Pastor T.C. Arnold
12th Sunday after Trinity
Mark 7:31-37
August 30th, 2009
By mid morning I usually have most of what I desire to accomplish in the afternoon solidified. The afternoon during the week for me is occupied with making visits on the sick, the shut-in, perhaps even visitors to our parish-family and also other members. If I happen to “drop by” on an afternoon or evening and ring your door-bell, you can almost be certain the route I took to get to your house was “on the way” to someone else I happened to be visiting. In other words I try to practice good stewardship. If I have a call to make up in Platte City, I usually don’t schedule one down south of the river on the same afternoon. I would rather spend my time in the living-rooms, or beside the hospital beds (whichever the case may be) of our members and friends rather than driving.
In the Gospel text for today, Jesus and His disciples take an interesting route. They were on their way from Tyre (along the Mediterranean) to the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is southeast of Tyre. But instead of heading southeast, Jesus and His Disciples headed north first. They went from Tyre to the region of the Decapolis – on the other side of the Sea of Galilee by way of Sidon. That would be like going from here to Lee’s Summit by way of St. Joseph. It doesn’t seem to make much sense.
And for that reason, “so-called” scholars throughout history have “doubted” that this was the actual route Jesus took to get to the region beyond the Sea of Galilee. But for what reason would it make sense? Here’s the reason: this is what Jesus was all about – a ministry of compassion and love in which He demonstrated to the full.
Jesus would not be where He was (past tense) if He didn’t need to be there. Why did He go all the way up to Sidon from Tyre in order to get to the Decapolis? Why would we need to go to St. Joe in order to get to Lee’s Summit? Perhaps for Jesus it was because this was “the calm before the storm,” so to speak. You see, in the very next chapter Peter makes the great discovery that Jesus is the Christ, and it may well be that it was in this long, lonely time together that that impression became a certainty in Peter’s heart. Jesus may have known that Peter needed that “extra” time to confirm the Lord’s divinity in the disciple that would later deny Him, then confess Him, then minister to the nations about Him, and then die for Him. Jesus would not be where He was if He did not need to be there.
And now, the long journey to the north turns into a “longer” journey to the south. Up to Sidon makes the journey all the way to the region beyond the Sea of Galilee even that much further. Some say that this trip took no less than eight months to complete. How long it took, we really have no idea. But Jesus needed to be where He was. And now He needed to be in that region filled with false idols and sacrilege. He was in that place where He needed to be – the place where there was a man who was deaf and mute.
And what did Jesus do? He took this man aside – away from the crowd. Why? Because to be a deaf and mute person is – at times – an embarrassing thing. One cannot hear if someone is shouting at them from far away. They might seem rude or stuck-up – but they just can’t hear. Also, someone who cannot hear often times have speech problems. Again, this is something else that could be an embarrassment. So, what does Jesus do? He takes the man aside – away from the crowd – away from the looks and the snickers and the chatter among the people – for the sake of the man.
And after taking him away from the crowd Jesus puts spit on his tongue and in his ear and looks to heaven and says, “Ephphatha” which means, “be open.” And His lips were open to speak. His ears were open to hear. Jesus was right where He needed to be. Jesus would not be where He was if He did not need to be there. He needed to be there – for this deaf/mute man. He needed to be there for us.
Jesus was everywhere He needed to be. Jesus IS everywhere He needs to be (present tense). Our Savior Jesus carries out His ministry of love and compassion each day of our life. Each day He is where He needs to be. Each day is a day where His promise comes true for us – “I will be with you always to the very end of the age.” Each day we need our Lord and His promise to be with us – lest we believe that we don’t need our Lord – lest we believe we can navigate this ship of life without a compass.
I pray that that’s not you. Jesus would not be where He is if He didn’t need to be here! But you see – the thing is – He does need to be here and you need Him to be here. You need Him with you always to the very end of the age. And for sure He is.
Do we ever “not” want God to be “with us always?” Perhaps when we are up to no good – a fleeting thought may go through our head, “I just hope that God isn’t watching what I’m doing right now – what I’m thinking. I hope God isn’t too disappointed in me. I hope He forgives me.” Does it ever feel like God is not with you or that His presence is absent from your life? A fleeting thought – or a thought that occurs to us often – “I wonder why God allows such pain and confusion in my life. I wonder why Pastor Arnold keeps on talking about the presence of God each day of my life – every minute of the day of my life – but I continue to struggle.” At times sin causes us to want God far away from us. He is not. At times sin causes us to believe that God is never close to us. He is with us always.
Do not give in to the feelings and thoughts that would cause us to do anything where we might say… “I really hope God is not watching right now.” Step away from those thoughts and feelings and walk down the path of no regret. Do not give in to your feelings and thoughts that cause you to think… “God is never with me. I’m going through to much for Him to actually love me.” God keeps His promises in the good times of life and even in the very bad. He promises to see you through today and each day we ask Him, “Give us ‘this day’ our daily bread.” Everything we need to provide for body – and even more – our soul.
There are times in life that we find ourselves going to Lee’s Summit by way of St. Joseph. Many times we do this not because we necessary thought that was the best route to take, but rather because it just happened to be the route life gave us. But each day our Lord has you right where He needs you. Just like He needed to go from Tyre to Sidon and then to the Decapolis. Jesus would not be where He was if He did not need to be there.
Jesus would not be where He IS if He did not need to be HERE. We need Him each day – every minute of the day. We need Him and that is why He NEEDS to be here and we need Him here. We need Him right where we are – in Platte Woods or in St. Joe or in Lee’s Summit – wherever we happen to be. In the midst of the changes and chances that this life affords – He is right where we need Him to be. His is right there (at the altar in His body and blood). He is right here in this place to give you strength for another day and another week. He is with us, beloved in the Lord, offering you His ministry of love and compassion in a world that seems to need it so desperately.
I started out this sermon by saying that during a regular work week for me – “by mid morning I have my afternoon planned out.” But I can’t tell you how many times my plans have changed. Situations and circumstances take me every which way. It’s never a routine day serving the Lord. Some days happen to take me to St. Joe. Some days, in this walk of life, happen to take you the opposite direction you intended. The Lord is with you wherever you go. Take Him with you. He is your strength and comforter and guide. And by the way, or Lord is the one in charge. He brings you right to where you need to be – back to this place – back to this table. Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.