No Limitations
Illustration
Stories
Contents
“No Limitations” by C. David McKirachan
“In Spite Of” by C. David McKirachan
No Limitations
by C. David McKirachan
Mark 5:21-43
Mark presented a portrait of Jesus that showed a Christ who moved into situations with action, often upsetting the expected. Many times, Christ’s actions did not bring comfort or peace.
When we think of Jesus performing miracles of healing, we think of people being relieved as much as they were astonished. In these accounts, Jesus violated laws as he healed. He upset the expectations of nice, acceptable, good people and in some ways left difficult results in the wake of his actions.
The ruler of the synagogue who came asking Jesus to heal his child did so in a manner that would denigrate his own position and authority. Jesus had a reputation as something of a heretic, not necessarily someone a person of religious authority should be groveling in the dirt in front of to ask for a favor. Then he asks this itinerant preacher to lay his hands on his little girl. First, Jairus is going through this for a child and a female child to boot. And he asks Jesus to lay his hands on her. If Jesus is a man of the torah, to lay his hands on a sick, female child would make him unclean. Jairus is totally out of line asking for this. What will his critics say after Jesus is gone?
Mark then jumps to the situation with the woman who seeks to be healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ robe. She is obviously not a woman who pays attention to God’s law. She knows the injunctions about requiring ritual purification after coming anywhere near blood, let alone a man and a woman being near each other when the woman is bleeding. There are so many laws shattered by this woman’s behavior, behavior that would demand that Jesus attend to his own cleansing unless he wishes to pollute all he touches. When it became known how she was healed, her reputation as a good woman would be unsupportable and the miracle itself would be polluted. That is not considering that this woman would have been ostracized by her community for being unclean for twelve years. At that point, she had no reputation as a good woman. If Jesus were touched by such a woman, he would be suspect to begin with. It’s called a mess.
Now, into this mess a messenger comes with the news that the daughter is dead. Jesus insists on going on despite it, tells the grievers, who were probably put off by this stranger showing up and ordering everybody around. Besides, we didn’t make enough casserole for him and his followers. Then he goes into the girl, takes her by the hand raises her and she walks under her own power! Mark at this point adds a parenthetic detail, that she was twelve years old. Which means she was of age, probably already in menses. And here we are again, with Jesus touching females, this time a girl of the age to make him unclean and to upset her overprotective brothers and the family rabbi.
When we pray for Jesus to heal our loved ones, how many of us consider the identity of this Jesus we are praying to? Are we expecting a nice comforting solution to our problems that will make them all go away, or are we asking for God’s presence to come rolling into our lives, knocking down all our preconceptions and leaving us with God’s truth, which sometimes is kind of rough to swallow?
Miracles aren’t vaccinations that will make all the bad stuff go away. Miracles are moments when God’s power acts in ways that bounce us out of the ruts of normality. Sometimes these aberrations of the natural order seem to be lovely blessings that warm us and make the world less fierce. But sometimes these acts of God are too much, they shatter not only the natural order, but they leave us with a new order, that doesn’t necessarily match what we’re used to. Hearing about miracles from a distance, filtered by faith’s perspective helps make them wonderful. Living through them is not necessarily so comfortable.
Christmas for us is a wonder and a glory. For Mary and Joseph, it was a train wreck. But that wreckage was full of the intrusion of God’s messages of love and grace and power. Mark made sure his readers knew that Jesus wasn’t in this to pat everyone and send them on their way with all their limitations, expectations, and small ideas in order.
Jesus came to proclaim the kingdom of God. Those excluded will be included. The poor will inherit the earth. Even the dead shall rise. And none of our limits will stand in the way of our Lord.
* * *
In Spite Of
by C. David McKirachan
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
One of the hardest categories of issues to confront with a congregation are the ‘in spite of’s’. In spite of their willingness to care about each other, to be good to each other, even to forgive each other, getting them to open themselves to the suffering of people outside the church family is a different issue. Getting their wallets open for mission giving and mission work, going on mission trips, paying attention to those beyond their neighborhood is an uphill battle.
As Paul said to the Corinthian church, they ‘excel in everything in faith, utterance, knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us – see that you excel in this gracious work also.’
Money is always a difficult topic to work on, but mission giving, and mission work is even harder. Sidewalks, HVAC updates, sound systems, roof work, parking lot lighting, a new organ, and even when the right kind of pressure is applied, compensation packages for the staff; these items, though difficult get discussed, fought over, and with the expected amount of groaning get done. But where are the refugee camps on that list? There’s a phrase that gets dropped when ‘the least of these’ come up, ‘Hey, first things first.’ It has always been hard for me to remember our Lord’s commandment to love one another when that egg gets laid. At that point, I tend to start spouting scriptures. Which is the Christian version of calling people names. My preaching professor would stand up proclaiming, “Eisegesis! Eisegesis!”
Paul wasn’t manipulating the Corinthians when he told them they were gifted. He saw their gifts and appreciated how their spiritual gifts had changed them and the community. He appreciated them. In short, he loved them. That was hard to remember when they were being idiotic. But loving them couldn’t stop when he ran into something he didn’t like. He had to love them anyway.
This lesson came into focus for me when I became a parent of a two-year-old. Infants are dependent creatures. Our job as parents is to feed, clean, and stimulate the senses of this proto human being. But a two-year-old is learning how to get around at speed and is developing curiosity and absolutely no conscience. They get interested in something and they don’t worry about pain, blood, financial or physical damage to themselves or anyone else. Their favorite words are ‘No!’ and ‘Mine!’ I’ve known adults who have maintained such personality traits, and I do my best to avoid them. But that choice is not on the agenda of a parent. Difficult though these small sociopaths may be, they are our children, and we are tasked with bringing them through this time of life without too many scars, and as we journey along the bumpy road teaching them to be human beings rather than savages (although four-year-olds aren’t a lot of fun and we won’t discuss adolescents right now). Our job is to love them in spite of their behavior.
The memories I have of these years with my children do not deny the moments when I wasn’t sure about my ability to survive their childhood. But those are not the moments that are precious. Those are the toughest moments. And they have lost their bite. What I remember most are the moments of giggles, learning, wonder, walks, singing, hugs, and of course, the blessed peace of naps.
It is hard during church wars to maintain our roles as the non-anxious presence of Christ when we are surrounded by people who call themselves Christian and conveniently forget the teachings of Jesus, Christians saying, ‘first things first’ and forgetting our Lord on the cross. But I’ve learned to ask questions instead of trying to bludgeon them into submission. ‘What do you think Jesus would want us to do?’ is a good one.
But ultimately, whatever strategy we may employ, it is up to us to keep them in our hearts and pray for them constantly, knowing that they are beloved children of God, as are we.
And God forgives us when we wish we could send them into the corner for a time out.
*****************************************
StoryShare, June 27, 2021 issue.
Copyright 2021 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
“No Limitations” by C. David McKirachan
“In Spite Of” by C. David McKirachan
No Limitations
by C. David McKirachan
Mark 5:21-43
Mark presented a portrait of Jesus that showed a Christ who moved into situations with action, often upsetting the expected. Many times, Christ’s actions did not bring comfort or peace.
When we think of Jesus performing miracles of healing, we think of people being relieved as much as they were astonished. In these accounts, Jesus violated laws as he healed. He upset the expectations of nice, acceptable, good people and in some ways left difficult results in the wake of his actions.
The ruler of the synagogue who came asking Jesus to heal his child did so in a manner that would denigrate his own position and authority. Jesus had a reputation as something of a heretic, not necessarily someone a person of religious authority should be groveling in the dirt in front of to ask for a favor. Then he asks this itinerant preacher to lay his hands on his little girl. First, Jairus is going through this for a child and a female child to boot. And he asks Jesus to lay his hands on her. If Jesus is a man of the torah, to lay his hands on a sick, female child would make him unclean. Jairus is totally out of line asking for this. What will his critics say after Jesus is gone?
Mark then jumps to the situation with the woman who seeks to be healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ robe. She is obviously not a woman who pays attention to God’s law. She knows the injunctions about requiring ritual purification after coming anywhere near blood, let alone a man and a woman being near each other when the woman is bleeding. There are so many laws shattered by this woman’s behavior, behavior that would demand that Jesus attend to his own cleansing unless he wishes to pollute all he touches. When it became known how she was healed, her reputation as a good woman would be unsupportable and the miracle itself would be polluted. That is not considering that this woman would have been ostracized by her community for being unclean for twelve years. At that point, she had no reputation as a good woman. If Jesus were touched by such a woman, he would be suspect to begin with. It’s called a mess.
Now, into this mess a messenger comes with the news that the daughter is dead. Jesus insists on going on despite it, tells the grievers, who were probably put off by this stranger showing up and ordering everybody around. Besides, we didn’t make enough casserole for him and his followers. Then he goes into the girl, takes her by the hand raises her and she walks under her own power! Mark at this point adds a parenthetic detail, that she was twelve years old. Which means she was of age, probably already in menses. And here we are again, with Jesus touching females, this time a girl of the age to make him unclean and to upset her overprotective brothers and the family rabbi.
When we pray for Jesus to heal our loved ones, how many of us consider the identity of this Jesus we are praying to? Are we expecting a nice comforting solution to our problems that will make them all go away, or are we asking for God’s presence to come rolling into our lives, knocking down all our preconceptions and leaving us with God’s truth, which sometimes is kind of rough to swallow?
Miracles aren’t vaccinations that will make all the bad stuff go away. Miracles are moments when God’s power acts in ways that bounce us out of the ruts of normality. Sometimes these aberrations of the natural order seem to be lovely blessings that warm us and make the world less fierce. But sometimes these acts of God are too much, they shatter not only the natural order, but they leave us with a new order, that doesn’t necessarily match what we’re used to. Hearing about miracles from a distance, filtered by faith’s perspective helps make them wonderful. Living through them is not necessarily so comfortable.
Christmas for us is a wonder and a glory. For Mary and Joseph, it was a train wreck. But that wreckage was full of the intrusion of God’s messages of love and grace and power. Mark made sure his readers knew that Jesus wasn’t in this to pat everyone and send them on their way with all their limitations, expectations, and small ideas in order.
Jesus came to proclaim the kingdom of God. Those excluded will be included. The poor will inherit the earth. Even the dead shall rise. And none of our limits will stand in the way of our Lord.
* * *
In Spite Of
by C. David McKirachan
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
One of the hardest categories of issues to confront with a congregation are the ‘in spite of’s’. In spite of their willingness to care about each other, to be good to each other, even to forgive each other, getting them to open themselves to the suffering of people outside the church family is a different issue. Getting their wallets open for mission giving and mission work, going on mission trips, paying attention to those beyond their neighborhood is an uphill battle.
As Paul said to the Corinthian church, they ‘excel in everything in faith, utterance, knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us – see that you excel in this gracious work also.’
Money is always a difficult topic to work on, but mission giving, and mission work is even harder. Sidewalks, HVAC updates, sound systems, roof work, parking lot lighting, a new organ, and even when the right kind of pressure is applied, compensation packages for the staff; these items, though difficult get discussed, fought over, and with the expected amount of groaning get done. But where are the refugee camps on that list? There’s a phrase that gets dropped when ‘the least of these’ come up, ‘Hey, first things first.’ It has always been hard for me to remember our Lord’s commandment to love one another when that egg gets laid. At that point, I tend to start spouting scriptures. Which is the Christian version of calling people names. My preaching professor would stand up proclaiming, “Eisegesis! Eisegesis!”
Paul wasn’t manipulating the Corinthians when he told them they were gifted. He saw their gifts and appreciated how their spiritual gifts had changed them and the community. He appreciated them. In short, he loved them. That was hard to remember when they were being idiotic. But loving them couldn’t stop when he ran into something he didn’t like. He had to love them anyway.
This lesson came into focus for me when I became a parent of a two-year-old. Infants are dependent creatures. Our job as parents is to feed, clean, and stimulate the senses of this proto human being. But a two-year-old is learning how to get around at speed and is developing curiosity and absolutely no conscience. They get interested in something and they don’t worry about pain, blood, financial or physical damage to themselves or anyone else. Their favorite words are ‘No!’ and ‘Mine!’ I’ve known adults who have maintained such personality traits, and I do my best to avoid them. But that choice is not on the agenda of a parent. Difficult though these small sociopaths may be, they are our children, and we are tasked with bringing them through this time of life without too many scars, and as we journey along the bumpy road teaching them to be human beings rather than savages (although four-year-olds aren’t a lot of fun and we won’t discuss adolescents right now). Our job is to love them in spite of their behavior.
The memories I have of these years with my children do not deny the moments when I wasn’t sure about my ability to survive their childhood. But those are not the moments that are precious. Those are the toughest moments. And they have lost their bite. What I remember most are the moments of giggles, learning, wonder, walks, singing, hugs, and of course, the blessed peace of naps.
It is hard during church wars to maintain our roles as the non-anxious presence of Christ when we are surrounded by people who call themselves Christian and conveniently forget the teachings of Jesus, Christians saying, ‘first things first’ and forgetting our Lord on the cross. But I’ve learned to ask questions instead of trying to bludgeon them into submission. ‘What do you think Jesus would want us to do?’ is a good one.
But ultimately, whatever strategy we may employ, it is up to us to keep them in our hearts and pray for them constantly, knowing that they are beloved children of God, as are we.
And God forgives us when we wish we could send them into the corner for a time out.
*****************************************
StoryShare, June 27, 2021 issue.
Copyright 2021 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
