Sermons

Third Sunday after Trinity
Sunday 20 June 2010 at 6.30pm

Diane Flynn

Readings: Genesis 24:1-27 and Mark 5:21-end

The New Testament reading tonight from Mark gives us an account of two events, two stories - one sandwiched in the middle of another. The story in the middle tells us about a woman who had had constant bleeding for twelve years who comes to touch the cloak of Jesus and is healed. The story on either side of this one is about Jairus coming to Jesus to ask him to heal his sick daughter and how she dies and Jesus brings her back to life. Two extremely powerful stories of faith, healing and touch.

Faith by two very different people; but who had some very stark similarities

Faith by Jairus
Jairus was an official of the local synagogue - probably a well-known and respected man. For him to 'throw himself down ' at Jesus feet and to 'beg him earnestly' must have been a very demeaning and humbling thing to do. But he did it - he was desperate. He believed that if Jesus just laid hands on his daughter he believed that she would get well. He had great faith. His dignity and pride were forgotten - all he wanted was the help of Jesus.

Faith by the woman
The woman thought 'If I just touch his clothes, I will get well' ' she had the feeling inside her that she was healed of her trouble'. Here was a woman who believed in Jesus. She was the extreme opposite to Jairus. He was well respected; she was marginalised, on the edge of society. Her bleeding made her unclean and anyone coming into contact with her was also classed as unclean. By her touching Jesus she would have made him unclean as well, in theory. But she doesn't touch him, she touches his cloak. Maybe she thought that would mean she wouldn't make him unclean.

She also had great faith like Jairus. She like him, ditched her dignity and pride to get to Jesus knowing he could in some way heal
So they were very different in social status but very similar in their faith: their faith in what Jesus could do and their faith in his healing.

Another similarity between these stories is that THEY came to JESUS. THEY searched him out when they were in need.

we read about TOUCH and reaching out - she touched his cloak, Jairus reached out at the feet of Jesus and asked Jesus to Place your hands on her

and then we read about the touch of Jesus.
This time HE reached out, HE touched and by his touch he healed.
Jesus took the child by the hand
His touch and his words renewed her.
Jesus speaks Aramaic to the girl and its kept in the Greek translation 'little girl, I tell you to get up'
Jesus touching a dead body would have made him unclean. He didn't care - he was showing those in the room and those outside that the Law that restricted him from doing that wasn't right. A woman who was bleeding touched him and he chose to talk to her and be with her. He then chose to go into a room with a dead body, which alone would have been unclean and then to touch a dead body went against all convention of cleanliness. But he didn't care
He made contact with the Marginalized and the Unclean

Stories of Jesus compassion and Jesus love for all those around him
Stories of hope and of great faith: Jarius and the woman - both of who trusted Him.

What about us?
Sometimes we may need to be like Jairus and the woman, coming to him for his healing in our lives and those we love. We may need to ask Jesus for help/healing, to trust him. WE may need to search him out, we may be like the woman, who had tried everything else before she came to Him, we may need to put our pride to one side like they did and admit that we want his help, his healing, his touch. Are we too proud to ask for his help? Know he can help us and ask for his help?

We may want to be touched by Jesus

And this story says something about Jesus example towards the marginalized and the Laws that restricted people's lives. This story tells us that Jesus is for everyone - regardless of who they are within society. Jesus is for everyone - those within the structures of the church (represented by Jairus) and those outside the church (represented by the marginalised woman). Maybe it's telling us that we need to tell others that Jesus is for everyone, regardless of circumstances. Maybe it's telling us we need to be the ones reaching out to them for him.

So a story of faith, trust and touch, not just for us but for others. Jesus healing his people, regardless of who they were. Lets follow his example and admit when WE need his help and reach out to him and let US in turn reach out to others on his behalf.

© St Edmund's Church, Roundhay