Feb. 9, 2003
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Mindekirken - Feb. 9, 2003 The Campaign Start Mark 1:29-39 One of the greatest theater experiences I have ever had was to see and hear the actor Svein Tindberg on stage. He had a monologue for a couple of hours. A small table, a candle and a simple chair were the only props. The text was the gospel of Mark, every single word from beginning to end. The performance was a great success. Thousands of people came and saw and heard, and everybody was fascinated. It tells much about Svein Tindberg as an actor, but even more about Mark as a storywriter. Probably he was the translator of Peter, Acts 12:25. His story has a lot of details, it’s colorful and has a lot of action. Jesus is the powerful wonder-doer, the Son of God. Last Sunday, we heard that Jesus attended the service at the synagogue, and expelled an unclean spirit. Today, we join in the company at the church coffee after the service. It was not in the Fellowship Hall, but at home with the new disciples Peter and Andrew. The brothers had grown up in the small town Bethseda, a little father east. But Peter had married, and moved in with his mother-in-law. That’s what I would call a project of faith. But he had secured support by getting his brother Andrew to live under the same roof. Today, we hear that Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. Witty tongues have said that that’s why Peter later denied Jesus. But the fact is that this text opens the door into a big family with some beautiful characteristics. We might imagine that the sick mother-in-law was glad when she heard her people coming home from the service. Now it wasn’t church coffee, but the main meal of the day that was to be served. There was always a nice meal on the Sabbath. Therefore, it was a sad thing that the mother-in-law couldn’t serve them as she normally would have done. Even more sad, because Jesus was the honored guest that day. But Jesus didn’t complain. He went in to see the sick one. In the book of Job, we read about his terrible sickbed. His three good friends came and sat by him for seven days and nights. None of them said a word, because they saw how he suffered. Sometimes, just sitting beside a sick one might be the best that we can do. In other situations, a short visit and some good words may be appropriate to make the sick person feel that he’s taken care of. Care may be shown by flowers or a greeting card, or maybe a call would be preferred. I was sick, and you took care of me, Jesus says in Matt 25:36. In today’s text, Jesus is the one who takes care of the sick. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. The five left her, and she was healed, then and there. I have often wondered how much it must have cost the nearest families when Jesus called his disciples to leave the fishing boats, and tax station, and follow him When the Vikings set off on fearful sea journeys, the men were away for months. It must have been a time of missing, and hardship for those who were staying home. I also think of those who a hundred years ago went north for fishing in small boasts, not to forget husbands who went to America to seek a better future for themselves and their families. Maybe he would be able to mail money back home the next year so the wife and children could come join him. Or how might it be for someone these days to know that the spouse is sent to a possible war against Iraq? The episode with Peter’s mother-in-law is important, because it shows the care that Jesus had for those who were left at home. The great mission campaign of Galilee is to be launched. Jesus gathers the troops and completes the preparations. And in the middle of this, he has time for a woman who’s not going to participate. It says that Jesus healed her, and she served them. In other words, she was made able to work again. And that was, in the long run, more important than food getting put on the table right there and then. It would have been nice to hear more about this. Peter’s wife had surely had sleepless nights when he was out on the sea fishing in bad weather. And honestly, I don’t think the worry was any less for the family who saw a husband, father or son leave with Jesus to be fishers of men. Mark notes that Jesus’ family was very concerned for him. They said He has gone out of his mind, Mark 3:21. And when they would come to the door and meet with him, he wouldn’t even talk to them, Mark 3:31-35. With this background, it is a wonderful story about the closest family to Peter that we hear today. Jesus cares for those who are at home. You know, some people use all of their gunpowder away from home, and are too exhausted to do anything at home. Some pay attention and care for everyone else besides their own family. I remember our neighbor in Gjøvik. Her husband was a pastor and had time for everybody else. She felt overlooked. In the end I felt like I should line up outside our door with the others who were waiting to get some counseling from my husband, she complained. Jesus had time for those who were staying at home, too. But the campaign in Galilee with proclaiming the gospel, exorcism and healing had high priority. People came with their sick ones even late in the evening, and constantly try tried to reach new towns. The kingdom of God was near, and people received it. It was a golden opportunity that had to be used. Work before the night comes, as Jesus said in John 9:4. In this connection it looks like Jesus had the family in second place. My true family is those who do the will of God, he said. Mark 3:35. He also said: Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children,…cannot be my disciple Luke 14:26. But we should be careful not to construct a contradiction between seeking the kingdom of God first (Matt. 6:33), and taking care of one’s own family. Paul even asks: If someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? 1 Tim. 3:5 Love and care for our nearest is exactly an expression of what God expects us to do. In today’s text there are more concerns that have to be taken into consideration. The outreach evangelism, the care of the family and even the responsibility to take care of oneself. Jesus almost got exhausted. But the text shows us that he also cared about himself. He went by himself. He spent time in prayer. He was concerned about relaxing and replenishing. He protected some of the day’s hours, or was it the night’s? Jesus went out when it still was very dark. What he experienced in the chilly hours before dawn we don’t know. But we may take for granted that the strength in his work also had its sources in the quietness of the lonely hours. It’s told about Luther that he would wake up a couple of hours earlier to pray when he had especially much to do that day. I’m not certain that our own prayer and devotional lives are arranged like that. But we can’t deny that we have to be something for ourselves before we can be something for others. This is about the private closet where we are close to God through the Bible and through prayer. Maybe we also might make a connection to the gathering around word and sacrament on Sunday morning. Here we keep the day of rest holy, and here we get the strength needed for everyday life. God wants to meet us, and he wants to accompany us when we meet others. Glory be to God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen. |
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