Sermon Central
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Sickology - Part 3 Series
Contributed by Steve Ely on May 19, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: Psychologists study the human mind. Biologists study life. Sociologists study society and social behavior. Jesus must have been a Sickoligist. Everywhere he went he was constantly surrounded and followed by sick people. Blind folks, mute folks, lame folks
Sickology
Part 3
Each week I have mentioned some “ologists” that you are probably familiar with. For instance I mentioned the ophthalmologists and the psychologist. This morning I want to mention an “ologist” that I doubt anyone has ever heard of . . . Dactyliologist. Anybody have a guess as to what this type of “ologist” studies? It is someone who studies and makes finger rings and in some cases toe rings. All of the men in the room try to avoid this “ologist” at all cost or there will be a cost and the women will make sure that it is an expensive study! No one ever seemed to avoid the Sickologist. In fact, it seems like everywhere he went people would hunt him down. He would try to take a time away and thousands of people would follow him with total disregard for their own basic needs like food. He was in demand. Sick people flocked to him believing that the Sickologist would heal them. But it wasn’t just sick folks that sought him out. On numerous occasions people who had sick family members or friends would go after Jesus on their behalf, Jairus, the men with the stretcher bound friend, again in today’s text. Let’s learn some Sick Truth!
22And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw as he ought. 24And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. 26And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."
1. The Sickologist will take you out of your comfort zone.
The people bring Jesus a blind man and ask Jesus to heal him. Why did they bring this man? Village pet? Village mascot? Don’t really know, but if they picked this one man then it is safe to assume that this man had probably been in the environment all of his life. The people loved him, looked out for him and made an appointment with the Sickologist for him!
Notice what Jesus did. The Bible says Jesus took the man out of the village. I am sure the blind man was comfortable in the village. He felt safe in the village. He knew the tree stump was 3 steps to the right and the fountain was 4 to the left. He was in his comfort zone. Jesus removes the crutch of comfort. Jesus removes him from his familiar.
Jesus will you do that to you. You come to him with a problem and a situation. His first step will be to remove you from your comfort zone. Some of you need to be taken out of the village. You are accustomed to this type of worship, these songs, this beat and Jesus wants to take you by the hand and lead you into an unfamiliar place. God wants to expand your box. Maybe your healing, your touch will come through a hymn. Maybe your change will come alone rather than in a crowd. Jesus removes us from our comfort zone. Get ready to be escorted away from the village. If you are comfortable I encourage you to take a walk this morning. Take a walk out of the village. Let Jesus make you uncomfortable!
2. The Sickologist may be speechless!
Don’t you think the man was wondering what was going on? I mean the people bring him to Jesus in the village and without a word Jesus takes him on a journey into the wilderness. Jesus, I don’t mean to complain, but I think you misunderstood my friends they said, “touch my eyes not I need exercise”. I need a touch not a walk. I am sure the man was a little freaked. In his blindness, he has learned to rely on his hearing and yet, Jesus doesn’t say a word. Away from the noise of the village and away from the crowd of the people, he just begins the walk. Jesus, can you give me some idea of where we are going? I am uncomfortable in this silence Lord, where are we going? Jesus doesn’t say a word until he gets him where he wants him.
