2 Kings 5 : 1 - 3, 7 - 15
Luke 17 : 11 - 19
Illnesses and diseases have always occupied humanity’s thoughts. Clear example of this is the number of TV programmes that focus on medical illness and hospital situations.
I have on my bookshelf at home a copy of a medical handbook for medics from the First World War. It was passed down from my father’s father to him and then to me. It would appear that hot bitumen was the cure for many and sore and some of the concoctions that you were made to drink would make you want to die anyway! A broken bone lands you up looking like a mummy – all bandaged from head to toe! It makes for fascinating reading and all I can say is that I am very glad that I was not in that war needing treatment and that I am thankful that medicine has made great strides since then.
Disease and illness have always occupied humanity’s thinking. Perhaps it is a reminder of our mortality. We also realize that the human body is always prone to disease, much of it as the result of our own excesses and abuse.
Both scriptures read to us this morning inform us about the effects of illness; in these cases regarding leprosy. Our scriptures, and various other texts, give find detailed information about various diseases and each culture’s way of handling these illnesses.
Let us consider this passage before us. In both the OT and NT passages the focus is on leprosy. It is a disease which destroys nerve function and thus leaves a damaged flesh for those living with it have lost a great deal of normal sensation. It is a chronic infectious disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions are the primary external symptom (see “leprosy”). What is often translated in the scriptures as leprosy was in fact not always leprosy but sometimes a condition known as Tzaraath. This is a frightening condition in that the patient may actually lose a bodily limb. Hence the fears of these diseases in the scriptures and the symbol of being unclean.
When Jesus arrives on the scene travelling to Jerusalem through region between Samaria and Glailee He comes upon some of these people who have been ostracised by the community because of their disease. They must have heard about this Jesus who was not afraid of lepers. Traditionally lepers had to walk around with a bell and ring it when anyone came to close to them so that the people could move out the way. No-one wanted to come close to these unclean people because you could be declared unclean yourself!
But that must have hear the stories about this Jesus who ignored the bells and embraced lepers. The healings must have been known to them.
So when they heard He was coming through they sensed an opportunity for healing.
Can you imagine the scene? They had been treated with disdain and held at a distance because they had this disease. They had to show themselves to the priests but if they still had any pink spots or sores they were declared unclean and had to go and live far away outside the city wall in the filth that surround the town.
Cities were surrounded by high walls (even before some South African suburbs did this!) for protection from their enemies. All the refuse of the city was thrown a little way outside the walls. The sewer system also ran in open channels to the outside of the city. And it was to living here – outside the walls – that they were banished.
Most had forgotten what it was to be touched by another human being. Many continued to get worse because of the circumstances under which they lived.
Now this opportunity presents itself to them and they cry out: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us”.
Jesus chooses to show mercy and tells them to go and do the normal thing of presenting themselves to the priests so that they can be declared clean. What Jesus does at the outset is make them re-discover their human dignity by removing the stigma of disease.
1. JESUS REMOVES THE STIGMA OF DISEASE
Even today disease carries a stigma. When we speak of someone with HIV/AIDS we make judgements about their lifestyle, sometimes without even knowing them. We speak of people living with HIV/AIDS as statistics, and forget that they are real people. When we speak about people who suffer from depression we say things like, “need a head doctor”. And so we comfortably treat people like lepers were treated in the OT.
Jesus has come to remove the fear and stigma of disease and restores dignity to those who suffer. In fact, He comes specifically to those who are ill.
2. SUFFERING UNITES PEOPLE
Is it not amazing that this Samaritan was found among a number of Jews. The Samaritan was an outcast and yet, in the midst of a shared ailment, he found company with those who considered themselves superior.
Is it not true today that the same occurs. When people are ill, in the midst of war or trauma, all differences of creed and colour are quickly forgotten.
At another level this reminds us that we all suffer, some just hide it very well. No person is immune to illness and struggle. Some of us have just learned the art of covering up so well because we are afraid of what others might say. And yet, when the truth is revealed, we discover that we are all the same.
I recall well when we discovered Flavia’s tumour. We did not know much about brain tumours (acoustic neuroma is what it is called in her case) at this stage of our lives. And then, as we spoke about her tumour, we discovered that there were many people with similar conditions. Somehow it made it a little easier to know that we were not alone.
But I also discovered that some people do not want to even speak about it. They choose the route of denial instead, but so never actually find the healing that there is in finding others who care for you and support you.
Let us learn how to be honest with our selves that we may remove all the stigmas that society raises.
3. THE MAN IS HEALED COMPLETELY, NOT JUST OF A PHYSICAL AILMENT
Why is it that only one responds? All the others seem almost ungrateful for what Jesus has done for them.
That is not the case really. Certainly they could have come and thanked Him but Jesus saw beyond the physical ailment of this one who returned. You see he was a Samaritan. It was different for him. All the others could go to the priest, be declared clean, and go back to their normal existence.
But this man returns because even though he is no longer a leper he is still a Samaritan – an outsider. He must still live with a society’s prejudice and stigmatization.
He needs Jesus to do far more than just heal his skin disease. He needs to be completely restored so that he has value and his worth is recognized.
It is to this outsider that Jesus says : “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you whole”. This man needed to be restored to being a person of value and this is what Jesus does for him.
4. WE TOO NEED TO BE WHOLE
What is it that you carry in your body, heart or mind that needs this touch. Are you unable to sense the love that God has for you. Are you afraid to deal with any illness you may have because it will make you vulnerable? Are you scared what others will think?
Well it is the Christ who loves you and wants you to be whole, even as He made the Samaritan a whole person, who calls you today to come and allow His touch to restore you.
Call out to the one who makes a difference.
Perhaps you know this already and do not need to receive God’s healing right now but you have not treated others with the respect that Jesus offers them. Now is the time to seek to look people in the eye and offer them dignity as Jesus did. Let us encourage all people to be whole and be restored to a dignified relationship with God themselves and their communities.
AMEN.
I have on my bookshelf at home a copy of a medical handbook for medics from the First World War. It was passed down from my father’s father to him and then to me. It would appear that hot bitumen was the cure for many and sore and some of the concoctions that you were made to drink would make you want to die anyway! A broken bone lands you up looking like a mummy – all bandaged from head to toe! It makes for fascinating reading and all I can say is that I am very glad that I was not in that war needing treatment and that I am thankful that medicine has made great strides since then.
Disease and illness have always occupied humanity’s thinking. Perhaps it is a reminder of our mortality. We also realize that the human body is always prone to disease, much of it as the result of our own excesses and abuse.
Both scriptures read to us this morning inform us about the effects of illness; in these cases regarding leprosy. Our scriptures, and various other texts, give find detailed information about various diseases and each culture’s way of handling these illnesses.
Let us consider this passage before us. In both the OT and NT passages the focus is on leprosy. It is a disease which destroys nerve function and thus leaves a damaged flesh for those living with it have lost a great deal of normal sensation. It is a chronic infectious disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions are the primary external symptom (see “leprosy”). What is often translated in the scriptures as leprosy was in fact not always leprosy but sometimes a condition known as Tzaraath. This is a frightening condition in that the patient may actually lose a bodily limb. Hence the fears of these diseases in the scriptures and the symbol of being unclean.
When Jesus arrives on the scene travelling to Jerusalem through region between Samaria and Glailee He comes upon some of these people who have been ostracised by the community because of their disease. They must have heard about this Jesus who was not afraid of lepers. Traditionally lepers had to walk around with a bell and ring it when anyone came to close to them so that the people could move out the way. No-one wanted to come close to these unclean people because you could be declared unclean yourself!
But that must have hear the stories about this Jesus who ignored the bells and embraced lepers. The healings must have been known to them.
So when they heard He was coming through they sensed an opportunity for healing.
Can you imagine the scene? They had been treated with disdain and held at a distance because they had this disease. They had to show themselves to the priests but if they still had any pink spots or sores they were declared unclean and had to go and live far away outside the city wall in the filth that surround the town.
Cities were surrounded by high walls (even before some South African suburbs did this!) for protection from their enemies. All the refuse of the city was thrown a little way outside the walls. The sewer system also ran in open channels to the outside of the city. And it was to living here – outside the walls – that they were banished.
Most had forgotten what it was to be touched by another human being. Many continued to get worse because of the circumstances under which they lived.
Now this opportunity presents itself to them and they cry out: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us”.
Jesus chooses to show mercy and tells them to go and do the normal thing of presenting themselves to the priests so that they can be declared clean. What Jesus does at the outset is make them re-discover their human dignity by removing the stigma of disease.
1. JESUS REMOVES THE STIGMA OF DISEASE
Even today disease carries a stigma. When we speak of someone with HIV/AIDS we make judgements about their lifestyle, sometimes without even knowing them. We speak of people living with HIV/AIDS as statistics, and forget that they are real people. When we speak about people who suffer from depression we say things like, “need a head doctor”. And so we comfortably treat people like lepers were treated in the OT.
Jesus has come to remove the fear and stigma of disease and restores dignity to those who suffer. In fact, He comes specifically to those who are ill.
2. SUFFERING UNITES PEOPLE
Is it not amazing that this Samaritan was found among a number of Jews. The Samaritan was an outcast and yet, in the midst of a shared ailment, he found company with those who considered themselves superior.
Is it not true today that the same occurs. When people are ill, in the midst of war or trauma, all differences of creed and colour are quickly forgotten.
At another level this reminds us that we all suffer, some just hide it very well. No person is immune to illness and struggle. Some of us have just learned the art of covering up so well because we are afraid of what others might say. And yet, when the truth is revealed, we discover that we are all the same.
I recall well when we discovered Flavia’s tumour. We did not know much about brain tumours (acoustic neuroma is what it is called in her case) at this stage of our lives. And then, as we spoke about her tumour, we discovered that there were many people with similar conditions. Somehow it made it a little easier to know that we were not alone.
But I also discovered that some people do not want to even speak about it. They choose the route of denial instead, but so never actually find the healing that there is in finding others who care for you and support you.
Let us learn how to be honest with our selves that we may remove all the stigmas that society raises.
3. THE MAN IS HEALED COMPLETELY, NOT JUST OF A PHYSICAL AILMENT
Why is it that only one responds? All the others seem almost ungrateful for what Jesus has done for them.
That is not the case really. Certainly they could have come and thanked Him but Jesus saw beyond the physical ailment of this one who returned. You see he was a Samaritan. It was different for him. All the others could go to the priest, be declared clean, and go back to their normal existence.
But this man returns because even though he is no longer a leper he is still a Samaritan – an outsider. He must still live with a society’s prejudice and stigmatization.
He needs Jesus to do far more than just heal his skin disease. He needs to be completely restored so that he has value and his worth is recognized.
It is to this outsider that Jesus says : “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you whole”. This man needed to be restored to being a person of value and this is what Jesus does for him.
4. WE TOO NEED TO BE WHOLE
What is it that you carry in your body, heart or mind that needs this touch. Are you unable to sense the love that God has for you. Are you afraid to deal with any illness you may have because it will make you vulnerable? Are you scared what others will think?
Well it is the Christ who loves you and wants you to be whole, even as He made the Samaritan a whole person, who calls you today to come and allow His touch to restore you.
Call out to the one who makes a difference.
Perhaps you know this already and do not need to receive God’s healing right now but you have not treated others with the respect that Jesus offers them. Now is the time to seek to look people in the eye and offer them dignity as Jesus did. Let us encourage all people to be whole and be restored to a dignified relationship with God themselves and their communities.
AMEN.
No comments:
Post a Comment