Luke 9:1-6

     As Chapter nine begins, we see the ministry of Jesus being expanded through the twelve disciples. He called them together and gave them authority to cure diseases and cast out demons and said he was sending them out to preach the kingdom of God and to cure diseases. He told them to bring no luggage with them. They should bring no staff or bag, bread or extra clothing, no money even. If they entered a house, they should stay there and not seek another. If they are not received in an area, they should shake off the dust and move on. So the disciples went out and did what he sent them to do.
     It is clear that Jesus conceived a practical ministry. His disciples were sent not just to preach, but also to heal. It has sometimes been a conversation in the church to determine whether “Mission” should include practical help to an area or should it only proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. Many Christian groups faithfully interpret their mission in either direction. Some restrict their efforts to pure evangelism. Others expand their efforts to hospitals, schools and other practical help. Denominations such as the United Methodist Church tend in this direction and have multiple practical ministries throughout the world. Its United Methodist Committee on Relief, for example, has an excellent reputation for its work. Yet the church has in the last decade recognized its need to be more intentional in the making of disciples. For many years its membership vows included the promise to support the church through prayers, presence, gifts and service. In 2008, its vows were amended to include supporting the church through witness.
     The United Methodists have not abandoned its practical ministries, although it recognizes the need of 200 million people in the United States alone who have no active church or faith life. Spiritual need is real and practical as well.
      Few Christians of any sort have had the nerve to do what Jesus called the twelve to do—set out with only the clothing they are wearing. No money, or extra shirt, no food or resources of any kind. And it is impossible to know even whether Jesus would recommend such a thing in a different day and age. Of course, the twelve did not go out with no resources—they went with the empowerment of Jesus upon them.
      Why was it important for the twelve to go into their ministry without physical resources? We can only speculate, because Jesus did not explain, or if he did, it wasn’t reported. But it seems likely that they needed to learn trust. In this early stage, if they sought the support of anything except the absolute power of God they might fail. Most were humble working men. They loved God, but were not accustomed to the power of God working through them. They needed to learn to trust God and in themselves as ones called by Jesus for this work. Yet this carries a lesson for the Christians of today as well. Are there any resources individuals or churches look for rather than the power of God? Individuals or churches may struggle, thinking ‘if only we had this much money or more people or some other favorable circumstance, then we could accomplish great things.’ Is that the question or concern we should be raising?
     Jesus further advised the disciples to stay in the place where they entered. This is usually understood as saying that they should stay in the home where they were first welcomed and not try to find someplace larger or more comfortable if it was offered. This could relate to the discussion about taking resources. It would be easy to wander from place to place, always looking for the more favorable or comfortable spot. ‘Maybe the ministry would yield more over there…” To do that might mean nothing would be accomplished, nothing firmly established. It is true that individuals and churches may, after an honest effort, make a determination that a particular area of ministry is not the place where they are called anymore. It is also true that dogged effort in places of little discernible results have sometimes done amazing things. It is not, and should not be an easily made decision, but should be made through prayer and seeking God’s guidance.
      Jesus offered a final piece of advice. If his disciples went to a place where they were rejected, they should shake the dust off their feet and move on. Again, we might raise the question of whether this was intended as advice for all situations, particularly in today’s world where so many people are simply uninterested in Christianity or even hostile to it. Do we give up and go back to our church buildings where fewer and fewer people find their way to us? Or do we witness in a world where we are sometimes rejected but still seek to cast some seeds that might take root and grow even in unlikely spots? The early Christians certainly didn’t follow that advice to move on—or so many of them wouldn’t have been martyred…and the church wouldn’t have grown so much. At the same time, when Jesus sent out the twelve it was a time of urgency—get as much done as possible in a short period of time, as well as a learning experience for the disciples.
      In other circumstances, it can be wise to shake off the dust. It is smart psychologically to leave behind the baggage of rejection. It certainly won’t help us succeed in the future.

What baggage of the past do you need to shake off so you can move into a better future?
What baggage are you carrying that interferes with trusting God?
In what ways can you witness and share news of God’s kingdom?

Luke 8:40-56

     The following is for the week of October 6 - 13 - We will be taking a two week break- October 13&20
     In the first century, a daughter had little societal value. But fathers clearly could have tremendous affection for a daughter. Jairus was a leader of his community, the president of the synagogue. The president was responsible for supervising the arrangements for worship. His only child was a daughter and he clearly loved her dearly, for he was willing to approach Jesus, already a controversial figure, and beg his help in healing the child he knew was dying. His anxiety was so great that he fell at the feet of Jesus to make his request.
     Jesus immediately set out to help the man, but as he went, the crowds were fierce and it may have been hard to get through them. The people had come out of their curiosity concerning Jesus, and some through their need.
     A woman was there. She had suffered for twelve years from a hemorrhage. Blood was sacred to the Israelites, yet contact with it made a person unclean. So this woman had suffered for twelve years not only from a debilitating condition, yet also from a sense that her community considered her unclean. Some may have also considered her sinful, for there was still a theology that blamed ill fortune and illness on sin; the assumption being that if a person suffered, then they must deserve to do so.
     This woman clearly felt unacceptable to approach Jesus and ask his help. Her bleeding may have been from a strictly female condition which would have made it even more difficult. It would also have been somewhat scandalous for a woman to touch a man, and an unclean woman would officially have made Jesus unclean for a time.
     But the woman had enough hope and enough faith to creep up behind Jesus and touch the fringe of his garment, believing that even this was enough for her to be healed. It may be important to note that this fringe was not almost certainly not decorative. The prayer shawl of Judaism has a tassel on each corner. It is tied with a specific number of turns and knots which correspond to the Hebrew alphabet. The symbolism refers to the Shema, the central teaching of Judaism—the Lord our God, the Lord is One. The shawl or fringe or tassel always includes at least one purple thread. Purple was an extremely expensive dye, which is why it became associated with royalty. The prayer shawl of the average Israelite used one purple thread as a symbol. Expression of this symbolism may vary from theologian to theologian and person to person, but it can be understood as representing the individual’s importance to God, as well as the individual’s responsibility.
     So, it certainly could be understood that when this “unclean” ailing woman came to touch the fringe of Jesus, she was seeking to be valued also. Her faith was rewarded; she was healed.
      Now, Jesus knew immediately something had happened. Luke expressed it as know that power had gone out from him. So he asked who it was who had touched him. Peter thought it a silly question, for the crowds had been pressing him all about, but Jesus meant something more than this and the woman knew it. Was Jesus actually unaware of who had touched him? We don’t know for he didn’t say so. Either knowing or not, he was giving the woman the opportunity to claim herself before him, which is what she did. She revealed that it was her and explained that she had been healed. Jesus told her that her faith had made her well and to go in peace.
      Some Christians have interpreted faith as a power source for healing, denying themselves medical care on the theory that if they seek it, they haven’t the faith that they’ve been healed. The strength of one’s faith has been used as an explanation for why certain prayers are or are not answered. Was Jesus trying to say here that true faith can win us healing, or was something else happening? Is it possible that he was empowering this woman, and ourselves, in a relationship with God? He always seemed wary of being seen as a miracle-working wonder-man, instead he directed people back to their relationship with the Lord.
     Peter’s anxiety to dismiss the incident could have also had to do with the fact that a very important man had requested his help. Why did Jesus have to talk to someone in the crowd, and a woman no less! Why make her healing front and center? She was a nobody and Peter, like many of the disciples, still had a worldly point of view about importance. But Jesus recognized one person’s value, not matter how ill or unclean or worthless that others might consider her.
     While this was taking place, messengers came from the house of Jairus to say don’t bother anymore, the child was dead and Jesus shouldn’t be troubled with the matter (perhaps these messengers also thought a twelve-year-old girl was unimportant). But imagine the grief of the parents who have lost their only child But Jesus said not to fear, only believe and she would be saved.
      At the house, Jesus only allowed the parents and his disciples Peter, John and James to come in with him. With traditional mourning ritual, they were weeping and wailing. But Jesus told them to stop, because the child was only asleep.
     This made no sense to those who knew death when they saw it and even in the midst of grief it provoked a strange sort of laughter. They didn’t yet know Jesus very well, who was the master of turning mourning into joy. He took the child by the hand and called her to get up, and she did. A practical man, Jesus told them to get her something to eat—this would also have reassured the parents that she was on the path of healing. Her parents were astounded by what had happened, yet Jesus told them not to say anything about it.
     On numerous occasions Jesus told people not to talk about what he had done for them. Of course, it was hardly possible for people not to know about this—the child had been announced as dead and would soon be seen by people to be healthy and alive. So it’s not clear why Jesus asked Jairus and his wife to stay silent—and obviously somebody did tell the story. But Jairus, as William Barclay pointed out, remains a most interesting character in this event. He didn’t stand on ceremony or pride, instead he asked Jesus for help, and he kept enough faith to follow him into the room where his dead daughter lay (note that his wife also had this faith).

Where do we feel unimportant in life?
How can we understand how special we are in the eyes of Jesus?
Is there some pride or other issue that keeps us from surrendering part of ourselves to God?
Where can we throw some faith ahead of ourselves into the rooms where our deepest fears or doubts or ambiguities lie?

The Bible Study which would normally be posted on October 6 MIGHT be posted on October 7.  Also - the study will be taking a two week hiatus from October 13-20.  Happy October!