TWO MOTHERS — GRIEF TURNS TO JOY

I can close my eyes and see two mothers.  One is standing beside a bed and one is walking beside the bier (A stand on which a corpse or coffin is placed.)  I can see two women tense with grief.  I can see the tears and hear their sobs.  Grief is visible and thick in the air in that room and the air surrounding the funeral procession.   

 DON’T BE AFRAID; JUST BELIEVE

A father, full of fear, searched for Jesus, as a mother stood beside the bed of their daughter.  Her heart was breaking, as her daughter lay there, still and not moving.  So many unknowns as time seemed to stand still.  Would her husband get there in time?  Would he find Jesus?  Would Jesus agree to help? 

When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake.  Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet.  He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying.  Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. 

While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader.  “Your daughter is dead,” they said.  “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

 

Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

 

Mark 5:22-24, 35-36

 

A father, full of fear, hears hope in Jesus’ voice.  A father leads Jesus to his home. 

 

When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.  He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing?  The child is not dead but asleep.”  But they laughed at him. 

A mother sees them coming and then hears Jesus say the child is not dead.  Only asleep.  Then why could they not rouse the child?  Why had the child not heard their voices calling her?  But Jesus sounds so sure.  Could it be?  Is there hope?

After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was.  He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).  Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old).  At this they were completely astonished.  He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Mark 5:38-43

 

In a gentle voice, Jesus spoke two words, “Talitha Koum!”  In less than a breath, a worried, grief-stricken heart leaps with joy.  SHE LIVES! 

DON’T CRY

Each step was hard.  First her husband and now her son.  Yes, she was surrounded by a large crowd and she appreciated the support, but they would all go home.  She would go home to an empty house.  Her life has changed and she fears the change.  It was hard enough to be a widow, but she had a son to provide for her.  Who would provide now?  How would she survive?  And grief and fear made each step hard as she kept up with bier.

Who was this man approaching her dead son? 

Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.  As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.  And a large crowd from the town was with her.  When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

 

Luke 7:11-13 

Don’t cry?  Had this man ever had to say goodbye to a son?  And why is he touching the bier?

Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still.  He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”  The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Luke 7:14-15

This man commanded my son to get up and he did.  My dead son sat up and began to talk.  The great compassion of Jesus gave me back my son.  And grief left her heart and was replaced with joy.  MY SON IS ALIVE!!

TWO MOTHERS – GRIEF TURNS TO JOY

I can close my eyes and see two mothers.  One is feeding a daughter and one is celebrating the return of her son from the dead.  Two women who are no longer tense with grief or sobbing.  The air now contains great joy. 

And I see Jesus walking away.  He was not believed and he was laughed at.  Those mourning were confused as to why this man stopped the processional.  I know why.  Because Jesus had great compassion for two mothers.

We will have grief.  Our loved ones are not always healed.  Life does not always go the way we want it to.  And we will not understand why and we will have tears and we will be tense with grief.  During those times, remember Jesus has great compassion and will walk through this grief with you as you hold your loved one in your very soul.  And your loved one waits to share eternity.

THAT GUY NAMED JOHN

I am not a fashion plate.  Far from it.  I had purged my closet right before Covid hit, fully intending to go shopping.  I am not a shopper and put it off a bit too long.  The store I liked closed.  I have tried to find another store, but have not.  I have ordered online but more items are returned than kept.  I like jeans and comfortable blouses.  I am not a fashion diva!!!

But at least I don’t live in the wilderness and wander around in clothes made of camel hair and a leather belt.  And no way am I giving up pizza for locusts and wild honey.  Who is this guy named John?

CLIFF NOTES: The daddy, Zechariah, was a priest doing a really important job when out of nowhere, Gabriel appears.  The angel tells Zechariah that he and Elizabeth are going to have a baby.  Zechariah questioned the angel.  That was a mistake.  Gabriel took offense and made him so he couldn’t talk.  Sure enough, nine months later a bouncing baby boy was born.  Oh, did I tell you that they were both elderly?

A baby boy is born and much to everyone’s surprise, Zechariah speaks and says to name him John.  Zechariah made up for lost time and extols about his son.

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

And the child grew and became strong in spirit; he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.”

Luke 1:76-80

John did grow up and he began to baptize people.  This drew the attention of the Jewish leaders, who questioned him.

“Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.  He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us.  What do you say about yourself?”

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”

Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.  He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.””

John 1:19-27

Hopefully, you know the story of John the Baptist.  If not, read it.  It is a story of a baby born with a purpose.  John was to prepare the way for Jesus.  He was to tell people that sins could be forgiven.  That a new life could begin so that eternal life could be achieved.  He offered hope as he spread the news of the one coming.

John had a purpose.  He baptized Jesus.

John had a purpose, but so does each of us.  We are all called to spread the news.  We are all called to tell people that there is a man named Jesus.  That Jesus can forgive their sins and offer them salvation.  That through Jesus, God’s tender mercy will shine light in our darkness.  And this light will guide us to the path of peace.

We can offer people the way to find peace and eternal life.  We have a purpose!!  We are not here just to go from day to day.  We have a purpose!!

John had a purpose.  He prepared the way and baptized Jesus.  We have a purpose.  We are to prepare the way so others will be baptized in Jesus’ name.

JESUS TELLS IT LIKE IT IS

Time to use your imagination.  Picture a hill.  A pretty steep hill.  One like you might sled down.  At the bottom of the hill is a flat area.  Can you see it? Add color to the grass and trees and the water.  Now add sound.  Can you hear them?  There are some men standing around.  The disciples are not sure what is going to happen.  They are never sure what Jesus is going to do.  He seems calm.  Jesus is ready to deliver one of his sermons.

Slowly, at first and then in a wave, people are coming over the hill.  They are all chatting.  The disciples cannot understand what they are saying, but they hear Jesus’ name.  As the crowd starts sitting down, the conversations are almost being whispered.  The hill is now covered with people - men, women, children, the very old.  They had heard Jesus was going to be here and they came.  Each had a reason.  Each had a need.  Each had a void in their soul that needed filled.

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down.  His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

Matthew 5:1-2

Jesus turned towards the people.  Every voice was silent.  Every eye was looking at one man.  Every person was focused on one thing: Jesus.

Do you see Jesus walking up the mountainside?  I wonder if people were thinking they either had a good seat or were upset because they were not closer.  Jesus sits down and then his disciples join him.  There would be no sound now.  No whispered conversations.  Were they worried they would not hear him?  Everyone would be waiting for Jesus’ first words.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:3-12

Can you imagine being there as Jesus delivered this sermon?  The disciples had prime seats.  Were they amazed that Jesus’ voice could be so normal yet be heard by every person.

And what did he just say?  Were they confused?  Blessed are the poor in spirit?  Blessed are the meek? Blessed if I am persecuted?  Turn the cheek?  Be perfect?  Do not pray like the hypocrites?  Store up treasures in heaven?  Do not judge?  False prophets and disciples?  A strong foundation?

I wonder if the disciples were confused? Did they listen to Jesus and wonder what he meant?  Did Jesus occasionally look at the disciples with compassion?  I am sure he realized the disciples and people did not understand exactly what he meant.

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Matthew 7:28-29

Put yourself there.  You heard Jesus speak.  You are amazed at his teaching.  You stand up to leave and realize he spoke with authority.  You turn to your friends and ask, “Who is this man? Where does his authority come from?”  Your friends would ask about something Jesus said and that would lead to a discussion that lasted all the way home.

I think the disciples watched as people started to leave and they also wondered about the meaning of the sermon.  Maybe they could question Jesus as they followed him.  They quickly realized there would be no alone time to ask Jesus questions.  Sitting down with him would have to wait.  Not everyone went home.  A large crowd followed Jesus.

Do not fear.  I am not going to put the full Sermon on the Mount here.  You can read it in Matthew 5:1-7:29.  You will not be surprised to know that I do have a couple of questions.

Did Jesus expect everyone to understand the Sermon on the Mount or was the rest of his ministry an example of his words that day?

Did Jesus deliver his message in such a way as to make people question, talk, and open their eyes to the truth?