GOOD NEWS INDEED

We have just a short bit to read and think about today. It is a nice change. On Saturday we read all of chapter 6, in part to help you get the sweep of what was going on as the religious of the day began mounting their campaign against Jesus. Their determination will continue, but I pray you will keep the issues of Sabbath, Community, and Law in front of you.

Today we have two stories of healing…powerful stories…powerful for the faith shown by a Centurion….powerful because Jesus’ healing power is displayed first by his healing with a physical distance between he and the person sick…and then his healing power is displayed over a greater difference…as he reaches across the abyss of life and death, returning a once dead son to his mother.

If you have not read through the portion of chapter 7 we are pondering today, take some time to do so now, and then consider some of my thoughts which are after the text.

Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant

7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. ² Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. ³ When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. ⁴ And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, ⁵ for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” ⁶ And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.⁷ Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. ⁸ For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”⁹ When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” ¹⁰ And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

Jesus Raises a Widow's Son

¹¹ Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. ¹² As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. ¹³ And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” ¹⁴ Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” ¹⁵ And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. ¹⁶ Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” ¹⁷ And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

Remarkable stories…the Centurion’s faith is always impressive…even after reading this many times…but Jesus is more so. In the text we can see the people making the request know they are breaking cultural norms…asking a Jew to assist a Roman. Remarkably for them, Jesus does not bat an eye, he simply and powerfully heals.

Then of course there is a dead corpse begin carried for burial. The scene is no doubt chaotic. Try and picture the scenes we see on TV from the Middle East when a young man has died suddenly (all too often from violence…we do not know how this young man died)…the scene is usually a crowed street with a coffin on shoulders. People are wailing, yelling…people are being pushed and shoved…the pain in visible…this is the scene Jesus enters. What next, well he reaches up and touches the brier (the frame the coffin is carried on)…and when he does I am imagining that everything…all the noise…all the wailing…all the commotion stops!

The young man is brought back to this world…Jesus hands the young man to his mother…I imagine a large smile…and then in an instant the scene erupts…erupts in joy.

These stories have “happy endings.” Not all stories do…but Jesus a few chapters ago announced he was here to bring Good News…we will learn more about that in the coming chapters, but he seems to be starting with the us in a very obvious way…for in Capernaum and Nain that day…even the biggest skeptic…even the coldest heart…must have paused and thought…Good News indeed.

Where are you with this Jesus? Sometimes we don’t have enough happy endings. Sometimes we struggle with situations in our lives, and the lives of those around us. Life can be tough. Following Jesus does not turn our lives into a movie, the ending of which is “they all lived happily ever after” (at least not in this world). So I wonder where you are as you read this entry. If you are in one of those tough places, I’m sorry about that. But if you are, then I would ask you allow the joy of others into your heart—picture the mothers face as Jesus hands down her son alive into her arms. It won’t replace your hurt or questions, but it will allow your heart to feel a bit of what maybe it has been missing. Experiencing joy for others amid our troubles takes a bit of effort, we even shy away from it because we fear it will heighten our pain, but in the end, letting it in to your heart can be a good.