Lectionary Year B
September 7, 2003

Mark 7:24-37
Contemporary Address

Step VI - Contemporary Address

A. Goals

(JFC) A proclamation from this pericope might be able to emphasize God's ways of dealing with human needs, like for healing and for making us whole.

B. Describing the Audience

(JFC) Any congregation with many hurting people could conceivably benefit from this sermon.

C. Address

(JFC) A sermon entitled for this working draft, "Letting God Be God".

Introduction
When we are in need, God takes note of it and enables us to cope with it, cures us and/or enables us to live, really LIVE, with our infirmities. We live, really LIVE in Christ.

I. God's Healing
A. God heard the woman whose daughter was ailing, thought in those pre-scientific days to be demon-possessed. And, soon after hearing her concerns, Jesus healed the girl. Of course, Jesus heals several other ailing persons such as in Mark 1:21-31. In Mark 1:29-31, Jesus heals Simon's mother-in-law. And, in Mark 1:32ff, He heals "all who were sick or possessed by demons". Then in1:40-45, He cleansed a leper while admonishing him not to tell anyone but rather to go to the priest, yet, the cleansed leper widely told of the cure. In the next chapter (2) He healed a paralytic, and in the next He healed a man's withered hand.

B. Now, we bring our concerns, our needs and our ailments to God. There is healing, coping strategies and/or there is life, real LIFE, in Christ.

II. God's Dialoguing
A. With her, the Greek/Gentile woman, Jesus raised the additional issue of hunger. We today can hardly be responsible if we ignore world hunger.

B. With him, the deaf mute, Jesus had a mysterious, Aramaic formula that apparently was thought to heal him. Whatever Jesus said and did evidently was thought to cure the man.

C. With us God has some words and actions that enable our coping and/or that bring cures. Contact with Christ makes us whole - see Luke 5:17 and 6:19 and Matthew 19:13 and 15.

III. God's Mysteriousness and Human Faith
A. God's mysteriousness includes Jesus' dialogue with the woman and word for the man.

B. Human faith was apparent in the woman's coming to Jesus and in the people who brought the deaf mute to Him for cures. See Matthew 15:28.

IV. The Crowd's Amazement and Their Assessment and Our Appreciation
A. Their Amazement was profound, see ekplh,ssw, "pass. be amazed, astounded overwhelmed . . .", Bauer's Arndt and Gingrich. He amazed His home-towners in Matthew 13:54f, Mark 1:22 and 6:2 and Luke 4:16-22, where they also spoke well of Him, when He taught in their synagogue.

B. Their assessment of Jesus' words and works is positive, beyond understanding, of course, yet, still quite positively impressive. That was before the crucifixion and resurrection and before the disciples comprehended all His significance as Messiah.

C. Our appreciation can be just as positive and appreciated for we live on this side of the cross. Even if our ailments remain uncured, like MS, God's Word and Jesus' ministries can enable us to live life, real LIFE to the fullest extent with Divine Lordship in our lives.

Conclusion
So, when we let God be God and do all as well as Divinely as God does things, we benefit and praise God with gratitude.



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