Sermons

9th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Mark 6:30-34 and 53-56

Pastor Jean M. Hansen

 

     Our text today is two stories describing Jesus interacting with the crowds that sought him; it’s important to note that they take place at different times and places. In the first account, the disciples had returned, worn out from their first missionary journey during which they encountered the Kingdom of God as they brought hope and healing to people’s lives. How exciting it must have been, but also how exhausting; Jesus and his disciples need some rest.

     They set sail for a supposedly deserted place. But their boat was visible on the Sea of Galilee from the steep hills that surrounded it; there is no place on the water that cannot be seen from land. So, they were recognized and followed. Perhaps it was obvious where they were heading. This sounds strange to us, but that “sea” is actually a lake which is four miles across on the water and 10 miles around on land. Depending on the wind, it could have taken longer to cross the lake than walk around it on foot. So, as they arrived, it soon became apparent that getting away from the crowds was not possible.

     That mass of people was drawn to Jesus and his disciples because of what they were doing – restoring lives by healing, casting out demons, proclaiming God’s love for the excluded and rejected. It's not surprising that they were so avidly sought. It is interesting, though, what Jesus did for the crowd on the other side of the lake. He taught them; there is no mention of physical healing in this part of the text, only spiritual strengthening, probably in the form of words proclaiming God’s acceptance of and love for them, and what it meant to choose the Kingdom of God rather than the Kingdom of the World.

     However, perhaps it was the way he looked at them that truly touched their deepest needs. Pastor Kevin Nye, who is a self-described movie buff, describes the scene like this: “The camera zooms in a little closer, just on Jesus. Imagine for a moment that the noise of the crowd dies down, and all you see is Jesus’ face, in slow motion, as he gazes out at the crowd. What face do you expect to see? A tired face? An angry face? Perhaps a little mix of both? Maybe we imagine Jesus sighing, know there is still work to be done, but begrudgingly. But the face of Jesus we are given is none of those. It is compassion. We are told that Jesus had compassion.” (1)

     This compassion is not pity. The Greek word describes a gut-wrenching feeling; this compassion suffers alongside. As Pastor Nye notes, “And in a way, the tired and worn down Jesus chooses to suffer alongside those who are tired and worn down by oppression, sin and illness. (2)

     Jesus felt their pain, confusion, desire to know God; he felt it in the core of his being. They are, to him, “like sheep without a shepherd,” so he’ll be their shepherd, providing for their needs, protecting them from harm, preserving them for a good life, just as a shepherd would do for the flock.

     That’s where the first account ends. We skip 17 verses which focus on two of the greatest miracles of Jesus (which will be next Sunday’s topic) to read another vignette of Jesus’ interaction with the hurting people who were continually seeking him out. The focus this time is on healing; as soon as they anchor the boat, Jesus and his disciples are recognized. As they traveled in that region, people then rushed to bring the sick to him.

     Listen to the movie-loving pastor’s description of how this scene might look on the big screen. “You can imagine; some soft music playing in the background as the sick are brought on mats and find life again; (you can imagine) the look of wonder on the faces of the sick and their loved ones, that same look of compassion on Jesus’ face. We might see a flashback of the young man who was lowered through a roof on a mat by his friends. Then we see more sick reaching out to touch the end of Jesus’ garment…anyone who touched it was healed. There’s a flash back to the woman who was healed of her bleeding.” (3)

      These are images of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. But it is not just physical healing that occurred. The Greek word describing the result of touching Jesus’ garment means “save”; they were given new life – spiritual renewal.

     These two sections of scripture are intended, it seems, to give us an up-close-and-personal glimpse of Jesus. The major miracles of Jesus feeding the crowd and then walking on water that occur in-between them deservedly receive a lot of attention, but the passages we read today remind us of his compassionate concern for each person.

     As Pastor JoAnn Taylor says so eloquently, “When Jesus looks and you and me, he has compassion for us too. He feels our pain, our sorrow, our frustration and our worry. He suffers with us in our broken relationships, our need to make ends meet and our deep desire to be right with God. He sees us running around like sheep without a shepherd, and he calls us to walk with him, as he walks with us.” (4)

     When we seek for Jesus, a compassionate shepherd is who we will find because he has already found us.

     As I was preparing this sermon, I happened to check Facebook and found there a post from a retired Methodist pastor who I know personally. While on vacation, he received a message that his friend, Richard, had died unexpectantly. It was heart-breaking news. The story he then told is a reminder of our Lord’s compassionate and healing presence. I’ll quote him.  

      “Richard was one of the most decent, humble, kind, respectful, thoughtful and wise men I’ve known.  Sometimes people come into our lives as an example of sincere faith, hope and love, that was Richard!

     He recently shared with me the story of when his younger brother died in a grain bin accident. His brother had been in the bin when the grain swallowed him up. Richard and others had worked frantically to dig him out and try to save his life. He explained how exhausting it was and his face and hands were so dirty from digging. Once they had recovered his brother, he rode in the rescue unit with him to the hospital. He was aware that his brother had perished in the accident.

     Once they had arrived at the hospital, he immediately went to the restroom to wash his face and hands and that’s when it happened. As Richard was washing his face, he felt a warm, healing presence behind him. It was as if the presence was gently touching his shoulders with reassurance that all shall be well.

     As Richard wiped his face and looked in the mirror, he saw a man that appeared Middle Eastern. Richard said it was a most calming and peaceful experience and he was sure it was Jesus. The image in the mirror lasted only a moment but the healing presence was lasting.

I’ll always hold Richard’s story in my heart and will remember always how humble he was, his kindness and reflective wisdom. Something tells me that Richard is now eternally in the safekeeping and well-being of the Healing Presence and image he witnessed on that tragic day when his younger brother died.“(5)

     Jesus has compassion for us, he suffers with us, and is a constant healing presence in our lives. AMEN