"They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick" (1).
It was pointed out in the previous post that God incarnate came/comes not to those righteous and unbroken but to a fallen people. In Matthew 8-13 there are descriptions of many individuals that Christ healed; among them a leper he met on his way down the mountain (2), Peter's mother in her home (3), an old woman in the midst of a crowd (4), a maiden in a house that mourned her (5), as well as those physically disabled, ill or demon-possessed (6, 7, 8, 9). These were not only high and lofty representatives of royal courts or high priesthood with which Christ walked but also the common and even unclean people; some were outcasts--one was even a Gentile.
"And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour" (10).
The majority of the incidents in these chapters that are concerned with healing are dependent upon faith of those that desire healing; Jesus says to the centurion "as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee" (10), and to the old woman "thy faith hath made thee whole" (11). In his own country Jesus refrained from doing as much as he had done elsewhere "because of their unbelief" (12). Because of the unbelief of his own community, Jesus left them.
Christ repeats throughout these chapters that time is short, and the world is changing; "Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead" (13). He talks about how exceptions must be made in the natural order of the world that He is in our midst--his disciples did not fast when the bridegroom was present (14), but neither did they "provide [...] gold, nor silver, nor brass in [their] purses" (15). Such a life of immediacy and unabashed faith is somewhat thrilling, no?
There's an urgency to these passages, as if the world was quickening in expectation of the Passion. That speaks to me not only as a reader, that I see prophecies being fulfilled and Christ's ministry growing in power and strength, but also as a woman alive in my own time as our celebration of the resurrection approaches.
"That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses" (16).
Please feel free to continue posting in the discussion on the previous posting!
8 comments:
p.s. I may be back to edit this, as I happen to have done the "finishing touches" at about 2 a.m., so do accept apologies for the roughness.
Hey Rivkah - I've copied and pasted a few passages from Scripture which compliment your point that Christ has come for the humble and not for those who are already "righteous" without Him. Good post!
The LORD puts to death and gives life;
he casts down to the nether world; he raises up again.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich,
he humbles, he also exalts.
1 Samuel 1:6-7
The LORD is on high, but cares for the lowly and knows the proud from afar.
Psalm 138:6
For thus says he who is high and exalted, living eternally, whose name is the Holy One: On high I dwell, and in holiness, and with the crushed and dejected in spirit, To revive the spirits of the dejected, to revive the hearts of the crushed.
Isaiah 57:15
On that day You need not be ashamed of all your deeds, your rebellious actions against me; For then will I remove from your midst the proud braggarts, And you shall no longer exalt yourself on my holy mountain. But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, Who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD...
Zephaniah 3:11-12
And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
Luke 1:46-53
Two things stand out to me the most in this reading: the first is that Jesus came to save those who needed saving. This is something that I feel many people forget, although it is a rather simple concept. Like a doctor, He did not come to heal the healthy. I once worked in a restaurant that had a bar in it, and seating next to the bar (but not within the bar area itself). One day an older man, his wife, and two friends came in and asked for a table for 4. I proceeded to take them to the seating next to the bar when he barked "Uh preachuh can't sit in uh bah." I was momentarily stunned, and couldn't help but think that Jesus probably would have requested to sit in that bar if that's where the people most in need of salvation were to be found. I think that there is a great number of Christians who surround themselves only with other Christians and only go to certain places because they feel that they cannot be seen socializing with non-Christians, or people who obviously lack Christian morals and virtues. At the same time that this kind of behaviour helps to protect the Christian himself from becoming involved in activities he doesn't want to be involved in (after all, you can't give in to temptation when there is none to be found), it is also absolutely no help to those in need of the Gospel.
This reading also shows us how imperative it is to have faith in the Lord. I don't know about others, but having faith is something with which I struggle. But without faith, how am I to help anyone, or serve God? Sometimes faith can help you just get through the day and give you the courage to try again tomorrow.
The middle of this is the second sermon of Jesus in Matthew (10:5). The disciples have authority to raise folks from the dead here...we have no stories of them doing that that I know if, but wouldn't it be grand if he would give us that gift today! I'm afraid that I would have to sit back and try not to use such a gift just for myself...you know, like just raise my childhood dog from the dead and not do it like Jesus. He was so sensitive and spontaneous. Just like in the stories surrounding this talk to His disciples. He purly, promptly, and caringly healed folks. He granted healing when he knew folks had stepped into His kingdom--a place where you see God, know God, and are known by God.
The center of that sermon is a diamond: Matt. 10:21 “When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. 22 There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. 23 It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you’ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived. (from the Message)...WOW...don't give up! Keep loving...
Here's a message for today (from 12:45): “That’s what this generation is like: You may think you have cleaned out the junk from your lives and gotten ready for God, but you weren’t hospitable to my kingdom message, and now all the devils are moving back in.”
If He really sent us angels...we'd bask in holiness and fly in loving kindness (sorry...I'm writing this from the sunny beaches of southern Spain!).
It's really a beautiful situation, Christ's ministry to the helpless. Reminds me of James' statement that
Pure, unspoilt religion, in the eyes of God our Father is this: coming to the help of orphans and widows when they need it, and keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world. from the Jerusalem Bible (thanks again, Daniel)
The church really plays both roles in these stories. We're the unlovely that was loved and the ministers of Christ on earth sent to love.
But what seems so inductive with the centurion takes what appears to be an exclusive twist in chapter 13. What do you all make of the reason for His speaking in parables (in 13:10-15)? I suppose many in the crowd are among those who leave because of the "hard teaching" in John 6 and many are memebers of the religous elite who so often seek to put an end to the Upstart from Nazareth. And truly the disciples have given up much to follow Jesus and to have access to his words. Still, I find this one of the harder teachings of Jesus to make sense of. Any thoughts?
Gabe: The footnote in the New American Bible says that Christ is speaking in "theologically passive" language when he speaks in verse 12 of the giving and taking away of understanding. He immediately follows that statement with the quotation from Isaiah:
This is why I speak to them in parables, because 'they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.' Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: 'You shall indeed hear but not understand you shall indeed look but never see.
Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.'
Matt. 13:13-15
Christ's quotation from Isaiah does not continue the "theologically passive" language of verse 13 but instead asserts that the people "have closed their eyes." And after all this, Christ explains the parable of the sower, point by point (verses 18-23).
We can be sure that Christ wishes to everyone to accept Him, and that we are at fault when we choose apart from Him.
The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard "delay," but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance
2 Peter 3:9
Say not: "It was God's doing that I fell away"; for what he hates he does not do.
Say not: "It was he who set me astray"; for he has no need of wicked man.
Abominable wickedness the LORD hates, he does not let it befall those who fear him.
When God, in the beginning, created man, he made him subject to his own free choice.
If you choose you can keep the commandments; it is loyalty to do his will.
There are set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand.
Before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him.
Immense is the wisdom of the LORD; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing.
The eyes of God see all he has made; he understands man's every deed.
No man does he command to sin, to none does he give strength for lies.
Sirach 15:11-20
These chapters point out many things we are called to do as followers of Jesus. We are called to be with sinners--not to sin ourselves, but to associate with them, eat with them, talk with them. And since we are ALL sinners, that just shows the kind of brotherly and sisterly love we should have for each other and every person on this earth. I know Christians who don't talk to atheists because they are afraid they might stumble. What sense does that make? If we would just focus on loving each other, our faith would prove more than any kind of words. We are called to live among sinners just as the wheat and the weeds live together. It is not for us to judge who is what; it is simply our job to love.
When I was an atheist, I had a Quaker friend, Amanda. She never called me a sinner, she never tried to talk me into Jesus; she simply loved me. She would send me packages of tea and write beautiful letters about the death of her grandmother after my own father died three years ago. She was Good and Humble, and her peacefulness and love made me think of the greater love of God. I wanted that kind of peace in my heart. I wanted to Love like she loved and like God loved. I have come back Home.
Jesus tells us that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. We are to be those workers, doing as much as we can for the kingdom. Christians like to focus on issues like homosexuality and abortion, but what are we doing about poverty? What are we doing or leaving Undone in our own lives? Who are we helping and loving and peacefully praying for?
Jesus also performs a lot of miracles at this time, and our skepticism about modern miracles might sadden Him. I believe miracles can happen that aren't just about raising someone from the dead or casting out demons. Miracles are when a hardened atheist learns godly love, or when the mother of a murder victim forgives her son's murderer. So I don't want to give up on miracles just yet.
This is a little off topic, but it's in this reading section and struck me hard. 12:36 says, I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.
Much of the Gospel is focused on action. Parables usually explain the kingdom of God in terms of what people do: sowing, weeding, reaping, burning, saving the sheep, adding yeast to bread and so on. In addition, there are the many miracles and travels of Jesus and his followers. But this verse quickly adds words as one of the fruits you will be known by.
I'm sure I don't go a single day without careless words uttered and even more thought. It would be amazing (tragic, but amazing) to see just once how a week of mine would have gone had I been willing to sacrifice entertainment, comfort, and pride long enough not to speak carelessly. I suspect it would be a stunning week.
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