Finding God in Healing
Luke 7: 1-10
November 10, 2024 (liturgist read Jewish Friend in bold)
The questions I’d like to explore today are these: What can we do? When we’re far away, powerless, and out of touch…what can we do? When someone we love is hurting, but we are unable to heal them…what can we do? When we see what’s happening in our country or in places around the world, what can we do?
The Roman captain walks into the bedroom. “How are you today, friend?” No response. He quickly moves to the bed. “How are you?” No response. The captain puts his hand on the forehead of the man lying there. “You’re burning up.” The captain leaves and comes back with a wet cloth. “Here, maybe this will help.”
Then comes a knock on the door. The captain goes to answer it. A Jewish friend of his is standing there in the doorway. “I just came by to see how your servant friend is doing?”
“Come in and sit down.”
They sit in the main room. “He’s not doing well. His forehead is hotter than blazes this morning. He didn’t respond when I tried to talk with him.”
The Jewish friend shakes his head, “So now what?”
“Yes, that’s what I’d like to know. What do I do now? There’s not much more I can do.”
“What does the doctor say?”
“He says that my servant friend is dying.”
“But he’s so young.”
“I know. But what can we do? He needs some type of healing touch, but I’m no healer.”
The questions I’d like to explore today are these: What can we do? When we’re far away, powerless, and out of touch…what can we do? When someone we love is hurting, but we are unable to heal them…what can we do?
We see what’s happening in Gaza, Lebanon, and Israel. We’re so far away, powerless, and out of touch. What can we do?
We see what’s happening across our country after the election. We’re so far away, powerless, and out of touch. What can we do?
Let me tell you some things we’re tempted to do.
We’re tempted to deny. There’s no problem. They’re fine. They’ll be okay.
We’re tempted to ignore. Out of sight, out of mind.
We’re tempted to give up. There’s nothing we can do or say that will help. We’re not doctors or counselors or miracle workers. We’re not
We’re tempted to stop caring. How does our caring help? What’s the sense? It just makes it harder for us emotionally. So we grow a bit cold. We protect our hearts.
The Roman captain is talking with his Jewish friend.
The Jewish friend asks: “So tell me again, what does the doctor say?”
“He says that my servant friend is dying. He doesn’t think there’s any hope.”
“There’s nothing you can do?”
“There’s nothing I can do. So I give up. I’ve resigned myself to his death. In fact, I don’t care anymore. He’s just a servant anyways.”
“You don’t really believe that. He’s been your best friend for the past ten years. Don’t say you don’t care. You care.”
Tears come to the eyes of this Roman captain.
“You’re right. But what am I going to do?”
“Have you ever heard of Jesus?”
“No.”
“He’s a man of God. He’s been wandering through our country teaching and healing.”
“What do you mean healing?”
“Jesus touches people and they become well. He’s been known to heal lepers. His healing touch has returned eyesight to the blind. He’s made the lame to walk. Some say he can even raise the dead.”
“Where is this Jesus?”
“He’s coming to Capernaum later today. Do you want to see him?”
“Is he Jewish?”
“Yes.”
“Well then he won’t want to be near me. I’m a Roman captain if you’ll remember. I know that you and I have gotten over that bit of prejudice, but I doubt if he has. Why don’t you go and ask him to heal my servant friend. Could you?”
“Sure.”
Later that day, this Jewish friend walks up to Jesus, “Master, I know this Roman captain. His servant friend is dying. Could you heal him? I know that God sent you to the people of Israel, but this Roman is a good man. He’s helped us build our meeting place.”
“Where is he?”
“Follow me, Jesus. I’ll show you.”
Jesus and the Jewish man start heading toward the Roman captain’s house. Word travels fast through the village.
Someone tells the Roman captain, “Jesus is coming. He’s on his way right now.”
“To my house? He doesn’t need to do that. He doesn’t need to come here. If he’s from God, then all he needs to do is say the word. God is no respecter of distances. God can bridge the gap between us. God can connect him to my servant friend. Go and tell Jesus, ‘You don’t need to come here. Just give the order and my servant will be well.’”
“Are you sure?”
“Go.”
So the man quickly walks through the village of Capernaum and finds Jesus. Jesus and the disciples are quickly walking in his direction.
“Jesus, please stop.”
Jesus pauses.
“Listen, Jesus. I just talked to the Roman captain. He says you don’t need to go to his house. He says for you to simply say the word from here. He believes you can heal his servant from here. He believes that God is no respecter of distance, that God can bridge the gap and connect the servant and you together.”
“This is amazing. I’ve rarely heard of this type of trust even among God’s people of Israel. I’ll do what the man says. I’ll pray for his servant friend from here.”
Jesus bows his head, “God, I thank you for the trust of this Roman captain. I pray now that you will heal his servant friend. I also continue to pray that your kingdom may come on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.”
When the messenger returns back to the Roman captain’s house, the servant is sitting up in bed, talking and laughing. The Roman captain is telling everyone, “Thank God. Thank God.”
The questions I’d like to explore today are these: What can we do? When we’re far away, powerless, and out of touch…what can we do? When someone we love is hurting, but we are unable to heal them…what can we do? When we see what’s happening in our country or in places around the world, what can we do?
The good news today is this: Jesus still heals. Jesus doesn’t need to be there in the physical flesh to heal. God still bridges the gap of time and space. God still connects the healing Jesus with the person in need. God still connects us with our loved ones.
What can we do? We can pray. We can pray for their healing, for their health, for their wholeness, for their lives. We can pray for them because God connects us.
I’m sure you have loved ones who are far away today. You’re distant, powerless and out of touch. What can you do?
You can pray. God connects you.
I’m sure you have loved ones who need a healing touch today. You can’t be there. What can you do? You can pray. Jesus can heal them. God connects them.
I’m sure you have loved ones who are hurting today. You can’t heal them, even if you were with them. What can you do? You can pray. God touches the hurting in a special way.
We watch the news. We ask ourselves, “What can we do?” We can pray. God will connect our prayers to their needs.
We see what’s happening in Gaza, Lebanon, and Israel. We’re so far away, powerless, and out of touch. What can we do? We can pray for peace and reconciliation between these peoples.
We see what’s happening across our country after the election. We’re so far away, powerless, and out of touch. What can we do? We can pray for peace and unity across our land.
We can always pray. God will connect our prayers to their needs.
God wants to connect you this morning. God wants to heal this morning. One way God can do this is through an ancient spiritual practice called anointing with oil. This practice started in the early Christian church and has been used by Christians over the centuries since.
I invite you to raise your hand while we’re singing the hymn There is a Balm in Gilead. I’ll ask you for what or who you would like to pray for. You can pray for a specific need of your own. Or you can pray for a loved one. Or you can pray for someone in need in some other part of the world.
Receive the anointing with oil on your forehead in the sign of the cross. Then I will pray for you related to your specific request.
