pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: heal


by Leave a comment

True Life

Reading: Mark 7-8

Mark 8:34 – “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.”

Chapter 7 begins with tension between God’s Law and man-made rules. The religious question the disciples eating with “unclean hands.” Jesus’ response begins with a quote from Isaiah. The religious honor God with their lips but their hearts are far away. A man-made rule that trumps God’s Law is given as an example. How often do we do this, both formally and informally, not to mention in the secret places of our hearts?

Jesus teaches that it is what comes out of the heart that makes a person unclean. When we allow evils into our hearts – sexual sins, greed, deceit, envy, arrogance – that is what contaminates us in God’s sight.

Jesus then heals two people from outside the Jewish circle. In the first healing he tells the immigrant woman that the children (the Jews) must be fed first. The “dogs” must wait. She replies that even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table. Her “good answer” leads to healing for her daughter. Jesus then heals a blind and mute man. People are overcome with wonder.

Chapter 8 begins with another mass feeding. Led by compassion, Jesus feeds the 4,000+ that have been with him for three days. After feeding this Gentile crowd (so much for feeding the children first), Jesus warns the disciples about the “yeast” of the Pharisees and of Herod. They don’t get it. Jesus laments their lack of understanding.

After healing a blind man, Jesus asks the disciples who people think he is. Most think Jesus is a prophet. He asks them what they think. Peter says, “You are the Christ.” Jesus then foretells his suffering, death, and resurrection. Peter begins to “correct” Jesus. This is not the right ending to this story. Sternly Jesus says, “Get behind me, Satan.” Calling the crowd, Jesus declares, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.” It’s about humble servant leadership, not physical or political might. It’s about finding true life in Christ. It’s not about gaining the whole world.

Prayer: Lord God, what a beautiful life you call us to! Laying aside self, being servant to all, bringing love and healing to our world, we find the life that brings you glory. Help and guide us daily to say no to self, to pick up our cross, and to follow you faithfully. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Many Are Healed

Reading: Mark 6

Mark 6:34 – “He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.”

Photo credit: Jennifer Araujo

Today’s readings begin in Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown. At first people were surprised by his teaching authority. But then they think, “Isn’t this [just] the carpenter? Isn’t he Mary’s son…?” These thoughts lead to a rejection of Jesus as Messiah. Their unbelief greatly limits his ability to heal. He departs and begins to minister in the surrounding villages. He sends out the 12 two by two. They teach, heal, and cast out demons. They return with excitement, with stories to share. Jesus decides to take them away to a quiet place to rest, but the crowds follow on shore. In between these two events Mark drops in the story of the death of John the Baptist. He does so to tell us that even the king has heard of Jesus.

After landing ashore we read, “He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.” After teaching all day in a remote place, the disciples ask Jesus to send the crowd away so they can buy food. Jesus tells the disciples to feed them. The impossible becomes reality as Jesus feeds the huge crowd from five loaves and two fish. So great is the blessing there are twelve baskets full of leftovers. After sending the 12 on ahead, Jesus dismisses the crowd and goes up the mountain to pray.

In the night the winds come up and the disciples are struggling along. Jesus walks across the lake. Mark notes, “intending to pass them by.” Why, why, why?! We’re left to ponder this. At first the disciples are afraid: is it a ghost? Jesus encourages them and then climbs in the boat. The wind dies down. They are “baffled” by this Jesus.

Our reading today closes in Gennesaret, a town close to Capernaum. The locals recognize Jesus and bring their sick to Jesus. Many are healed – even those that just touch his clothes. Jesus, through the Spirit, continues to bring healing and wholeness to our lives and to our world. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, you continue to have compassion for us, your children. We are so grateful. Yet today many are like the crowds – they know of you and your power but they don’t know you. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and through our witness, Lord, make Jesus known today. Bring healing and wholeness to our world. Amen.


by Leave a comment

One in Christ

Reading: Mark 1-3

Mark 2:17 – “I didn’t come to call righteous people, but sinners.”

Photo credit: Clay Banks

Mark’s gospel moves along quickly, often presenting what feels like shortened versions of lots of the stories we read in Matthew. Although written after and based upon Mark’s gospel, I think Matthew’s is placed first in the New Testament because it gives details that inform our reading of Mark.

John the Baptist begins the story. Jesus is an adult. John calls people to a baptism that shows they are changing their hearts and lives. He tells of Jesus, “one stronger than I,” of one who will baptize not with water but “with the Holy Spirit.” Jesus is then baptized by John, hears God’s words of love and affirmation, and it tempted in the wilderness. John is arrested and Jesus gets to work, declaring that God’s kingdom is here, so change your hearts and lives. Jesus then calls the first disciples, heals a demoniac and Simon’s mother-in-law, preaches, and heals a leper. That’s all in chapter 1!

We slow down slightly in chapters 2 and 3. Jesus begins to interact with the religious leaders. Jesus forgives a paralyzed man’s sins, prompting muttering from the religious leaders. He heals the man next, showing he has authority over sin. He eats with tax collectors and other sinners after calling Levi (also known as Matthew.) In response to the religious leaders grumbling about this, Jesus tells them, “I didn’t come to call righteous people, but sinners.” Then the religious leaders question Jesus’ about his disciples not fasting. Jesus tells them the disciples will when he is gone. For now, though, Jesus is here to do a new thing, to offer a new understanding of how to live a holy and righteous life.

Then there is conflict around the Sabbath. Jesus declares that the Sabbath is about doing good and drawing closer to God. The religious leaders begin to plan how to kill Jesus. Jesus then calls the 12 and appoints them to be with him, to preach, and to cast out demons. After clearing up which side he is on (it’s not Satan’s), Jesus claims that his followers are his true family, his one community. One in Christ, we too are one with each other. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, we are rooted and bound together in your love. That love leads, guides, flavors, influences our relationships with one another. As we seek to build your kingdom here on earth, draw us deeper and deeper into your love. Amen.


by Leave a comment

The Cornerstone

Reading: Matthew 21

Matthew 21:21 – “I assure you that if you have faith and don’t doubt… You will even say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the lake.’ And it will happen.”

Photo credit: Aaron Burden

Today’s reading begins with Matthew’s version of what we know as Palm Sunday. Jesus’ triumphal entry is highlighted by praise and adoration from the crowd and from his disciples. There is a buzz in the city. Jesus rides this wave into the temple, where he overturns tables and chairs, throwing out those who have made “God’s house of prayer” into a “hideout for crooks.” He then heals the blind and lame who come into the temple – likely for the first time since becoming blind or lame. Children run around the temple shouting praises. The religious leaders are deeply offended by all of this.

Returning to the city the next morning, Jesus curses a fruitless fig tree. The disciples are amazed at his power. He says to them, “I assure you that if you have faith and don’t doubt… You will even say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the lake.’ And it will happen.” Build your faith on me, he says, and be amazed at what God will do. As Jesus enters the temple again we see the opposite of this. The leaders question Jesus’ authority. His response begins with a question: Where did John the Baptist get his authority? There is no right answer for the religious leaders. So Jesus tells two parables to reveal their lack of faith and to condemn their fruitless ministry.

In the first parable the religious leaders know it is the first son who does the father’s will. He was obedient. Jesus then tells these leaders that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom ahead of them. They heard and believed John, changing hearts and lives. Even this fruit didn’t convince the religious leaders to change. In the second parable tenants mistreat and even kill some of the servants sent to collect fruit. They then kill the son who is sent. The religious leaders tell Jesus that the owner will “totally destroy” these wicked tenants. Jesus then quotes Psalms, claiming to be the stone that the builders rejected. But he tells the leaders that this stone will become the cornerstone, the foundation of the new, coming kingdom.

Prayer: Lord God, you call us to shout “Hosanna!” with our voices and with our actions – not one day a year but every day. When things get in the way of us doing this, clear our lives like Jesus cleared the temple. Build up in us a faith without doubts, a faith that stands firmly on the cornerstone, on Jesus Christ. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Faith, Love, Compassion

Reading: Matthew 14-15

Matthew 15:6-7 – “You do away with God’s Law for the sake of the rules that have been handed down to you. Hypocrites!”

Photo credit: Nathan Lemon

Today’s two chapters cover a wide variety of topics – abuse of power, feeding and healing, doubt and fear, great faith. In some stories, these topics intertwine. Chapter 14 begins with the death of John the Baptist. Abusing his power is nothing new for Herod. Here it costs John his life. At his birthday party, Herod promises “anything” to his daughter-in-law. She asks for John’s head. Jesus learns of this, is grieved, and withdraws to a “deserted place” by himself.

The crowds find Jesus and bring the sick to him. With compassion he heals them. Late in the day, the disciples urge Jesus to send them away to buy food. His response: “You give them something.” The impossible becomes reality as 5,000 men plus women and children eat their fill from 5 fish and 2 loaves. In the end each disciple holds a basket full of leftovers. Later, in chapter 15, Jesus feeds a crowd of 4,000 men plus women and children.

Jesus dismisses the crowd, sends the disciples on across the lake, and goes up the mountain to pray. In the early morning he comes to them, walking on the water during a storm. Here is where Peter walks in the water – until his fears and doubts overcome his faith. Jesus rescues him. Later it is a Canaanite woman, another outsider, who shows great faith, persevering until Jesus heals her daughter.

At the start of chapter 15 there is an encounter between Jesus and the religious leaders. Being “clean” is the core issue. Jesus says, “You do away with God’s Law for the sake of the rules that have been handed down to you. Hypocrites!” His example: man’s rule (giving money to the temple) has overridden God’s Law (honor father and mother.) This too is an abuse of power. Getting to the core issue, Jesus tells the crowd and then the disciples that it is what comes out of the mouth (and therefore out of the heart) that makes one unclean. When one allows evil thoughts, adultery, insults… to form in the heart and then to come out of the mouth, then one becomes unclean. May it not be so.

Prayer: Lord God, like today’s reading, life brings a variety of challenges as we seek to walk faithfully with you. Faith, love, compassion – may these be our guides as we strive to love you and to love neighbor in all the ways we can, in all the times we can. Amen.


by Leave a comment

To See, To Hear, To Be Touched

Reading: Matthew 3-4

Matthew 4:21-22 – “Jesus called them and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

The ministry of John the Baptist begins today’s readings. He announces, “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of God!” His work fulfills the words of Isaiah and his words and dress and diet remind people of Elijah. Many came, confessed their sins, and were baptized. John clashes with the religious leaders, challenging them to change their hearts and lives. Ancestry won’t save them. It will be the one stronger than John, the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire – he will offer salvation to the people.

Jesus then comes to be baptized. John tries to stop him but ultimately relents. After Jesus’ baptism the heavens open and the Spirit comes to rest on him. God declares love for the Son. From here Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tempted. The devil and Jesus quote from Deuteronomy, Isaiah, and Psalms. God’s word will be Jesus’ bread. He will trust and not test God. He will worship and serve God alone. Defeated, the devil leaves.

John is arrested. This precipitates Jesus returning to Galilee (to Capernaum) and to begin his ministry. He proclaims the same message as John: “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of God!” He begins to build his team, calling Simon and Andrew, then James and John as he walks along the Sea of Galilee. It was a simple call: “Follow me.” And they did. In verses 21-22 we read, “Jesus called them and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” Jesus’ ministry grows as he teaches in the synagogues and heals every disease and ailment. Large crowds begin to follow this teacher and miracle worker. They came from all over to see and to hear and to be touched by Jesus.

Prayer: Lord God, what a call John and Jesus both led with. The call continues to ring out today: change your heart, change your life, follow me. Each day may we hear this call and may we respond, seeking to be Christ’s hands, feet, heart, and love to the world. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Our Truth Too

Reading: Hosea 11-14

Hosea 14:7 – “They will again live beneath my shadow, they will flourish like a garden; they will blossom like the vine.”

Hosea closes with hope. There are still moments where God recognizes and is angered by Israel’s sin, but words of hope dominate our reading today. This is the truth of our lives too. We are sinful by nature. God is merciful, loving, and forgiving by nature. We walk with hope because God’s love is greater than our sin.

Chapter 11 begins with parent-child imagery. God recalls raising Israel, as a loving parent. But Israel turned away, as most children do at some point. So they will return to Assyria and Egypt. Tough love will reign. Yet love will abide. God will gather the children home one day.

Charges come in chapter 12. Israel multiplies lies and violence, makes treaties with Assyria and Egypt. God recalls Jacob, the younger brother. God recalls wrestling with Jacob at Bethel, where Jacob came to truly know God. God calls Israel back to that relationship. But Ephraim is too proud. They thought themselves sinless. This is a bitter offense to God. We too do this to God when we become proud, when we think ourselves righteous.

Their pride and self-sufficiency was also compounded by their idolatry. Israel turned to these metal images. They are reminded that God alone can save. This will be reinforced when God falls upon them like a lion. God will come in the east wind, making Samaria desolate. Even the babies and pregnant women will fall before the Assyrians.

Hope rises again in chapter 14. God implores Israel to return and even gives them the words to speak: “Forgive all wickedness and receive the good.” God responds with promises to heal and love, to plant and raise up, to protect and provide: “They will again live beneath my shadow, they will flourish like a garden; they will blossom like the vine.” What a beautiful picture of grace and restoration, of wholeness and life. This picture can be ours too. This truth is our truth. Sinful as we are, sin will never define us. God always offers this gift of grace and restoration, of wholeness and life. With repentant hearts and a faithful Spirit, may we step into the truth of God’s love.

Prayer: Lord God, lead and guide us to walk daily and to trust eternally into your promises of love and grace, of forgiveness and restoration. You are our God, the only one who can save. Thank you, Lord. Amen.


by Leave a comment

God’s Longing

Reading: Hosea 6-10

Hosea 6:6 – “I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.”

Chapter 6 begins with an invitation to return to the Lord. In justice God had injured and struck down Israel. In righteousness God will heal and bind them up. The rest of chapters 6-10 detail the sins of Israel: nationalism, idolatry, false worship, and trusting in self. All are guilty. Again and again Israel has not chosen to walk in the ways of the Lord.

God begins our reading with two rhetorical questions. Hod wonders what to do with Ephraim (Israel) and Judah. God’s hope is stated in verse 6, “I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.” Israel is going through the motions, doing the things. But there is no sincerity or meaning in their worship. Because of their unfaithfulness, God will “bring them down.” In chapter 8 God declares that Israel has broken the covenant, making idols of gold and silver. They will be swallowed up and will go into Assyria, “a wild ass wandering alone.”

Israel’s sacrifices do not please God. Therefore, their bread will be for “their hunger alone.” It will not come into God’s house. In 9:8-9 the priests are addressed. Even though they are supposed to be “God’s watchmen” rejection is in God’s house. They are corrupt and wicked. The priests attend to the regular sacrifice, yes, but they do not check Israel’s sins. They do not speak out and call our Israel’s sins. They too are a part of the evil. God declares, “I will drive them out of my house. I will love them no more.”

Chapter 10 closes with hope once again. God calls Israel to “sow for yourselves righteousness, reap faithful love.” It is time to seek the Lord. Then, in turn, God promises to “rain righteousness upon you.” Israel has “plowed wickedness… reaped depravity.” God longs for covenant renewal. But the people must be willing. God longs for this today. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, you see all of your children’s sins. You see our sin. Yes, at times we too choose selfishness, idolatry, pride. Break us of these evils, Lord. Heal and bind up our sins. Guide and lead us to be people of righteousness and justice. Rain down your power and love. Rain down justice and righteousness. Amen.


by Leave a comment

One Problem

Readings: Job 1, Job 2, Job 3, Job 4, Job 5

Job 1:21 – “The LORD has given; the LORD has taken; bless the LORD’s name.”

Photo credit: Marek Pospisil

We begin Job today. Whereas in Esther there was a threat of suffering that prompted action, in Job the suffering comes – in one huge jolt. Both Esther and Job “argue” against the universally held belief of the time: obey God and be blessed, disobey God and be punished.

As Job begins the narrator makes a very important statement for us to hold to as we read this book: Job is honest and full of integrity; he fears God and avoids evil. Job is so righteous, in fact, he makes sacrifices just in case his children have sinned. Because Job is righteous, in ancient thoughts, he should not suffer. But suffer he does! At the hands of the Adversary, Job loses all his livestock, his servants, and all 10 children. This would lead a lesser man to curse God. Not Job. He says, “The LORD has given; the LORD has taken; bless the LORD’s name.” Job too operates, at least for now, under the blessing and punishment paradigm.

To further test Job’s faith the Adversary receives permission to afflict Job’s health. Severe sores cover his whole body. Job’s wife – who has also experienced this rush of loss and who knows herself to be innocent of sin – encourages Job to just curse God and die. Why fight it? But Job responds much the same way: how can one accept good from God but not bad from God as well? Again the paradigm.

Job’s three friends arrive. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar sit with Job for seven days. They too look at Job in his present state and assume that he is a great sinner. Why else would this happen to him? Job speaks first, rueing the day he was born. In the religious thinking of the day, there was no concept yet of an afterlife. The greatest gift of God was life itself. Job wishes that he had never received this gift. This is an indication of Job’s struggle to understand what is happening to him.

Eliphaz responds. He sees Job as a sinner who needs to repent. This drives all that he says. If one “plows sin” then one “sows trouble.” He encourages Job to put his case to God. He reminds Job that God wants to forgive and will bind up and heal. One problem: Job is sinless. What case can he possibly bring before God?

Prayer: Lord God, what wrestling we begin today! Suffering and loss continue to be a part of our lives and our world. Questions continue to abound! As we walk with Job, his friends, with you, help us to gain understanding and insight into who you really are: not the cause but the one who walks with us. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Steadfast and Resilient

Reading: Matthew 15:21-28

Verse 22: “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Photo credit: Rainier Ridao

Returning to Matthew’s gospel today we move from ‘clean and unclean’ to Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman. She comes to Jesus seeking healing for her daughter. She is demon-possessed. The clean/unclean conversation centered on the condition of our hearts over and above the keeping of the traditions and the Law. In the culture of the day, we must recognize that a devout Jew would avoid engaging with a Gentile, especially with a woman.

This woman comes to Jesus and says, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!” She is acknowledging his power and his lineage. She is acknowledging his ability to do what she asks of him. She is so desperate for this ability to focus on her daughter that she ignores tradition and approaches Jesus. And Jesus ignores her. But she persists – enough that the disciples finally ask Jesus to send her away. They do not ask him to hear or to grant her request – just send her away. Jesus takes two runs at doing just that. Or is Jesus using this encounter as a way to show his disciples and others what a heart filled with faith looks like and can ultimately yield?

Pushing past these barriers and remaining steadfast in her faith in Jesus, she kneels at his feet and eventually receives praise from Jesus for her great faith. Her daughter is healed “that very hour.” This story is a great reminder to keep our faith strong no matter the barriers or obstacles we face, trusting in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As we are steadfast and resilient in our faith, we too will experience Jesus’ power.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the Canaanite woman’s example of great faith. Thank you for her example of brave faith too – a faith that overcame and triumphed. In those times when we feel things are against us, help us to remain faithful and true to you and to our faith. Amen.