Intentional Faith • February 19, 2006

Isaiah 43:18-25; Psalm 41; 2 Corinthians 1:18-22; Mark 2:1-12


Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

When last we left Jesus, he had just healed a man with leprosy, who ran about shouting about it. As a result, Jesus couldn’t enter a town publicly. He stayed out in the secluded places and people came to him from everywhere. We continue now with Mark Chapter 2.

Mark 2:1-12 (NIV) • Jesus Heals a Paralytic
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ² So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³ Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. ⁴ Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

⁶ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷ "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

⁸ Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? ⁹ Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? ¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralytic, ¹¹ "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." ¹² He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Once again we have recounted a dramatic act of faith taken by one to reach the merciful healing touch of Jesus. And Jesus, and Mark in the retelling, uses this miracle, to demonstrate that Jesus is more than just a healer. For the first time in Mark, Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man. And before Jesus instructs the paraplegic to take up his mat and walk, he does something far more significant and NOT overlooked by the religious scholars among the crowd. Jesus forgives the man’s sins. What blasphemy is this? Only GOD can forgive sin? Here we have Jesus putting it all on the line right from the start. People were already starting to notice, resulting in growing throngs of worshipers, seekers, crowds. And others were beginning to notice, too. The religious scholars and keepers of the laws. Jesus was at the least, a blasphemer – a person who speaks disrespectfully of sacred things, sacrilegious – perhaps much more, a growing threat to rule and order.

I could construct a message for you about how we should all be like the men who cared the paraplegic to Jesus when we come across someone who has fallen, but I think that’s just a little to contrived. I know it is nice when the message relates to our daily lives. But sometimes the power of the Scripture is just the Power of the Scripture. Here’s all I want you to think about today’s reading: If you take anything away anything at all, its to be intentional about your faith. What the heck do I mean by that? Certainly Jesus was nothing if not intentional about His faith. It was all he was and in all he did, didn’t matter when, didn’t matter where, didn’t matter the consequences, when he was out in front of the crowds and when he was alone His Father. So, be intentional about YOUR faith. Make it so much a part of you that it is never left behind, never an afterthought, in good times, hard times, in the quiet moments, at all times.

Michael R. Martin – February 19, 2006
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Jesus Heals a Leper • February 12, 2006

2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Mark 1:40-45 (NKJV)
⁴⁰ Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." ⁴¹ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." ⁴² As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. ⁴³ And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, ⁴⁴ and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." ⁴⁵ However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction."

We continue with the Gospel of Mark. It's not often that the Lectionary year focuses on Mark's gospel so I'm taking this opportunity. It is believed that Mark's was the first of the gospels to be written and Mark is no nonsense and action-oriented in his approach. Rather than writing to reach the Jews -- covering Jesus' geneology or predictions of his coming in any great length, Mark writes for the common person to simply prove Jesus is the Messiah. Mark records more of Jesus' miracles than sermons. Jesus is clearly a man of power and action, not just words. Jesus did miracles to convince the people who he was and to teach the disciples his true identity as God.

Omitting the birth of Jesus, Mark begins with John the Baptist's preaching. Mark moves quickly: Jesus is baptized and tempted in the desert, he calls is first disciples, he drives an evil spirit out of one who is possessed, heals many, and retreats to pray in solitude. Jesus travels throughout Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and driving out demons -- all this and we are still in Chapter 1.

The Gospel according to Mark begins with these words:

Mark 1:2-4 (NIV)
² It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"-- ³ "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" ⁴ And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Remember these words from Mark 1:8? “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

In Jesus' day, leprosy was an awful, incurable disease. Actually, a wide variety of skin diseases were called leprosy. Leprosy itself was a disease characterized by degeneration of nerves and tissue, accompanied with disfiguring comtractions and skin lesions, often with the resultant loss of extremities. Lepers were removed from society and there were strict laws prescribing their life of isolation and how they were to proceed to reenter society should their leprosy go into remission. The Old Testament Leviticus devotes two whole chapters to these laws (Leviticus 13-14) and its worthwhile reading to get some comprehension of the background to today's story.

I see this tale as a bit of a turning point in Jesus' minitstry. Prior to this moment, Jesus was freely preaching in the cities and synagogues, but after this, his act of touching a leper had made him unclean by the Law, unwelcome in the city, and his ministry moved to the hillsides and outskirts of towns and cities.

Imagine the man’s hunger for healing, the faith in Jesus, that he should break all rules of cleanliness and society. It reminds me of the later miracle when Jesus heals the bleeding woman who cries out if she could just touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. I wonder from where does the leper’s faith come? By this time, word of Jesus must have been spreading like wildfire, like crazy rumors. A man, calls himself a prophet, healing with a touch. And so, the leper came. You often hear the verse about how Jesus cares for the sparrows of the field, how much more he must care for us. Personally, I see the stories of the leper and the woman as more indicative of Jesus' love and compassion. Frankly, I think the sparrows can pretty much fend for themselves. But if Jesus could care and heal ones so troubled, so unclean, simply because of their faith, would he not do the same for you? Can you be less deserving?

Michael R. Martin – February 12, 2006
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

portions from Life Application Bible Notes

What's Your Calling? • January 22, 2006

Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:5-12; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Mark 1:14-20 (NRSV)
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

This is where it all began. This is where the rubber meets the road. It all started right here, man. Wow! In just a few short weeks, we’ve scripturally covered Jesus’ immaculate conception, birth, baptism, epiphany. And Jesus’ first words in Mark “The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent, and believe in the good news!” (NRSV)

Jews of Jesus' day understood exactly what Jesus meant when he proclaimed the time is fulfilled. The Greek word used for time, kairos, refers to a particular time period with its beginning marked by an extremely important event. This placed Jesus' coming in the center of God's plan for revelation and redemption. The Old Testament prophets often spoke of the future kingdom, ruled by a descendant of King David, that would be established on earth and exist for eternity. Thus when Jesus spoke of the "time" and the presence of the kingdom of God, the Jews understood him to mean that the Messiah had come to "fulfill" or inaugurate his long-awaited kingdom. Jesus reassured them that God was in sovereign control. He had begun to act in a new and decisive way. The most critical time had come. The door to God's great future had been flung open.

Jesus began his ministry with the very word people had heard John the Baptist say: Repent. The message is the same today. Becoming a follower of Christ means turning away from our self-centeredness and "self" control and turning our lives over to Christ's direction and control. Repentance has two sides—turning away from sin and believing in the good news. One without the other is kind of like half a sandwich (not a sandwich cut in half but one half or the other). The Good News, the gospel, means that Jesus, the promised Messiah, has come to usher in a new age of God's dealings with his people.

I've been thinking about a calling lately. You know, as in “what’s your calling?” When we are young, grownups are always asking us what we want to be when we grow up. Not many of us really know. Maybe in the Midwest, farmers children know they are going to be farmers. But we grow up and live life, experience many things, changes. And what we are doing and who we are at 20 is not who we are at 40 or 60 or whatever age you are now. If you were to define your calling today, how different would it be from when you were first starting out. Personally, I see it as quite different in perspective alone, if nothing else. My youthful interests were music, science, nature. Over the years these interests have pervaded what I do in both work and enjoyment. At one time, perhaps not too too long ago, I might have said my calling was to roll at least some of these interests into a career, helping folks around the country clean up lakes and maybe even getting some satisfaction in the process.

But that perspective thing I mentioned before, that’s what is different. When Jesus called to Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John “Come, follow me” he did not promise to teach them all the secrets of the universe if they would follow him. He did not promise them good health, or wealth and prosperity. But Jesus did promise to teach them how to be good disciples. “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” I’ve finally begun to truly see that this here – my relationship with Christ, my ministry and service, such as it is – is my center, my purpose, my calling, and everything else revolves around this, feeds into this. Take some time today and reflect upon your calling. What you do, what you enjoy – where does Christ fit in?

A new year, a new birth, a new beginning. . . so much promise. We will prosper as a church if we remember – Christ first, in all things. We are called as Christians to be disciples – to not only try and BE like Christ, but to DO for Christ -- to reach out, to do more, try something new, maybe even stretch beyond our comfort zone. . . Ephesians 2:10 comes to mind: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (NIV).

And don’t forget to take care of yourself

• Pray daily – talk with God often
• Read the Bible daily – the Bible is God’s inspired Word.
• Learn to depend on the Holy Spirit, your counselor. As the Bible says, the Holy Spirit will teach you, guide you, & strengthen you in your times of need
• Live one day at a time: The Bible says we are not to be anxious about what might happen tomorrow (see Matthew 6:33-34). The Bible also promises that, "Your strength will equal your days" (Deuteronomy 33:25, NIV). In other words, God's grace will be sufficient to meet the challenges of each new day.
  

Michael R. Martin – January 22, 2006
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

July 31, 2005

Genesis 32:22–31;Psalm 17:1–7, 15; Romans 9:1–5; Matthew 14:13–21

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Our reading in Matthew today takes place just after the murder of John the Baptist.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand (NLT)

¹³ As soon as Jesus heard the news, he went off by himself in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed by land from many villages. ¹⁴ A vast crowd was there as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

¹⁵ That evening the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and it is getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves."

¹⁶ But Jesus replied, "That isn't necessary—you feed them."

¹⁷ "Impossible!" they exclaimed. "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish!"

¹⁸ "Bring them here," he said. ¹⁹ Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. And he took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God's blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave some of the bread and fish to each disciple, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ They all ate as much as they wanted, and they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. ²¹ About five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves, in addition to all the women and children!

As soon as Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been beheaded, he sought solitude (verses 12-13). By this time in Jesus' ministry, however, the crowds had begun to gather at every opportunity. They followed him on foot and gathered by the thousands (verse 21). The passage notes Jesus' compassion: The crowd stayed with him for the day as he cured their sick (verse 14).

When evening came, Jesus miraculously fed the multitude with five loaves of bread and two fish (verses 17-19). The text states that there were 5,000 men present, besides women and children. Therefore, the total number of people Jesus fed could have been 10 to 15 thousand. The number of men is listed separately because in the Jewish culture of the day, men and women usually ate separately when in public. The children ate with the women.

It would not have been uncommon for travelers to bring dried fish or bread on a journey or for a youth to sell a limited variety of food items to the captive crowd. However, in a spontaneous gathering of this kind, it would be safe to say that the meager supplies of the food venders had long since been exhausted. Fish and especially bread were central components of the Palestinian diet; meat was rarely available except at feasts. Food was always sold in village markets, and the Galilean countryside was full of villages (Mark 6:36); but Jesus had withdrawn his followers some distance from the nearest villages (Mark 6:32). Even the larger villages would have under three thousand inhabitants; despite Galilee’s agricultural self-sufficiency, feeding the crowd in the villages would thus have been difficult. But it would have taken more than two hundred days of an average person’s wages (around seven months of hard labor) to feed the great multitude that had assembled.

SO Jesus performed a miracle. He took the meager food resources they had, and he blessed it. It was customary among the Jews to begin a meal by giving thanks for the bread and then dividing it. The form of prayer which they used in the time of Christ has been preserved by their writers, the Talmudists. It is this: "Blessed be thou, O Lord our God, the King of the world, who hast produced this food and this drink, from the earth and the vine." All ate until they were filled, and there were twelve baskets of broken pieces that remained. Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed over 5,000 people. What he was originally given seemed insufficient, but in his hands it became more than enough. We often feel that our contribution to Jesus is meager, but he can use and multiply whatever we give him, whether it is talent, time, or treasure. It is when we give them to Jesus that our resources are multiplied.

The opening verse of today's passage speaks to our own need to recognize when we need a retreat. John the Baptist was Jesus' cousin and, in a sense, his colleague in ministry. After hearing of John the Baptist's horrible death, Jesus and the twelve had set out for a deserted place for reflection. Along the way, however, another reality dawned. Although we frequently know what we need, the pressing needs of others often stand at the gate. From this passage, two conflicting issues become evident: self-care and compassion for others with genuine needs. As we look at Jesus' response to the multitudes, it becomes clear that we may not always be in a position to legislate when or how we take care of ourselves, take the solitude that we need. Most of us live in the tension of that narrow place that lies between caring for ourselves and caring for others. On the other hand, however, we do need periods of solitude, centering, and reflection. A critical question for today: How do we discern when to shut the door and pull down the shutters before damaging sanity, identity, or self-worth?

Seeking solitude was an important priority for Jesus (see also Mat 14:13). He made room in his busy schedule to be alone with the Father.

Luke 9:18-21 (NAB)
¹⁸ Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
¹⁹ They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.' "
²⁰ Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The Messiah of God."
²¹ He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

Matthew 14:22-23 (WEY)
²² Immediately afterwards He made the disciples go on board the boat and cross to the opposite shore, leaving Him to dismiss the people.
²³ When He had done this, He climbed the hill to pray in solitude. Night came on, and he was there alone.

Psalms 55:6-7 (NLT)
⁶ Oh, how I wish I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!
⁷ I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness.

Jeremiah 9:2 (NLT)
² Oh, that I could go away and forget them and live in a shack in the desert, for they are all adulterous and treacherous.

How may we benefit from solitude?

Matthew 14:13: As soon as Jesus heard the news, he went off by himself in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed by land from many villages.

Solitude can be time to deal privately with pain. Jesus sought solitude after the news of John's death. Sometimes we may need to deal with our grief alone. In our reading, Jesus was not able to dwell on his grief, but forced to returned to the ministry of his flock by his compassion for them.

Matthew 14:23-24 : Afterward he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

Solitude can be time spent with God. Seeking solitude was an important priority for Jesus. He made room in his busy schedule to be alone with the Father. Spending time with God in prayer nurtures a vital relationship and equips us to meet life's challenges and struggles. Develop the discipline of spending time alone with God—it will help you grow spiritually and become more and more like Christ.

Luke 4:42: Early the next morning Jesus went out into the wilderness. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them.

Solitude is important for prayer and refreshment, but will only be possible if we make it a priority. Jesus had to get up very early just to get some time alone. If Jesus needed solitude for prayer and refreshment, how much more is this true for us? Don't become so busy that life turns into a flurry of activity leaving no room for quiet fellowship alone with God. No matter how much you have to do, you should always make time for prayer.

Spending time with God in prayer nurtures a vital relationship and equips us to meet life's challenges and struggles. Develop the discipline of spending time alone with God — it will help you grow spiritually and become more and more like Christ

Relate to our lives: We all have times when we need to get away from it all, seek some peace and quiet, some solitude. I think it is essential – I have found this to be true for me. How often are we able to find this respite, and how long does it last before something intrudes –telephone, children, spouse, pet? Where can you go to find solitude?

THE ELUSIVE SOLITUDE
By James LaJocies

I stepped into the clear sunlight on a spring like day,
To enter the lush forest and search for the elusive solitude.
To help my minds jigsaw puzzle to fit.
To iron out the wrinkles of stress and smooth the mind of life’s highways.
To give me direction, reward me with clarity and to bring peace to my soul.

I searched for the elusive solitude.
I sought her out with purpose and found her hidden,
In the colors of Emerald Green, Sapphire Blue and Snow White.
She surrounded herself with a symphony of soft ocean waves,
With water in a cascading free fall. All of which she harmonized,
Using the wind, caressing the leaves of towering trees.
I found the elusive solitude and then solitude was interrupted ........ People.

Michael R. Martin – July 31, 2005
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM