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Written by Everett J. Bassett
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Sunday, 05 March 2006 |
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Matthew 9: 18-34
In the scripture readings for today, Jesus is asked to do some remarkable things. He is asked, first of all, to raise a young girl who had died. Then he is approached by a woman who has had a bleeding disease for twelve years, who believes Jesus can heal her. Then it is two blind men, believing he can restore their sight. And finally a man who is possessed by a demon who makes him mute. In each case, Jesus has the power to do what he is asked to do.
That is a theme running through this whole part of the Gospel- Jesus is able to do what is required of him to bring God's grace fully into the world for the people before him. It is the question this whole series of miracles turns on - the one he asked the two blind men: Do you believe that I am able to do this? They say Yes, and that very affirmation signified the faith that restored their sight.
Miracles are so much a part of the Gospel stories that we have grown to take them for granted. There are, of course, many who don't believe in the biblical miracles, because they don't accept that Jesus is who the Bible says he is. But among those who do believe the stories, miracles are so much a part of who Jesus is, that we hardly give them a second thought. Who is Jesus? The one who turned the water into wine; who walked on water; who calmed the storm; who fed the five thousand; and so on. He healed people, he drove out demons, and he raised people from the dead. Finally, he was at the center of the greatest miracle of all- the miracle of Easter, when he rose from the dead and conquered death forever.
But those stories are so interwoven into our faith that we might begin to lose the wonder of them. Of course Jesus could do those things. He is, after all, Jesus. Those first witnesses, though, could only shake their heads in disbelief: in today's scripture, we're told that some said, "Never has anything like this been seen in Israel." And others accused him of being satanic.
But it seems to me that I can't recall many Christian believers who questioned the ability of Jesus to do these miracles. This is the Son of God, after all - ruler of nature, demons, disease, and yes, of death. He is able to do all things.
What I have seen questioned often is why this doesn't make a bigger difference in the world. If Jesus can do all things, then why aren't all things perfect? Why doesn't he just fix the problems, instead of allowing greed and prejudice and violence to prevail? Why doesn't the world reflect more of the miracles Jesus performed?
Our faith answers that question in at least two ways. First of all, there is the matter of free will. The world is messed up because God opted not to make us into puppets. He made us, instead, into human people with the freedom, if we choose, to totally foul up the world. And to just "fix it" the way we sometimes want the Lord to do would be to destroy the free choice within us - even the choice to do bad things.
But the second way our faith answers the question of why more miracles aren't changing the world, is to remind us that, in fact, they are. Miracles are happening every day, and are changing the world - not in the spectacular sweeping fashion of the clouds opening up - but rather in the quiet, subtle goodness of grace at work in and around people. The thing is, the miracles we see in today's scripture lesson are in a section of the Gospel of Matthew when Jesus is teaching us about what it means to be an apostle - a messenger for God in this world. In that context, the point of these miracle stories is not simply that Jesus the Son of God has the power to do miracles and change the world; the point is that you and I can do those things. Or, more accurately, Jesus can now do those things through you and me. Jesus is able to do these things, and because of that, we apostles of Jesus are able as well.
In three weeks, a group of recently returned travelers is going to tell you about the remarkable experiences we had on the mission trip to the Gulf coast this past week - so I don't want to steal too much thunder. But, at the same time, it is impossible to talk about what God is able to do through his apostles without talking about the trip - because the whole journey we took was about the miraculous power of God to make great things happen in the presence of faith, compassion, and dedication.
We saw, for example, how fourteen very unique personalities can gel into a great team; how about forty people can live practically on top of each other in a retreat center, and find common ground in their devotion to Christ, and their desire to serve him in a situation of great need. We saw people take on tasks that they had never done before - didn't know they could do. We saw people do impossible jobs together - we had a few tons of discarded roofing shingles to move off one of our host lady's yard. There were too many of them - it couldn't be done - Pat Michael and Sharon Bassett worked all one afternoon with wheelbarrows and tough gloves - and could hardly make a dent in the huge pile - one of several piles that needed to be cleaned up. Today, those shingles are gone and that yard is clean - and I imagine in three weeks you'll see pictures of that miracle. The thing is, we were able beyond anything we could possibly imagine - by the power of God at work.
And that is only one side of the coin. The other side is the miracle of the people we met -- people who are picking up and continuing on with their lives after the devastation of Hurricane Rita. A couple of the houses we were working on would be judged uninhabitable at first glance - the damage is too great. Yet people are keeping on keeping on. We had Ash Wednesday service with people whose United Methodist church was devastated; whose parsonage was gutted by a surge of floodwater. And that church has held the community together for the last six months, with a pastor who doesn't have an ounce of quit in her. One man who has lost his home and is living in a FEMA trailer told me, in matter of fact terms, of what had happened to him and his family, and then simply, "But you know, when I look at the whole picture of what the Lord has done since the storm happened - I don't have a complaint in the world."
Now how do you listen to a testimony of faith like that and not walk away believing in miracles and hope and a conviction in the deepest part of your heart that God's people are able to do amazing things by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ?
In our church, we are in the middle of a Miracle Sunday campaign, to eliminate the church debt, and free us for future growth. When we look at the number we need to raise, it can appear un-doable. We need many more gifts, great and small, to make it. We've never raised that kind of money before. But God has, and I believe God will work in enough hearts of people who are devoted to teaching children and youth about Christ, sending people out in mission, and seeing this church continue its ministry for Christ, that a miracle will happen! We'll celebrate a successful campaign. Christ is able; and because of that, Christ's apostles are able.
Now what about you? When is the last time you celebrated the miracles happening around you? When is the last time you rejoiced that through Jesus, you are able to do great things, things that make a great difference in this world. Perhaps you don't feel very powerful today. You may have something in front of you that feels impossible on the surface. But you and God are a powerful team; and I truly believe you have not yet begun to fully realize the power God has placed within you, provided that power is used for kindness and love and sharing God's Word.
There is a story about two brothers who worked together to bring grain in from the field, and then split it down the middle in their barn. One bother had a family with many children; the other was single. In the night, the single brother would say, "My brother has all those mouths to feed. I can give him more grain." So he would secretly go out in the dark and move some of his grain to his brother's side of the barn. Meanwhile his brother thought, "I have many children to take care of me in my old age. But my brother has nobody." And he secretly moved grain to his brother's side of the barn. Both men woke up to discover a miracle. They had given grain away, and it was replenished every morning. And that's just the way God does it. Love is the miracle that keeps replenishing itself. We discovered that again and again on our trip; and it's happening every day - by the grace of God, we are able.
May this time together around the Lord's table nourish us for the great things God has in mind for us. May each one of us take strength for the journey, not only for the miracles we will witness, but for those millions of unseen miracles that will happen because we are faithful apostles, putting out seeds of love for the sake of Jesus, who gave his body and blood for us.
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