So Now What!? - Epiphany 5B Sermon

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Mark 1:29-39

²⁹As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. ³⁰Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. ³¹He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. ³²That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. ³³And the whole city was gathered around the door. ³⁴And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. ³⁵In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. ³⁶And Simon and his companions hunted for him. ³⁷When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” ³⁸He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” ³⁹And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

So now what!?  Today’s text culminates in a “so now what” moment in Jesus’ ministry.  For 5 weeks we have acknowledged the Epiphany season, Epiphany as the manifestation of Jesus Christ the world.   We’ve heard story after story of Jesus being made known.  Starting with the journey and arrival of the wise men, continuing to Jesus’ baptism, the calling of the first disciples, performing his first healing and a second healing today.  

Along the way each Sunday in Epiphany has taught us a little more about who Jesus is, or even more so, who God is through Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ, the Emmanuel, a babe born in a manger is prophesied to be the savior of the Jewish people, God is one who acts in the silence of a night...one breathes life in the darkness of the world...who defies predictions and expectations...not because God needs to show us up or put us in our place, but because our understanding of the world is so misguided.  Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God.  A light made known to the world.

And if that wasn’t enough for the world Jesus steps out of the crowds to be baptize.  To walk side by side with penitent sinners.  The heavens are torn apart in the best way and God declares Jesus as God’s son, in whom God is well pleased.  God is one who welcomes the sinner and stranger, who offers repentance and forgiveness.

Jesus Christ the teacher, calling strangers from the comforts of their lives and challenging them to see a new thing.  To partake in a journey, not just a physical or emotional journey, but a journey of faith.  Calls them not to abandon their gifts and passions but to embrace their gifts and risk a new identity...and identity tied to Jesus.  God is one who seeks us out from the shore line, who calls us by name and bids us to come and follow.

Jesus Christ the healer, who acts with authority, restoring wholeness to the broken. God is one who restores body, mind, and Spirit….perhaps not always in the way or time that we desire or prefer, but we rest assured in the presence of Jesus that we will all one day be made whole.

These are the stories of Jesus being made known to the world.  Certainly they’re full or richness and depth and shine only a glimmer of light into the true incarnation and resurrection of Jesus that will be unveiled in the rest of Scripture.   But these 5 Sundays of Epiphany guide us to today, on this 5th Sunday of Epiphany where our text culminates with a “so now what?” confrontation between Jesus and the disciples.

Today’s story has three distinct segments.  The first is the healing of the mother-in-law.  Following last week’s story of Jesus healing a man with an unclean Spirit in the synagogue on the Sabbath today’s story continues, “As soon as they left the synagogue they entered the house of Simon and Andrew.”  

They immediately told Jesus about her being in bed with a fever and so Jesus goes to her, takes her by the hand, lifts her up, and she is healed.  This is a subtle yet significant continuation of the previous healing in the synagogue.  Both healings happen within a short time-span and both happen on the Sabbath.

If anything, this continued story tells us that Jesus’ healing power and authority has no boundary or limit.  One healing is in the synagogue, a holy space, a place of worship and Jesus heals a man demonized by an unclean Spirit.  One healing is more private, in a home, where Jesus heals a woman from illness.   In both situations Jesus restores them to wholeness regardless of context, setting, reason, or plea.

So now what?  Well as a result of Jesus’ unconditional healing the word spreads quickly.  By sun down the crowds press upon the house, bringing the sick and demon possessed, all waiting anxiously for Jesus to heal.   His ability to restore people to health and social wholeness is a sign of God’s power, and God-willing the whole town will come to be healed in one form or another.  

So now what?  In the final segment of today’s reading Jesus removes himself from the crowds early in the morning to a deserted place to pray.  In the midst of public recognition and miraculous healing...as people are finally beginning to see the power and authority of this Jesus of Nazareth, he removes himself to pray.  Prayer is next.  For Jesus, prayer is always next.  

And it’s there in the deserted, prayerful place, this small calm in the manifestation Epiphany storm that we witness this “so now what” conversation. For the disciples, who are early into their Jesus-following career they see Jesus’ power and authority as a great success.   The crowds swarming to see, hear, and experience Jesus is a good thing.  After all they didn’t fully know what they were signing up for beyond “come and follow.”

 So there short experience thus far of teaching and healing is by their understanding nothing short of a great success.  So the hunt for Jesus and find him in this deserted place.  “Everyone is searching for you!”  Come on back to the house.  We have a great thing going and let’s not lose momentum.  

The disciples were focused so intently on capitalizing on this opportunity.  Remaining in this one place with Jesus healing one person after another.  Remaining in the safety of success, comfort, and predictability.  For them, leaving wasn’t even a consideration.  Why walk away from a sure thing?!

So now what?  Jesus says, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.”

It would be easy, comfortable, and certainly enticing to remain in one place.  To stay in the spot where their faith is most affirmed.  To lock Jesus in to this specific location where his ministry would become one of miracles and healings.  People from all over would travel see, hear, and witness Jesus in this place.  It could become their temple.  Some might call it putting Jesus in a box.  No need to travel, explore, encounter strange people and towns.  No need to risk hostility or face adversity.  No risk.  No unknowns.

Sometimes I fear this can become our mentality of discipleship.  Experiencing Jesus within these walls where it is perhaps most comfortable or safe.  Where the presence of God is most tangible and realized.  Surrounded by crowds of people hungry and eager to meet Jesus.  Where healing and wholeness and restoration take place.   We hope that word will spread and people will come from all over to experience Jesus in the precise same way.  It’s comfortable here in our traditions and routines...our liturgy and rites.  Why risk anything.  Why allow Jesus to leave this space.  Why would we ever ask “so now what?”  

Perhaps today’s biggest Epiphany lesson is that Jesus has come to not to remain in one place, structured and secure in one location, but that he has come to travel from town to town, to spread the gospel, seeking out the downtrodden, lost, lonely, and least.  Jesus has come to seek the unknown, venture into uncertainty and proclaim hope in darkness, face adversity, challenge authority, demonstrate love, witness to a new way of life.

And the scary part for the disciples and for us is that to be a disciple of Christ means to follow Jesus into the wilderness.  To leave comfort and certainty for discomfort and the unknown.  To travel town to town, job to job, school to school proclaiming the good news of Christ so all that might hear. All might come and see.

Worship for us is that early-morning deserted place of prayer.  That stillness in the early morning from a crowded world, seeking prayer with God.  The moment where we can discern with clarity and direction.  The location where we happen to all gather with God from our busy lives.  It is here in worship, in comfort and certainty that the “so now what” of our faith is challenged.

We confess that we have turned from God’s way to follow our own ways.  We have spoken or acted abruptly, hurt others, thought more about ourselves than others or less of ourselves than we ought....so now what… Christ says even when we have done wrong God makes us right.  Our sins are forgiven for the sake of Jesus Christ. Be free! That’s what

We hear the Word of God read aloud and psalms chanted...Word of God word of life... so now what...share the good news proclaimed. Let those with ears to hear listen and those with eyes to see see...thanks be to God.  That’s what.

In the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks….he again to the cup, gave thanks and gave to all….eat and drink all of you for the forgiveness of sins….so now what?  ….This is my body given for your, the blood of Christ shed for you...we who are many are one body fro we partake of the one bread...taste and see that the Lord is good! That is what.

The God of glory dwell in you richly, name you beloved, and shine brightly on your path; and the blessing of almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you always...so now what?  Go in Peace to Love and serve the Lord!

Friends it is easy, comfortable, and certainly enticing to remain in this place.  To stay in the spot where their faith is most affirmed.  To lock Jesus in to this specific location.  To only experience Jesus right here in worship.   No need to travel, explore, encounter strange people and towns...no need to risk hostility or face adversity.  No risk.  No unknowns.

But the truth is, with Jesus, we’re called to so much more.  And the good news this day is that the comfort and certainty of worship will always give us the hope, strength, courage, and grace to follow Jesus into the unknown.  

Yes, in this place we are sure to meet Jesus safe and secure in this holy house, but with God’s power we are called to ventures of which we cannot see the endings, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.  And God will always be with us on the journey.  God will always be ahead of us to calm the storm and shed light on the unknown.

And as baptized, called and claimed children of God, we gather here for worship, here at this early morning respite, and we are affirm that we are forgiven, nourished, restored, fed, and healed.  But soon this worship service will come to a close and we will be sent.  So then what?  

Amen.

© Pastor Daniel Locke, preached 02.04.2018 @ St. Mark's Lutheran, Jacksonville, FL