LENT 4
“Jesus, Our Healer”
Texts: 2 Kings 5:1-14
Mark 6:53-56
Preached: 3/26/17
Seoul, South Korea ranks as one of the most visited cities in the world and
a great place to live. The modern metropolis boasts many amenities: a
wonderful public transportation system, easy access to great parks,
wonderful food and great weather in the spring and fall.
The weather in the summer, however, is less than desirable. It rains nearly as many days as it
doesn't. And then there is the winter monsoon season, which is absolutely dismal. Weeks of clouds
and rain cover the vibrant and colorful city of Seoul and its people with drab, dreary grays that weigh
heavily upon the soul.
We know how a string of dreary weather days can affect our
moods. Medical professionals have confirmed that days
without sun do, indeed cast a darkness over our general
disposition. Some suffer so much from this phenomenon
that they are diagnosed with a form of depression called
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Even if you don’t have
SAD, you probably know what it is like to feel down when
the sun won’t shine.
But what if there was a way to bring color and joy into our lives in the midst of the gray pall of clouds
and rain?
Designers from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) wondered the same thing. They
traveled to Seoul, Korea, with a novel idea to bring some color to monsoon season.
On sidewalks, streets, crosswalks and alleyways
the Chicago artists painted colorful murals. On
one busy sidewalk, they painted a giant pink
whale surrounded by fish of many shapes, sizes
and brilliant colors. They all appear to be
swimming down the street together with the
pedestrians.
These amazingly bright and beautiful murals make it appear as though one is walking over a surreal
aquarium, or a glass-topped river. They incorporate brilliant blues, pinks, yellows, reds, purples and
greens that are in stark contrast to a gray sky.
But here's the amazing part! Most of the time the
murals are invisible, including an alley walkway,
where artists painted a team of colorful turtles
swimming alongside some smaller creatures. They
were painted with hydrochromatic paint, a special
concoction that only becomes visible when activated
by water. In other words, these beautiful works of art
are only visible when it rains!
Therefore, when the sun shines down on the people of Seoul, and there is plenty of color in their
lives, the murals are invisible. The painted streets and alleys look like every other walkway.
When it rains, however, the water activates the hydrochromatic paint and color bursts through the
gray.
Like the street where a colorful group of fish look like they
are feeding near a curb. Joy peeks through the soggy
sadness. Those walking with their heads and hearts down
are greeted not with more gloom, but with wonder and
playfulness. A dreary walk to work becomes an adventure
of marine discovery.
This happens not in spite of the rain, but because of it. The storm water causes the murals to appear
and brings a semblance of healing to the brokenness caused by the dreary weather.
Most of us in Western Pennsylvania have learned to cope with
dreary weather, but we certainly struggle sometimes with a
monsoon season of the soul. Ailing bodies, broken relationships,
tight finances, disabling grief, or just general feelings of
dissatisfaction with our day-to-day existence can feel like
darkness and clouds that will not dissipate.
And sometimes things seem to go from bad to worse. As the
saying goes, "When it rains, it pours."
When we find ourselves in such a predicament – we, as people of faith look to Jesus.
Throughout this Lenten Season we have been asking the
question, “Who Is Jesus?” We have identified Jesus as “Our
Preacher…Our Friend…Our Storyteller,” but today, we call
Jesus “Our Healer.”
When we are in a bad way, hurting inside or out, we look for
relief – relief we cannot find on our own.
We can look to Jesus, Our Healer, who in turn sees us with eyes of
compassion. He reminds us that our life and our well-being matter to
God. Jesus demonstrates this over and over by healing those who are
broken.
Jesus’ way is God’s own healing way.
Did you know the story of Naaman before today?
He lived generations before Jesus and he was desperate for healing.
By most standards, Naaman appeared to have everything going for
him, except that he suffered from leprosy.
While he was a high-ranking general in the army of Aram, a powerful
nation…All of his power, reputation and skill in battle were useless
against his illness. He could find no relief in his own country – but he
had heard about Elisha, the prophet of God in Israel, a healer. So, he
made the trip!
But Naaman doesn’t receive the care he imagined and, at first, scoffs at the prophet’s hands-off
approach. He is not treated in a way that is worthy of his position and wealth. He doesn't even get an
audience with the famous prophet. There is no examination, no tests, no sympathy or bedside
manner.
In the climactic scene of the story, when Naaman is at the
height of his frustration, he talks about the water. He angrily
questions what Elisha thinks is so special about the Jordan
River. He goes so far as to say that the water of the rivers at
home in the powerful nation of Aram must be superior to that of
a river in the conquered land of Israel.
But he finally relents. What Naaman doesn't know is that the
healing powers are not in the water, but in the power of God,
who is already alive in Naaman’s life. Indeed is alive in your life
and mine…in the life of everyone.
Naaman's healing is, in a sense, hydrochromatic.
Like the rain on the streets of Seoul activating the
paint, the water of the Jordan makes visible what had
previously gone unnoticed, but had been there all
along.
Colors burst through the gray. Joy peeks through the sadness. Wonder and awe break through
feelings of brokenness and weakness. The power of God was made visible by Naaman's bathing in
the Jordan River.
As Naaman sought out Elisha, the prophet of God, so the people of Jesus’ time sought him,
because Jesus, too, was known as a healer…one who healed all manner of people, even lepers.
When Jesus was spotted in public, when a crowd recognized
him, people would run home, round up their ailing family
member or sick neighbor, their blind brother, or their
handicapped nephew, and get them into Jesus’ presence.
People brought patients on mats, reminding us of Jesus healing
the paralytic (Mark 2:1-12) – whose friends had lowered him
through the roof!
Throughout the gospel of Mark, various people plead for healing.
(1:40; 5:23; 7:32; 8:22). This “healing” is closely connected to the
word for “salvation,” -- the same verb (Gk – sozo) can actually be
used for both meanings. The final detail about the sick “touch[ing]
the fringe of his cloak” (6:56) reminds us vividly of the bleeding
woman who had been healed by Jesus in exactly that way.
Vicki Callender found this painting that adorns
the front cover of our Compass Points,
interestingly enough, painted by Korean artist
Yongsung Kim. It’s titled, “Save Me – The Hand
of God.” Jesus has never been afraid of storms.
He walks on water. He reaches down to us.
Today we seek healing from Jesus. If you find yourself in a dark and gray time, or you pray for
another who is struggling, I pray that those waters of adversity might reveal to you the healing power
of Jesus Christ, who is surely alive in you.