Acts of Power and Desperation

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
July 2nd 2006
Communion Sunday
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“Acts of Power and Desperation”
Mark 5:21-42

This passage shows how the gospel is truly intended for all people. It shows how both powerful and powerless, rich and poor are included when Jesus invites all to come and follow. However, it shows how those at opposite ends of the social spectrum will take different paths to healing and wholeness. When Jesus responds to both acts of desperation it is also a moment where healing and wholeness is offered for the entire community. It is a passage which invites all who hear it to locate themselves within the story.
Jesus has just returned from the land of the gentiles. The moment he steps on solid ground the crowd closed in on him. Barely off the boat and the crowd closed in on Jesus like paparazzi on a Hollywood star. It is nearly impossible to get close to Jesus because of the crowd. However, when a leader from the religious establishment arrives he has no trouble being able to fall at Jesus feet. Jairus, despite his power, is in pain and desperate to save his dying daughter. But, when this man of power, in his desperation, arrives, the crowd stands back for the mighty Jairus.
It is quite remarkable to see this leader of the religious establishment on his knees begging from Jesus. The last time Jesus was on the Jewish side of the sea, the religious leadership claimed Jesus was the devil. It is unlikely that Jesus, or his disciples, have forgotten this. However, Jesus does not take this opportunity to gloat about the change of fortune. In fact, Jesus says nothing about the issue. When faced with the pain and desperation of Jairus, Jesus moves to help.
As Jesus starts his journey to the home of Jairus something happens. Jesus stops and notices that someone has touched him. Unlike the rest of the crowd pressing in on him, this touch was distinctly different. “Who touched me?” It is a ridiculous question since there are so many people closing in on him. But Jesus persists. Finally, the perpetrator comes forward. It was a woman. An unnamed woman has broken custom and law seeking healing and wholeness from Jesus.
Being “called out” for touching Jesus had to frighten this woman. After all, she was considered unclean by the law. She was an untouchable. If anyone touched or was touched by her they too would become unclean. In order to protect the community she was required to announce her presence in public places by saying: “Unclean, Unclean!” For her to have touched Jesus, and everyone in the crowd, meant she had made them all unclean. This woman had to be condemned for her actions. It is most likely the reason she admits her deed to Jesus with fear and trembling.
The first thing Jesus does is listen to her, not condemn her. Jesus listens to her story. For twelve years she had suffered. She had been bankrupted in purist of healing– abused by the very physicians who were supposed to heal – and shunned by the religious community more interested in purity than God’s love. Out of desperation she finally decides to break the law in pursuit of healing. After listening to her story – in front of the crowd – Jesus commends this woman for her faith. My Daughter, you are a great woman of faith, go and be at peace.
As this scene unfolds I wonder what Jairus was thinking. Jesus has been interrupted by a woman. And then Jesus commends this lawbreaking woman as a model of faithfulness. But before we have time to ponder these question Jairus hears the news that his daughter has died. Upon hearing the news, Jesus quietly says to Jairus: “Do not fear, only believe.”
After the arrival of the news Jesus then orchestrates a very elaborate plan to resurrect this child in secrecy. Jesus sends the crowd away. Only Jairus, Peter, James and John are allowed to continue. When they arrive at the house Jesus kicks everyone out. Then, very publicly he says: “she is not dead, only sleeping.” Finally gathered in the girl’s room, with only her parents and the three disciples, Jesus tells the little girl to get up, and she does. When it is all finished Jesus orders then to tell no one what happened.
It is a rather strange scene which leaves me wondering what it all means. Why does Jesus make a public spectacle of healing the unclean, unnamed woman when she and Jesus are the only ones who know what happened? What was the purpose? Why, after making such a public spectacle of this healing does Jesus work so hard to keep the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter a secret? After all, if he saves the daughter of the leader of the synagogue he could have certainly gained some favor with the religious leadership?
The answers to these questions become clearer when we keep Jesus’ teaching that: “The first shall be last and the last shall be first”, at the forefront of our minds. Within this story we are given a glimpse of how the gospel affects people in different social locations. In this story we have two contrasting figures. On the one hand we have Jairus who has the sort of power few people will ever know. He was the sort of person who is used to having things his way and with lots of public fanfare. Jairus would have never accepted having to wade through the crowd like everyone else to see Jesus. However, Jesus makes him wait in line behind a woman who society saw as worthless. And, Jairus’ family is made whole through the resurrection of their daughter but no one gets to see this. There is no public fanfare for this miracle in Jairus’ family. In fact, when it is all over, there is no proof that it ever happened. Remember, Jesus says that she was asleep not dead!
However, the unnamed woman has a very different experience. She begins the story as someone known in the community only as unclean. She is without any identity. At the end of this passage, this anonymous dirty woman is known as a woman of great faith. Jesus gives this accolade very publicly so that the whole crowd, including the religious leadership, will know. She has been healed and restored as a member of the community. The woman began this passage in anonymity and ends with public accolades. While, Jairus began with great public fanfare only to have no one witness the greatest thing he has ever seen. It is a real reversal of fortune where no one has to suffer.
In this passage the rich and powerful, as well as the poor and powerless are welcomed and healed by Jesus. However each find healing in very different ways. This is the story where the words of the biblical poets should ring in our ears… The messiah will bring down the powerful from their thrones and lift up the poor and destitute from the dust. Friends this is the gospel!
This passage asks each person who hears it to ask where we fit in this story. We have to ask: Are there places in your life or in society where you are unclean, unworthy and unknown? Where are the places of desperation from which we need healing and restoration? Likewise, we must also ask: Are there places in your life where you expect people to defer to you? Are there places where you expect people to act or agree with you simply because you open your mouth? Are there places in your life in need of a good dose of Jesus’ healing humility?
These are not easy questions to ask particularly if we are people with power and privilege, but this is the call of the gospel. This is the reality of Jesus invitation to healing and wholeness, individually and in this community of faith. On some days we will find ourselves reaching out to Jesus in anonymity and desperation and on other days we will be brought to our knees from our arrogant positions of power. The good news is that Jesus is always willing to respond lifting us up when we are in need and offering humility when it is necessary as well. The gospel calls all of us, each day, to follow the one who lifts up those who need it and brings down those who need it as well. Amen.