2. Jesus' ministry gains momentum

A ministry of word and deed

8 February 2009

We can see from the early section of Mark’s gospel that the news about Jesus was spreading fast. After all, how could someone who came onto the scene with such an immediate impact not stir a great reaction? He called disciples while they were about their daily work … and then went to Simon’s home to bring healing to his mother-in-law.

The early chapters of Mark give us far more than just an insight into the ministry of Jesus; they show us how broad Jesus’ agenda was – and it must be understood by those who follow him today. His mission was wide-ranging and its scope reached beyond narrow confines. As we perceive the kingdom of God, which has drawn near in the announcement of good news, we must ask ourselves what are the modern equivalents in the way the kingdom will challenge, change and create new possibilities today.

In a very real sense, this is the whole purpose of Wesley Mission. As the world has entered the choppy waters of economic uncertainty, our concern will be to interpret our mission alongside human need and to ensure our work continues amongst some of the most vulnerable and those who are too easily forgotten. This will be far from easy, but vital in every sense.

Just as the test of any team is measured in relation to its capacity to deliver results, so we measure our outcomes ultimately in relation to the capacity to care in a professional, appropriate and relevant way. Jesus chose to exercise his ministry with a team around him … and their talents would be used in the spread of the good news.

This growth in influence is demonstrated by the way people responded to his ministry:-

Simon’s mother-in-law wanted to express her gratitude (v.31).
The people came to him with their needs (v.32).
The whole town gathered at the door (v.33).

We recognise that the world has changed dramatically over the past twelve months. We see the impact of an economic melt-down that is permeating every aspect of our work. We have witnessed the election of a President of the United States of America. As Barack Obama placed his left hand on the Lincoln Bible, he was surrounded by unparallelled political expectation.

However, the acid test of his presidency will lie beyond his Inauguration and the attendant political enthusiasm; it will be in relation to the critical issues of the economy, the bringing together of a nation and a new beginning for the world in relation to the Middle-East. This is not dissimilar to the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, which would move beyond the confines of individual help and group enthusiasm. Indeed, the ministry of Jesus sets a pattern for us all that will come to a climax in the ‘way of the cross’.

When Jesus began his mission, it is not accurate to say that people looked on with meaningful expectation. However, as we examine the events of the New Testament, we become sure of the significance of these early incidents. It is fitting to reflect upon them at the beginning of a new year of working together.

So we remind ourselves that, in the early verses of Mark, Jesus’ ministry is spreading and the incident in the synagogue at Capernaum concludes: “News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.” (1:28)

I hold before you two texts which point to the obvious increase in momentum and influence of Jesus’ ministry in the early days of his teaching and healing.

Mark 1:33 – “The whole town is gathered at the door.”
Mark 1:37 – “Everyone is looking for you.”

These two verses lie in close textual proximity, but give us contrasting insight. The first describes the way news about him quickly spread and this leads to people bringing their sick and disturbed for healing … and the second defines how, despite the fact that Jesus maintained the crucial life of prayer (v.35), the people would not leave him – and Jesus astounds his disciples by choosing to move on to another place. It is clear that his mission could not be either narrowly defined or restricted in its focus.

As we begin a new year together, I observe the ministry of Jesus and ask what it has to say to us as Wesley Mission today.

His ministry reached out to those in need

Plainly, this is our purpose - and it seems almost too obvious to mention. We do, however, have to remind ourselves of this at significant moments. In this section in Mark 1:21-34, we have a day in the life of Jesus. This typical day in his busy schedule shows his driving out an evil spirit, the response of the people, the crowds coming to him, the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law of a fever, the life of prayer and the willingness to move on to bring his message of compassion to others.

The response to him was immediate

Both verses point to the immediacy of people’s response to him. Part of the reason for this is the fact that Jesus met people where they were. The challenge is clear.

The ministry which began in the synagogue continues in the home. It is, as we have said, an all-embracing ministry and many people will respond to him.

The reaction of Jesus is equally immediate

Jesus responded to the need – though he does not want to be overwhelmed by the people.

To my way of thinking, one of the ways greatness can be assessed relates to accessibility. I was sad to read of a former pop star who posted on his website last year that he would no longer be signing autographs or replying to his fans! Ringo Starr may well have felt that he was tired of signing photographs, and one can understand the frustrations, but these same supporters have been his lifeblood for well over forty-five years!

The result was always a meeting of need by gracious love

There is an underlying question in relation to healing (as in the exorcism earlier) and that is why God would involve himself in the world. At least part of the answer is that, in the gospel, the stress is upon the relationship between the healer and the healed.

Don English observed, “Openness to be healed, honesty about the illness, faith in Jesus’ power are highly personal elements present, often reflecting a move towards health within the ill person as well as the willingness and power of Jesus to heal.”

Grace is love in action and his ministry shows how God works. Healing is undeserved and occurs not because of the sick person, but because of the love of the One who heals.

It is not too difficult to see how love can be the driver of a face-to-face ministry with the vulnerable, but our challenge is to see it in all areas of our work. It should permeate our marketing, management and media, as well as our legal, property and strategic planning. We are all part of a mission to reach out to people in need.

I want to comment about this love. It is not a sloppy, sentimental ‘feel good’ about each other – or indeed about the ones we help. Augustine had a far deeper understanding: “What does it look like? It has hands to help others, feet to hasten to the poor and needy, eyes to see misery and want, ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”

Our mission is to find the way to reach people in a way that is both positive and appropriate. Authority without relationship will achieve very little. There is a wonderful story of a young second lieutenant at Fort Bragg in the USA, who discovered that he had no change when he was about to buy a soft drink from a vending machine. He flagged down a passing private and asked him, “Do you have change for a dollar?” The private said cheerfully, “I think so, let me take a look.”

The lieutenant drew himself up stiffly and said, “Soldier, that is no way to address an officer. We’ll start all over again. Do you have change for a dollar?” The private came to attention, saluted smartly and said, “No, sir!”

I don’t think such a story requires much explanation!

His ministry was fearless in confronting evil

We have already observed that Jesus’ driving out of evil spirits is such a priority that it heads up his ministry, immediately after the call of the disciples. Because we concentrate upon love and grace, we are prone to ignore the strength of character that we observe as Jesus is fearless in confronting evil. This makes sense as we apply faith to the issues of justice in our society, of peace in the world, poverty, racism, sexism … and so many other such issues. We must not leave these to others – for they are matters that concern Christian discipleship today.

When Sabbath was over, the work continued

The first incident of the exorcism happens in the context of the synagogue; the second happens in Simon Peter’s home. In addition to the fact that it shows the continuing spread of the influence of Jesus’ early ministry, it is also a straightforward healing. There is a marked reserve in the way in which the incident is told … though with Marcan detail telling us ‘he held her hand and raised her up’. This occurrence after Sabbath concluded was as much a work of God as that which happened in the synagogue. This resonates with our understanding of the work in which we share. Our care of people and the struggle for what is right is certainly as important as our worship – and vice versa.

With appropriate spiritual power, evil was confronted

The spiritual priorities of Jesus are found throughout the whole of his ministry. The inter-relation between the power invested in Jesus and the inner-response of people is what sets them free.

After sundown, the end of the Sabbath, crowds came to the house in which he was staying. They could not have come sooner because such a request for healing was considered to be work. Jesus mercifully heals them all and casts out demons. Jesus matches their needs with his spiritual resources.

Well-grounded faith will always contest the powers of evil

The fearlessness we see in Jesus must somehow be seen in us. The misplaced priorities which dominate our communities and the lack of concern for others are not merely weakness to be improved, but ways to be corrected! We must not be afraid of those who have power or resources. Truth carries a power which cannot be denied. (John 8:32)

There is a shallow advertising maxim which says that if you provide what people want, they will beat a path to your door. It is, however, a poor analysis which suggests Jesus advertised a product which was required to such an extent that he had a good response. Nevertheless, it is true that people with needs were drawn by the magnetic pull of the Spirit in the ministry of Jesus. The needs were more than physical or psychological healing.

In his penetrating book The First Circle, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Russian author who defected to America, makes an interesting observation about how the Russian authorities handled the church. He wrote, “No-one stops them from ringing their bells; they can break communion bread anyway they please. They can have their processions with the cross. But they will in no way allow them to have any connection with social or civic affairs.” The church was allowed to go through the motions; it could have a presence, but it dare not have an influence.

What bothered the scribes was not that Jesus prayed and preached … it was the fact that his prayers and his sermons were moving the people to action. So often our problem is not that we lack authority; it is that we do not use the authority we have. It is time we stopped defining the problems of the world and start applying our faith to the problems.

We have been given authority by God, through Jesus Christ, to heal, to proclaim, to change, to bring redemption, and to expel. We are under an imperative from God and we need not fear either principalities or death … for Christ has been given all authority over heaven and earth.

His ministry was saturated in spiritual priorities

One of the reasons our gospel theme of the day is helpful is that it points to the active ministry of Jesus and the growing momentum of his influence in the context of spirituality. You will appreciate that, for me, this is an important part of my understanding of Wesley Mission. We will always want to underpin our activities with spiritual priorities.

Former nun, Karen Armstrong, became dissatisfied with religious dogma, acknowledging that faith is not about achieving a set of ready-made answers. She contends that faith is about trust and compassion – and, from this starting point, A Charter for Compassion is being developed. Such a way must begin in meaningful spirituality.

Because of a holiday in New Zealand and visiting Napier, I thought of the architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, who once told of an incident that may have seemed insignificant at the time, but had a profound influence on the rest of his life. In the winter he was nine, he went walking across a snow-covered field with his reserved, no-nonsense uncle.

As the two of them reached the far end of the field, his uncle stopped him. He pointed out his own tracks in the snow, straight and true as an arrow’s flight, and then young Frank’s tracks meandering all over the field. “Notice how your tracks wander aimlessly from the fence to the cattle to the woods and back again,” his uncle said. “And see how my tracks aim directly to my goal. There is an important lesson in that.”

Years later, the world-famous architect liked to tell how this experience had greatly contributed to his philosophy in life. “I determined right then,” he’d say with a twinkle in his eye, “not to miss most things in life, as my uncle had.”

Jesus revealed his spiritual priorities -

Through the setting apart of time

Amidst the wide array of activity within the ministry of Jesus, we notice he found time to pray. This is not an acted parable … Jesus actually needed to spend time in this way. Mark will remind us of the way in which Jesus gains strength and guidance in his ministry (6:46 and 14:32-42). As we begin so many of the important activities in the coming days, we gather in worship.

By the establishment of solitary space

The solitary place was significant. If he arose early and didn’t leave the house, he would have a sense of aloneness – but he chose a place of meaning. There is a need for us all to rediscover the importance of the sacred. Of course, you can pray anywhere – but half-time at the Roosters v the Rabbitohs is not the best place to develop your spiritual life – although intercessory prayer can be particularly focused!

Jesus needed, as we all do, times away from the crowds. I am always concerned about people who don’t take ‘time out’. We all need that and we certainly need it in a spiritual sense.

In the cultivation of a life of prayer

If Jesus Christ, the Son of God, knew what it was to give himself to prayer and to cultivate it, then how much more do we need to be attentive to such matters? He has so much to do that he needed to give more time to spiritual priorities.

This was the secret centre of all that Jesus did. Being a celebrity can be a problem … which most of us don’t have to worry about! I remember Kriss Akabusi was noted for his achievements on the athletics field. He was a three times Olympic medalist in Barcelona and Los Angeles. Like so many, he built a career on the back of his athletics, using his previous skills where he earned rank as an officer in the army. He was a motivational speaker – and he became flavour of the month!

I remember Kriss once commenting, “I believe God is primarily calling me to be a witness where I am … rather than a celebrity Christian speaking at a different church each Sunday.”

Is it not supported by the thought of Ralph Waldo Emerson? “What you are shouts so loud in my ears I cannot hear what you say.”

Perhaps the definition of leadership by Max De Pree gets to the heart of the matter, when he writes, “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.”

We need to have a clear picture of what is really going on around us. Only in this way can we help others to take an honest look at reality. This will be the launching pad of our momentum today!

We will need to define reality in our world – and also the appropriate reason for helping others today. The example of Jesus is the best place to begin.

We are accountable. Some straightforward words say it all:

If He should come today and find my hand so full
Of future plans, however fair,
In which my Saviour has no share,
What would He say?
If He should come today and find my love so cold,
My faith so very weak and dim
I had not even looked for Him,
What would He say?
If He should come today and find that I had not told
One soul about my heavenly Friend
Whose blessings all my way attend,
What would He say?
If He should come today, I would be glad,
Remembering that He died for all
And none through me had heard His call,
What would He say?
(Grace Troy)

Christian Life