May the mumbling commence!
How frustrating it must be when people miss the core components to your message! Jesus healed and taught and preached so that people might recognize the kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus healed and taught and preached so that people might repent and return to rightful relationships with God and with people.
But the only message that passed from person to person was: “Jesus heals. Jesus heals like no other. Jesus heals with power.” Jesus’ healing powers is what brought the crowds. Read a passage from Mark chapter six:
As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went – into villages, towns or countryside – they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed. (Verses 54-56)
Jesus’ healing power grabbed all the peoples’ attention. It seemed that they did not have any room for the words of Jesus. The healings that Jesus performed blinded them from the message the healings were meant to point to – the kingdom of God is near, so repent and return to God.
Sometimes, Christians (especially those from Anabaptist traditions) claim that they will let their lives do the talking, so they remain silent. But even Jesus’ life was grossly misunderstood by those who sought him and by those who chose to follow him. Yes, we must live the life that Jesus calls us to, but we must also speak the Good News of the kingdom. Words and life work in tandem like neither of them can do on their own.
And Jesus still taught these crowds that looked either for a free handout of food or a free handout of medical care. People today would still line up for these things. People today, like the woman bleeding for twelve years, still more than exhaust their wealth on seeking elusive cures. Jesus still taught. Read from Mark chapter seven:
Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'"
After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. "Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")
He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"
Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
"First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
"Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. (Verses 14-30)
“Listen to me.” “Are you still so dull?” “First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” Jesus said all these things in this passage. They are the words of an increasingly frustrated teacher, whose message was not gaining entrance into his students’ minds.
But, why did Jesus hesitate and treat the Greek woman so rudely? To test her? Or was it the experience of having healings overpower his message? Was it the experience of healing the man with a Legion of demons in Gentile lands only to be ushered rudely off?
And what changed Jesus’ mind? Jesus' teachings are the crumbs that the Greek woman gathered from the floor around the table. She showed her learning and faith in coming to Jesus.
Let’s marvel in the miracles of Jesus, but let’s also listen to the teachings and preaching of Jesus. Let’s examine his way of living. If we do, we will not fail to see the central message Jesus gives to us all.
The kingdom of heaven is near, repent and return to God. Be adopted and join the family.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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