Gauche, Bent, Beloved

Preliminary manuscript

Sermon for North Hill Adventist Fellowship

Sabbath, June 2, 2012

Texts: Luke 13:10-17, John 12:1-8

One Sabbath, when Jesus was at church, he noticed a woman bent over double. She had been this way for 18 years. It broke Jesus' heart. He hurt with the pain of her twisted back.

Jesus called her over. She hobbled over to him. “Woman,” he said. “You are made well.” Then he touched her and instantly she was healed. She straightened up. Whole. Erect. Beautiful.”

She made a lot of noise praising God.

The leader of synagogue also made some noise. It was not happy noise. He grumped. He fumed. He said, loudly, to the audience, “It's Sabbath, folks. There are six days for doing work. If you want to get healed come on some day other than Sabbath. What do you think this is? A hospital?”

Jesus was not about to let it go.

“You hypocrite!” he said. “You untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water, don't you? And you think nothing of it because, your tradition (rightly) teaches that even animals have standing as living being on Sabbath. The Sabbath commandment explicitly expresses regard for animals. So, you'll give routine, ordinary care to the children of cows and donkeys, but you would forbid healing for this dear woman, a daughter of Abraham????? You miserable hypocrite! This woman, this daughter of Abraham has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn't it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?"

The synagogue leader was speechless. It was true. Jewish tradition did recognize the moral standing of animals. Even cows and donkeys had a claim on “humane” care on the Sabbath. And certainly a woman—even though the ruler would have regarded her as lower than a man—would have a higher claim than a cow.

We laugh at the Pharisees because of their preoccupation with rules and regulations. But we laugh at them only because we aren't committed to the exact same rules and regulations. But we are just as vigorous in defending the rules and regulations that matter to us.

Some Americans think the children of illegal immigrants should not be allowed to go to public schools. Why? Because they hate kids? No. Because they are concerned to preserve the integrity of national borders and the rule of law. But note, this is a clear case where the well-being of living, breathing human beings collides with legal niceties.

Jesus repeatedly demonstrated his highest commitment was to human well-being. If people were hungry, he fed them. If they were possessed by demons, he rescued them. If they were sick he healed them. If they were blind, he gave them sight. Jesus' number one priority was making people whole.

Should not this daughter of Abraham be loosed? The answer is always yes.

A second story.

Jesus was at a feast hosted by his friend Lazarus and catered by Lazarus' sister Martha. During the dinner, Lazarus and Martha's sister Mary slipped in and, while everyone was eating, began kissing Jesus' feet. She had with her a container of world-class perfume. It was so valuable, it cost a year's wages, so what . . . $30,000 to $40,000?

Her behavior, kissing Jesus' feet in public was scandalous enough. Pouring thousands of dollars worth of perfume on Jesus' feet was truly over the top.

Jesus was an extraordinary person. He evoked unusual behavior in people. Once people ripped open a roof to get their friend into the presence of Jesus. Once, that we know of, when he was preaching on the beach the crowds pressed in him so intensely they were going to shove him out into the lake. He ended up preaching from a boat.

So here was this woman, in a society that separated men and women far more strictly than we do, kissing Jesus feet and pouring thousands of dollars worth of perfume over them.

One of Jesus' disciples, Judas, the guy who served as treasurer, began muttering: What a waste! She should have given the perfume to Jesus in an intact container, then we could have sold it and used the money to make a real difference in people's lives. Think of all the poor people we could have helped with this money.

(John, who tells us this story, reports that Judas was not really interested in the poor. He was interested in the disciples' bank account which he managed . . . and which he helped himself to on occasion.)

Jesus did not let it go.

“Judas.” Jesus stared at his disciple. When he had Judas full attention, Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She did this to prepare me for burial.” The implication was that any expense was justified. In that culture, it was customary to spend lavishly on burials. It was the way you showed respect. Even Judas would not have dared to question this expense out loud, if he had recognized it as a part of a burial.

Different versions of this story are told in each of the four gospels. In the different accounts Jesus says different things.

In Matthew and Mark, Jesus says, “Why are you criticizing this woman for doing such a good thing for me. (The word “good” can also be translated, “beautiful.” -- She has done a beautiful thing. ) You'll have the poor with you always. And you can always do them good. (That will be something beautiful you can do. But this is her beautiful thing. So, leave her alone.) You will not always have me with you. What she has done is so sweet, so good, that everywhere the gospel is preached this story will be told in her honor.”

Judas was critical. Jesus was affirming.

Jesus is our model. He calls us to join him in doing everything in our power to protect and defend the vulnerable. He calls us to renounce criticism as a way of life.

The synagogue leader and Judas both had positions of prominence. They thought their status made their critical judgment especially important. But they were wrong. Their status imposed on them a greater obligation to affirm, to encourage, to ease the troubles of others.

How do we apply this in real life—in our real life?

Let go of criticism as a way of life. Do not allow yourself to regularly, habitually criticize your kids, your spouse, your parents, your co-workers, your boss, your employees. There are times when you need to say something negative. Sometimes you have to speak up. Just as Jesus did in these two situations. He pushed back against the synagogue ruler and against Judas. But he did that only to create space and safety for vulnerable people who were being squeezed by those with higher status.

One step further, for some people, the hardest step of all: let go of criticism of yourself. If you find yourself constantly scolding yourself, constantly condemning yourself, replace your natural self-talk with the words of Jesus: Should not this daughter of Abraham be set free? Leave her alone. She has done a good work for me.

Jesus' response to brokenness was not condemnation but compassion. So, when you see in your own life evidence that you are broken, instead of condemning yourself or scolding yourself, react with compassion. Jesus sees your mess ups, then looks beyond them to a good future. He calls you to do the same.

Karin and I recently visited an old friend. One thing stood out to me over the course of our conversation: She was constantly telling stories of human failure. Friends, relatives, clergy, church members, employers—they all provided examples of human failure, imperfection. Near the end of our conversation, our friend said, “I've come to see that my relationship with God is characterized by fear. I'm afraid God is going to condemn me.”

I thought, no wonder. As we develop our expertise in noticing human failure, we can't help noticing our own failures. From there it is a very small step to assuming God is a specialist in human failure also—a specialist in our failures. And we assume he frowns every time he notices any element in our existence that is less than ideal. He frowns and he will punish.

This poisons our own life and diminishes our capacity to pour grace into the lives of others.

Jesus calls us higher.

Jesus says about us: Ought not this daughter, this son of Abraham be set free? Today. Now. No matter whether it's in the program or not.

Jesus says about our best efforts—even if others are critical—she/he has done what they could. It was a beautiful thing. Leave them alone.

Jesus is touched by our brokenness. He is pleased with our efforts. Take heart.