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Sermon for Evensong
- 23rd June 2013
Mark 5: 21-end
As some of you know, I am very much a beginner when it comes
to computers; so I am. One of the things a friend did was very
new to me. He set a programme merrily on its way and then started
another one on top of it. I didn't know before then that a computer
could actually do several things at once. Multi-tasking, something
Janet tells me women are better at than men! We won't go there
…
Just like my computer running
a 'programme on top of a programme', so this reading is a story
and contains another story within the story. We could spend a
while looking at both stories, but we can't do both at the same
time, unlike the computer.
So we are going to consider
the story that starts this passage, which is returned to at the
end of it - the healing of Jairus's daughter.
There are all the elements
of tragedy here. It s always tragic when a child is ill. The
story tells us that this ruler of the Synagogue's daughter was
12 years of age. According to Jewish custom a girl became a woman
at 12 years and 1 day. This girl then, was just on the threshold
of womanhood - her adult life in front of her - and yet it was
ending doubly tragic.
The story tells us something
about Jairus. He must have been someone of considerable importance.
The ruler of the Synagogue was its administrative head. He was
the president of the board of elders responsible for the good
management of the synagogue. Sort of Churchwardens! The ruler
of the synagogue was one of the most important and respected
men in the community. But despite his importance, something 'happened'
to him when his daughter fell ill and he thought of Jesus.
1) His prejudices were forgotten.
I am sure he would have regarded Jesus as an outsider, a dangerous
heretic, one to whom the synagogue doors were rightly closed,
and anyone who really valued his orthodoxy would do well to avoid.
He was, however, a big enough man to abandon his prejudices in
his hour of need. Prejudice really means a 'judging beforehand'.
It is interesting that down the centuries, nearly every step
forward has had to fight against initial prejudice.
2) Secondly, in his hour of
need, this Ruler of the Synagogue forgot his 'dignity'. The ruler
of the Synagogue came and threw himself at the feet of Jesus,
a wandering teacher.
3) Thirdly his pride was forgotten.
It must have taken a conscious effort of humiliation for this
ruler of the Synagogue to come and ask for help from Jesus of
Nazareth. None of us, if we are honest, wants to be indebted
to someone else; we would like to run life on our own. The very
first step of the Christian life is to realise that we cannot
do anything other than be indebted to God.
4) Fourthly, and here we may
be speculating a bit, but it seems that in this situation Jairus's
'friends' were forgotten. Maybe, they objected to him calling
in Jesus - anyone but Jesus, may well have been their thought.
It seems unlikely that
someone in the high office that Jairus held, would come himself
to Jesus and not summon Jesus using a messenger. Surely he would
not willingly leave his daughter when she was on the point of
death. Maybe then, he went to Jesus himself, because no-one else
would go. So perhaps, he was defying public opinion and advice
in calling in help from Jesus.
Here was a man who forgot 'everything'
except that he wanted the help of Jesus; and because of that
forgetfulness he would remember for ever that Jesus is a Saviour.
The story changes in this Gospel
passage to another healing miracle, but then returns to the story
of Jairus and his daughter.
Jewish mourning customs were
vivid and detailed, and practically all of them were designed
to stress the desolation and the final separation of death. The
triumphant victorious hope of the Christian faith was totally
absent; instead wailing and weeping and tearing their hair and
rending their garments. It was to that backdrop which Jesus went,
when he went to that house where she lay.
Jesus arrives and simply says
to the girl, "Talitha Coum" - the English translation
of the Aramaic being "Maid Arise". Yes, a wee bit
of Aramaic in the Greek of the Gospels. Scholars are pretty
sure there is only one reason - Mark, who wrote this Gospel,
got the information from Peter. Peter would have been there,
one of the inner circle, he had seen this.
happen. And he could never forget Jesus' voice. Surely he would
remember those gentle words "Talitha Coum" all his
life.
This passage is one of contrasts
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1) There is the contrast between
the despair of the mourners and the hope of Jesus. "Don't
bother the Teacher", they said, "There's nothing anyone
can do now". "Don't be afraid", said Jesus, "only
believe". In the one place it is the voice of despair that
speaks; in the other the voice of hope.
2) There is the contrast between the unrestrained distress of
the mourners and the calm serenity of Jesus. They were wailing
and weeping and tearing their hair and rending their garments
in a time of distress; he was calm, and quiet, and serene and
in control.
Why this difference? It was due to Jesus' perfect confidence
and trust in God. The worst human disaster can be met with courage
and gallantry when we meet it with God. They laughed him to scorn
because they thought his hope was groundless and his calm mistaken.
But the great fact of the Christian life is that what looks completely
impossible with men is possible with God. They laughed him to
scorn, but their laughter must have turned to amazed wonder when
they realised what God can do. There is nothing beyond facing,
and their is nothing beyond conquest - not even death - when
it is faced and conquered in the love of God which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
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