really wants an encounter with Jesus. Her faith drove her actions and was actively expressed. For faith to express itself freely, it must traverse the perimeters of our piety and religiosity that stifles and suffocates our little faith. The good news is that Jesus receives us – just as we are! He knows who we really are and nothing is hidden from him.
We must watch out for ‘faith killers’ in our lives and in our world!
why is it more comfortable to hide our Christian identity and faith in public?
why does our faith and believe in Jesus increasingly become a very private matter?
why am I afraid that my colleagues know that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour?
Friends we need to cross the boundaries of acceptable worldly behaviour and standards in order to obtain salvation. Our feet cannot be at both sides! Jairus and this woman crossed difficult boundaries and met the Saviour. Faith is the bridge over which we cross from the world of disbelieve to believe.
Do you feel alienated from all this faith stuff we are talking about? Does Jesus feature anywhere in your life? Would you like him to? Life is/can be tough, and Jesus offers an easier way of going about life, whether we meet with spectacular healing miracles or not. He says elsewhere (Matthew 11:28) come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
That is an offer, for us to take or reject. Taking this offer is radical, counter-cultural and inconsistent with the world, but it is life changing. The world hates this tune. May be you took this offer a while ago but feel you need to touch base again with Jesus. He has not moved. He is still waiting. He says, come.
One thief on the cross joined the worldly chorus –aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!
His friend crossed the boundaries of acceptable worldly response and instead sung a different radical tune. He said:
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. This man has done no wrong.
The turning to Jesus he said:
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
And Jesus answered:
Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.
So what?
Something begins to happen in our lives when we raise our expectations from God. Something happens when we begin to pray with a conviction that God indeed listens.
Something happens to our relationship with God when we refuse to give in to fear – what others might say…
Something happens when we truly mean as we often sing – and I will trust in you alone…
Something happens when our optimism with God takes us to a point of hoping and being certain of what we do not see.
That’s the stuff called faith!
Amen.
posted by Parish Administrator at 3:29 pm
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