Petitcodiac Mennonite Church

MESS & MIRACLE

Delivered August 17, 2008
by Pastor Marilyn Henderson

Text: Mt. 9.2-13

Main Idea: God calls us to be a community of believers who are active ambassadors of reconciliation.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be a faith community who supports each other as we all grow in faith. Sometimes we need the faith of each other in order to grow in Christ; sometimes we don't or can't have faith for ourselves and need others to have faith for us. Sometimes Jesus, in whom we have faith, leads us to act on behalf of another, whether they are a follower or not, drawing them into God's loving, forgiving, healing presence.

The story of the paralytic is found in all three synoptic gospels - Matthew, Mark and Luke. Mark's account seems most complete. However, I've used all three in preparing for this morning. Those of us who have grown up in the church are often familiar with the stories about Jesus since childhood, yet we don't really have a complete picture. We often don't think about what life must have been like for the people in these stories. So, as I've prepared I wondered about a lot of things about this story:

pause ... bow head then raise it slowly

This seems very strange - for me, a woman, to be addressing a large group of both men and women.
      But I believe that Jesus wants me to tell you what happened to me.

Simon met Jesus one day as he and Andy were cleaning the last of their nets ...
    I had never seen Simon so excited yet subdued at the same time.
    He struggled with his relationship with Jesus and, if I know Simon, struggled with his low self-esteem, as you may call it.
     ... once he even asked, "Who am I to be a disciple of such a one as Jesus? Why didn't he call your Uncle Samuel? He's a good and righteous man, as well as very educated. Why me?"

I just waited, for I knew he would tell me what he was thinking.
    He began by telling me that he was excited to be one of the chosen
     ... was also mindful of Torah's teachings about providing for one's family
     ... didn't know how to provide for us and follow Jesus at the same time ...

I was glad for Simon, but also a bit worried.
    Our income had already shrunk with just the few weeks Simon had been with Jesus. But we figured out how to make it work as best we could.
     ... Ema and I would make baskets and bread to sell in the market. The girls would help
     ... Simon and Andy would fish as they could
     ... if it didn't work, we'd have to figure out something else.

So life took on a different kind of rhythm for us all.
    And some things just didn't always get done around the house ...
    Walls needed some repair, both inside and out
    The roof hadn't been fixed properly since Abba died ...
    The children missed Simon dreadfully - he's so patient with them, loves to play with them.
    I know, it seems out of character for Peter, but with children he's got such a soft heart.

I'm ashamed to admit that I missed him so much that I began complaining to God.
    In my lowest moments, I would ask God - "Who is Jesus, anyway?
    A prophet ... a crazy man ...
    or it's being whispered about at the well that Jesus is actually our Messiah, God's Anointed One."

But would God's Anointed One break up a marriage, a family and a family business? I'm afraid I pitied myself for awhile.

Simon and Andy had a few days once when they decided they would come home together. It was a wonderful time ...
    Picnic to one of the local streams ... swimming in the Galilee ...
    the children helped Simon as he fixed the walls and roof ... good fishing

Then Simon and Andy went with Jesus for a few days.
    - crowd control
     - Simon said Jesus seemed to want the disciples close when he was teaching.
    - Jesus not only taught about God,
     ... healed all kinds of diseases
    and even cast out demons

While they were gone, my Ema got so sick.
     - Sudden high fever that drained her of energy
    - I tried everything I knew
    - herbal tea to bring down her fever, cold compresses on the head and chest
    - I was frantic, tried to find the doctor in Capernaum, but he was gone
    - I was beginning to realize she was truly dying

It couldn't be - so soon after Abba's death
     - Simon had only just fixed the portion of roof that had been removed for the coffin
     ... funny what one thinks of when on the edge of a great sorrow

Then Simon and Jesus walked in the door!
    ... so relieved I wept as I told them about Ema
    ... Jesus went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up!

I was astounded - in shock. It was a good thing Simon had his arm around me or I would have fallen. I couldn't do anything - I had no energy.
    Ema began preparing to serve them the little food I had ...

I wish I could say that Ema's healing was the turning point in my relationship with Jesus
     ... more questions, confusion
     ... how did Jesus do these things?
    .. where did His power come from? There have been so many healers "from God"
     ... How could my husband be taken away for days at a time, seemingly for selfish reasons on Jesus' part, and yet Jesus cared enough to heal my mother?
    ... my life had become a confusing mess - all questions and no answers

Shortly after Ema's healing, Simon and Jesus and the other disciples left to travel to towns they hadn't visited yet. I just didn't have any energy, even to get after the children. It was Ema's turn to care for me.

I was feeling better, more like myself, when Simon came home with Jesus and all the others. Simon was certain they had been able to convince the people who had followed them over the countryside to go home to eat and rest.
    ... and that was what they wanted to do, too. Eat and rest.

Ema and I scrambled to gather enough food to feed everyone. I remember being thankful I'd been to the market that day, otherwise I would have had to borrow some fruit from my neighbour, Naomi, whose generous heart was matched only by her generosity with words. There wouldn't have been a hope for a even a quiet dinner!

After dinner, Simon and Andy and Jesus and the others were relaxing and joking with each other about their journey. It was good to see them so. Ema and I were just finishing the cleaning up and looking forward to relaxing a bit ourselves.

And then there was a knock at the door. Simon and I looked at each other and he nodded for me to answer it. I let in David and Judith, my other next door neighbours, and Aaron and Rachel from across the street.

Immediately there were others - neighbours from up and down the street and even from across town. They were crowding in, pushing in, trying to get close to Jesus. The door was pressed against the wall, there were so many people in the house.

Thankfully, Simon had seen what was happening and he and Andy rescued me from the crush of people, placing me between them. Simon said the children were with Ema on the roof so I didn't worry about them.

I had never been so close to Jesus. It was fascinating to watch how, as he talked about God and our Hebrew scriptures, he seemed to speak to each one in the room personally.
    ... Then he began healing those who had come for healing.
    ... sometimes asking them a question or two or praying or not saying a word

David, my next door neighbour, is a wonderful man. So kind and generous. And so crippled from pain in his joints. Jesus looked into his eyes for a long time, put his hand on David's shoulder and said, "Bless you, my son. Be healed." I'll never forget the look on David's face when he realized he had absolutely no pain in his arms or hands or legs or feet - nowhere! He has always had a wonderful smile, but this one was blazing.

And Rachel, from across the street. She fell off a donkey 3 or 4 years ago and her arm never did heal straight. It has hurt almost constantly since. Jesus made her arm straight and strong.

I saw my cousin, Elias, there. He's been so sad for so long. I've longed to see him smile. Well, after Jesus spent a little time with him, Elias smiled!! Our family had almost given up!

And there were so many others, all sick or crippled in some way.

Of course, our local scribes were there, led as usual by Uncle Samuel. Our family is so proud of Uncle Samuel. We've never had anyone in our family rise to the rank of scribe. We know Aunt Miriam's father helped with that, but Uncle Samuel had the brains, too. Most of us feel that Uncle Samuel could have a bit more understanding for those who aren't as strong in the things of God, but who's perfect? The family was very proud.

Suddenly, something fell on my head. When I reached up, it was dirt! Unfortunately, I looked up and got an eye-full of dirt! At least, it felt like an eye-full! Andy helped me to the water jug and I was finally able to see again. Somehow he got us back to where we had been - close to Simon and across from Jesus.

And what do you think? Can you picture this? - While I'd been working on my eye, those ben David boys had been digging through the roof - my newly fixed, beautiful, finally-rain-proof roof! I could not believe my eyes! I was horrified! Things were happening so fast ...

Andy and I stood across a cleared space on the floor from Jesus, watching those ben David boys lower someone on a pallet through the BIG hole in the roof. I was so angry!! I'd have a thing or two to say to their father tomorrow!

But as the pallet came to rest, I noticed Jesus watching the boys on the roof - intent on getting their friend to Jesus, digging through a roof they knew good and well had just been repaired for they had helped, carefully lowering him so as not to jar or drop him. Jesus' face was - lit up, kind of.

Then I looked at the person on the pallet and realized - it was my cousin, Matthias! My childhood playmate - until ...

Memories and feelings of that awful long-ago day flooded my mind. So sorry ... so sad ... so confused ... what should I do ... poor Matthias lying so still after that last long scream ...

"Your sins are forgiven."

What did Jesus say? Why would Jesus say anything like that? HOW could he say anything like that? I thought only God could forgive sins.

Confused ... life a mess ... like my floor ... too much happening all at once ... overwhelmed

Out of the blue, Jesus looked at Uncle Samuel and the rest of the scribes and said to them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take up your mat and walk?" Uncle Samuel looked astounded and a bit wary. I could tell he wasn't quite sure what to think. I'm sure no healers he knew had ever read others' thoughts, for it was pretty obvious Jesus had somehow perceived what he and the others - and I! - were thinking.

And it wasn't as if Uncle Samuel was out to "get" Jesus really. Uncle Samuel had known a lot of people who had either been hurt or swindled by so-called healers. He and his fellow scribes weren't interested in supporting another such healer and had come to find out whether Jesus had a genuine gift from God. Aunt Miriam said afterwards that they found out more than they had bargained for1

"But so that you may know that the son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - and here Jesus turned to Matthias and said to him - "I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home."

Matthias looked Jesus in the eye for a long moment, then slowly pushed himself to a sitting position, never taking his eyes from Jesus' gaze. And then he awkwardly pushed himself to his feet! I could hardly breathe! The room was silent. Simon reached out a hand to steady him - he hadn't walked for 25 years! But he had made it to his feet on his own! Matthias! My cousin ... my long-ago playmate ...

Then he bent over and picked up his mat. Simon cleared a path to the door for him and then went outside with him, helping him home. As Matthias passed them, people reached out to touch him, saying things like, "Glory to God!" and "Praise the Lord!" and "I've never seen anything like this before!"

When he disappeared from sight, I looked back at Jesus, who was watching me ...

In that moment, I knew that Jesus knew that my life was a huge mess, just like my floor and my roof. He knew that I blamed Him for the mess. He knew I missed Simon, that I didn't like the responsibility I'd had to take on for the family.

And he knew that Matthias' accident was my fault. I had wanted to play tag with Matthias in the big sycamore tree outside his house one last time before supper. He had missed his footing and had fallen ... I'll never forget his scream. I stayed high in the tree ... no one knew I was there. I stayed for hours ... I didn't know what to do ... it was my fault, I wanted to play tag in the tree ... we'd done it millions of times ... it was my fault ... why had I wanted to play tag in the tree? It was my fault!

But as I looked at Jesus, it was as if none of that mattered any more. It all melted away - the guilt and shame of Matthias' accident, my anger at Simon for leaving us, the bitterness at needing to work so hard. And Jesus placed his hand on my shoulder and said, "Daughter, be healed."

I was filled with such joy ... and peace. I just can't describe what is different for me now. But I feel lighter, freer, less prone to worry. And I trust Jesus' words to me. I have been healed of so much anger and guilt.

Praise God for His wonderful acts! Praise God for Jesus!

As I've thought about that time with Jesus and Matthias, it's interesting how God used those hair-brained ben David boys, who are always getting into trouble of some kind, to get Matthias to Jesus for healing. I mean I would never have thought Jesus would use people like them ...

You know, as I've been telling you my story, I just realized ... God used those ben David boys to heal me!

Pause ... bow head

God sometimes uses the most unlikely people, doesn't He? This is such a beautiful story of friends bringing a paralysed man to Jesus for healing because he couldn't come himself. The scripture says, "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.' "

Do we have that kind of faith?

Do we want to have that kind of faith?

Paul says in 2 Cor. 5 that God has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that we are now ambassadors of God's reconciliation. We represent Jesus to people. As Christ's ambassadors, we not only represent God but we are also to reflect the characteristics of the King, thinking and speaking and acting as King Jesus does. Sometimes that means going out of our way - even persevering as the paralytic's friends demonstrated by digging through Simon's roof - in order to bring people into God's healing presence.

What is God saying?

Let's listen for a moment time of silence

Prayer: Dear Jesus, in the quiet of this time together, meet each person here at their point of need, in their sore spots, in their mess. Heal our minds and bodies so that you, God the Son, will be glorified as we live our lives of faith in Your world. Amen.

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