God's Will For Healing January 29, 2006 Epiphany 4

First: read the passage. Mark 1:21-28

We’re reading from the gospel of Mark this year. Everything happens quickly in Mark! Think of the story so far. There’s no birth story in Mark. Jesus bursts onto the scene as an adult. Jesus is baptized only nine verses into the first chapter. By the 14th verse, the temptation by Satan is over. In the next verse, Jesus summarizes the entire gospel: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." Only five verses later, Jesus has called four disciples. And we’re only 20 verses into the very first chapter!

To match this incredibly fast pace of events, the gospel writer uses urgent words, often. For instance, in the story so far: the Spirit immediately drove [Jesus] out into the wilderness. (verse 12) “The time is fulfilled…” (verse 15) And immediately [the two men] left their nets and followed [Jesus]. (verse 18) Immediately he called [two others] … (verse 20)

Now we come to this morning’s story – still only 21 verses into the first chapter of Mark! Notice the continuing urgency. They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God."

Do you remember how the story goes from there? It’s a violent encounter! The Greek word is translated, “rebuked.” It’s a word conveying the strongest confrontation and opposition. But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. Jesus says to the forces of evil, “‘Shut up!’ You have no right to speak in God’s creation! I am the Word of God!”

According to the story, God’s will is for healing. Indeed, here’s what happens, not only in this story, but in all the healing stories in Mark: Because of Jesus’ authority, people act immediately! The sick are healed. Those separated from God are brought back into fellowship. Grace is given. Heaven breaks in and destroys evil.

Now, let me ask you about your experience. Is it all that straightforward? Does healing come immediately, as it’s portrayed in this story?

Think of when you or a loved one are desperately in need of healing. Isn’t it excruciatingly difficult to wait for healing? (A profound spiritual blessing is to be given patience in suffering.) You and I pray for healing, wondering when healing will come, and what that healing will be.

It’s not just physical healing. I encountered someone recently who went through an emotional trauma two years ago, and she is as bad now as she was then. Indeed, I would guess that she’s even worse – because now she’s stuck, calcified in her anguish.

It’s not just physical and emotional healing. There are countless people who have been wounded by the images of God that they were taught as children, who are in need of spiritual healing, so that they can be released to be open to the God who only wants to love us, and to hold us in arms of love and forgiveness and grace. God’s will is for healing.

Is healing a straight-line progression? Of course not! You know the experience of being sky-high on days when there’s been significant progress, and then down in the dumps on days when there have been set-backs. Healing often seems to come haltingly, as we pray for patience in suffering.

And how does healing come? Can you and I be open to healing that does not include a physical cure?

Openness is crucial. It is an openness to what God is doing. We see that, in a startling way, in the story. Notice: who recognizes who Jesus is, and what God is doing through Jesus? It is the unclean spirit who has possessed the man! The unclean spirit speaks for all forces of evil when he says, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God."

Contrast that clarity with the bewilderment and perplexity of those who were in the synagogue. Here’s what we read: that they are astounded at Jesus’ teaching. That they are amazed at Jesus’ actions. We read, They [keep] on asking one another, “What is this?” They have no idea!

What about you and me? (That’s the question that’s raised, by every story we read in any of the gospels!) In this case, this morning, the story asks: Do you and I have any idea what God is doing, while we are waiting and praying and hoping for healing? Are we open to what God is doing?

If not, that’s ok. God knows that there is much that is beyond us. We receive the grace to wait, in openness to what God is doing.

God’s will is for healing. But it’s not according to our schedule, or even according to our definition of what healing is. That’s what is so hard.

Let’s practice a prayer of openness. This is a prayer that assumes God’s prayer: that God is praying for all who are in need, and so, our openness is to God’s will.

This will last for four or five minutes, so put any books or purses off to the side, off your lap.

Sit up straight, but in a relaxed way, so you won’t have to adjust your posture after a couple of minutes.

Hold you hands in a posture of openness to God. Turn them palm upwards, in your lap; or cradle one hand in the other, palms up.

Take a full breath. Inhale, hold it for a beat or two, and then exhale at half the speed of your inhale. Do that again… Do that a third time … Now, breathe fully and evenly …

This will be a prayer of openness, of listening.

Now: think of a person who is in need of healing. (Perhaps the person is yourself!) …

In your prayer to our God, ask:

“What is your prayer for __________?”

“What would you have me do?”

“What must I let go, to be part of your prayer?”

Listen …

…

In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.


Pastor Andy Ballentine
St. Stephen Lutheran Church
Williamsburg, Virginia