“Powerful Love in Action”
Luke 6:17-26
February 15, 2004
Pain exists. Suffering is real. It takes many forms.
I received an email this week from a man in Moscow via our church website. He had seen our webpage on the internet and he reached out to us through email. His son suffered an accident at school many years ago. Corrosive chemicals had splashed into his young eyes. The resulting chemical burns left him blind. After many years, dollars, and unsuccessful treatments this father has found the means necessary to send him to one of the foremost ocular clinics in the world. It is located in Miami, Florida. He cannot afford to make the trip with his son; the young man will make the journey alone. He will fly into NYC, go through US Customs, have a brief layover, switch planes, fly to Miami, where he will have to make it from the airport to the clinic. Remember, he’s blind. He will have the assistance of his cane and nothing else. He doesn’t speak English. His father is desperately searching for someone to help guide his son from one plane to the next in New York. And someone to help get the boy from the airport to the clinic in Miami. This seems like a simple task to us, any one of us (if we lived there) could do it. All it would take on our part is a little bit of time. But it would mean everything in the world to this individual.
Pain exists. Suffering is real. It takes many forms.
Roger and Ellen had been married for 52 years. She recently lost her battle with cancer. Roger’s best friend is gone. The company he had grown so accustomed to is now absent. The opportunities for walks and talks with the woman he loved so dearly aren’t a possibility any longer. It hurts. No one comes to visit him. No one bothers to call. The sinking loneliness has left him numb. In the endless hours of solitude the darkness of despair has begun to take hold. Silence is his prison. All he needs is someone to talk to, someone to show they care. It seems like an easy thing to do, any one of us could make a visit or a phone call. All it would take on our part is a little bit of time. But it would mean everything in the world to this individual.
Pain exists. Suffering is real. It takes many forms.
Harold had a troubled life early on. He was a “wild child” his rebellion carried over into his adulthood. After repeated run-ins with the law and bouts with drug and alcohol abuse, he finally found himself at what they call “rock-bottom”. With the help of a few committed friends, an accountability program, and caring and understanding wife, Harold’s life took a turn for the better. When some of his new friends cared enough to point him toward the forgiveness found in Christ, Harold and his wife started attending church. They became members, and now, 5 years later, they are regulars in worship on Sunday. Harold likes the pastor, he enjoys the fellowship and friends found at church. Things are great. Then one day last month Harold’s doctor had bad news. Harold has an incurable liver and kidney disease. The precipitating cause? Years of alcohol abuse. How long does he have? 6 to 8 months. Harold is crushed, he blames himself. He plagues himself with “if only’s”… “If only I hadn’t been so stubborn.” “If only I would have only gotten off the bottle earlier.” “If only I had listened long ago, this would never have happened.” Harold had been told at church that he was forgiven, but now he doesn’t believe it. He is convinced God is punishing him now for his rebellion of the past. He knew it was too good to be true, he sinned and now it is time to pay. He needs to be reassured of the Gospel. He needs to be told, again and again, how much God loves him, how Christ already paid for all his sins, and rose from the dead as proof of victory. All he needs is someone with the patience and dedication to keep reassuring him of this forgiveness. All he needs is someone to share with him those life-giving words of salvation. All it would take on our part is a little bit of time. But it would make all the difference in the world to this individual.
Pain exists. Suffering is real. It takes many forms. This is not a new phenomenon. The same was true 2,000 when God’s Son walked the earth. In our Gospel lesson today Jesus descends from the mountain. He had just “set aside” or commissioned his 12 disciples. As they come down from the heights, they see a large crowd has gathered awaiting Jesus.
The people gathered were not just the faithful Jews of Judea, or the skeptical rabbis from Jerusalem, but also Gentiles and pagans from the far reaches of Israel. Even people from the twin cities of sin, Tyre and Sidon, were present! They all came to HEAR Him. All of them came, not to see what the fuss was all about, but to hear the Word of God this man spoke to them.
Among them there were many with ailments. The Greek word used here is the generic word for ailments, nosoj, which is where we get the word “nausea”. This term encompasses every form of disease or infirmity one can have. While many other accounts in the New Testament take pains to specify the different types of illness Jesus cured, such as; leprosy, palsy, blindness, paralyzed limbs, etc., this one term covers them all. The emphasis in this text isn’t on the diseases, but the man who possesses the power of God to cure all of them. In addition, people with unclean spirits came to be set free by Jesus. What we see here is a beautiful picture of Jesus undoing all the effects of sin, and sickness, and the power of the devil.
The people who desired a cure had faith, faith that recognized Jesus as the one and only cure-giver. Their faith believed Jesus not only could cure all ills, but that He would cure them. They believed all they had to do was touch Him and their lives would be set back in order, restored, made whole. They knew all they needed was the healing touch of the Son of God. They were right. The reason Jesus did this was to show the powerful love of God which He came to reveal. That’s what this season of Epiphany is all about, God revealing Himself through His Son. Today, in these verses, we see the powerful Love of God put in to action.
Some people may say, “Great, so Jesus revealed God’s love 2000 years ago in the Middle East when He cured a bunch of people. What does that mean for me today?” It means everything. Jesus is the same. The author of the book of Hebrews writes, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever”. The same power, the same compassion, and the same healing touch are still with us, right here and right now.
Some may say, “Where is He? I don’t see Him!” Yes, you do. He is right here, in His very own body and blood every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. He is right here, in the waters of Baptism when He brings people into His family. And he is right here, in all of you, as through the power of the Holy Spirit he lives in your hearts through faith. He has set up residence in your life and He works through you.
Today is Human Care Sunday. Today we focus on how Christ really does use us as His tools in this world. He has made us His set-apart “care-givers”. Our job? To point the hurting people of this world to the one and only “Cure-giver”. And bring them to the only cure that counts, the crucified and risen Son of God. What a wonderful privilege, what a great opportunity to share with others what has already been given to us!
But even in this joyous service to God and fellow man, we desperately fail. Our performance record in this area is pitiful. We have all neglected this all-important task, not just once, or even twice. We have all wasted countless opportunities. We do this when we would rather turn our head than lend a helping hand. When we shun instead of embracing. When we prioritize our daily schedule above taking the time to pause and show God’s love in action.
We have not only failed in pointing people to Christ, we have even substituted false cures in His place. We have become quacks that peddle modern-day spiritual snake oils. We do this when we point people to pop psychology, instead of God’s love. We do this when we recommend self-help books instead of God’s Word. When Dr. Phil becomes our source for knowledge and wisdom and all the answers, rather than looking to Him who made this world and gave His life to save us. We have sinned. We have neglected to point people to Jesus, and we have offered them false and empty cures in His place.
For all these sins, and countless others, Jesus’ healing touch reaches out this morning to forgive and heal you of the sickness of sin. For all the times we’re too selfish to do our jobs, our Lord was selfless-and He did His job. He emptied Himself. He gave up everything He had. How? He died on a cross in your place. That’s what God’s love looks like. 3 days later, the power of God was once again revealed in His Son, when Jesus conquered death for good.
That powerful forgiveness, that powerful love, shown in Christ’s actions, is alive in our hearts. Hearts that were dead in sin have been revived, and filled with God’s love. The type of love that shows itself in actions. The kind of love that reaches out to those who need help; the suffering, the lonely, the afflicted.
Why have a Human Care Sunday? Because we are all a part of this task. Whether we do this individually or corporately. In our daily vocation (like Mom, Dad, Husband, Child, Employee), or as a member of a special group like Stephen’s Ministry, we are all bringing people to the same place, to the love of Christ. The power of God, his healing touch, and his life-changing forgiveness, are still found in the same place today as they were 2000 years ago, His Son. And it is here and only here, that we point people.
Whether someone is a blind boy from Moscow, an aged widower battling loneliness, or someone trapped in the prison of guilt, the saying is true. Pain exists. Suffering is real. It takes many forms.
I am here to tell you today, that because of what Christ has done, Forgiveness Exists, Restoration is Real, and His love takes many forms. Often times, it looks just like you, and it makes all the difference in the world. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Now may the Lord who began this good work in you bring it to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
