Christianity 101: Accept Others
Luke 4:31-37; 5:12-16
Jesus’ preaching tour takes Him to Capernaum. As He is teaching, there arises a disturbance. A demon-possessed man shows out, interrupting Jesus’ teaching. It is socially unacceptable to be demon-possessed, and certainly unattractive to shout out in the synagogue. Jesus orders the demon out and it leaves. “Now, where were we – .”
After His teaching session, Jesus needs a break. He goes to Simon’s, where He is soon asked to intervene on behalf of His host’s feverish mother-in-law. What’s a Messiah to do? He heals her. Talk about being “on-call.”
Word gets out. A flood-tide of diseased and disabled humanity surges in. Oh, joy! Jesus is the only healer at a swamped, understaffed, ill-equipped, impromptu clinic. He is laying hands on all kinds of sick people (pass the anti-bacterial) and He’s casting out demons left and right. All of this is so time-consuming!
He finally sneaks off to recharge. Whew! Alone at last! Wait a minute – the crowds track Him. Suddenly, sick people and possessed people are consuming His time, energy and focus again. Is this to be Jesus’ lot in life: constantly interrupted and put upon?
Finally, He’s had enough and tells them that He was sent to preach. So He leaves, going to other localities on the synagogue circuit. How does that go? First, a leper confronts Him and begs for healing. Jesus not only obliges, but heals the man by touching him. Now it’s getting crazy – touching lepers? More crowds arrive to be healed and to listen (hey, that’s progress!).
Next, He is holding forth in a big meeting (literally and figuratively). He is actually engaging Pharisees and teachers from all over Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem. It’s a really big deal! What happens? Down through the ceiling dangles a man in need of healing. Jesus is interrupted again! “You’re forgiven (and healed). Walk!”
On and on it goes. It’s a wonder He ever gets anything done. But wait. Doesn’t His very coming represent an interruption – an aggravation – a nuisance? He was just fine in heaven, thank you very much, and didn’t need to be bothered with any of us.
But if Jesus had only preached and had turned up His divine nose at hurting, needy people, how far would His message have gone? He did come to bring wholeness, didn’t He?
I know my need. I know my weaknesses, my defects, my un-loveliness, my uncleanness. It’s all pretty ugly. My sin makes me one of “those needy, interrupting people.” But He was (and still is) willing to bother with the interruption and nuisance that is me. And it’s my assignment joyfully to go and do likewise.
– The ETB writer for the spring quarter is a South Carolinian who formerly served Southern Baptists in a closed country. We are honoring his request not to publish identifying information.