Postkiwi

Jesus Heals Too Many People

As soon as Jesus left the meeting place with James and John, they went home with Simon and Andrew. When they got there, Jesus was told that Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever. Jesus went to her. He took hold of her hand and helped her up. The fever left her, and she served them a meal.

That evening after sunset, all who were sick or had demons in them were brought to Jesus. In fact, the whole town gathered around the door of the house. Jesus healed all kinds of terrible diseases and forced out a lot of demons. But the demons knew who he was, and he did not let them speak.

Very early the next morning, Jesus got up and went to a place where he could be alone and pray. Simon and the others started looking for him. And when they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you!”

Jesus replied, “We must go to the nearby towns, so that I can tell the good news to those people. This is why I have come.” Then Jesus went to Jewish meeting places everywhere in Galilee, where he preached and forced out demons.

Mark 1:32 after sunset: The Sabbath was over, and a new day began at sunset.
Mark 1:29-39 (Contemporary English Version)

This last week I’ve been revisiting some material on congregations with impasse. Ken Halstead, Lutheran author of “From Stuck to Unstuck”, describes common ‘binding paradoxes’ faced by Christian leader today…

1. Pastors are called to minister to more situations of acute brokenness, although hurting people may resist participation in healing community.
2. Pastors need to master additional skills & lead more effectively at a time when old-paradigm vision of authority disappearing.
3. Pastors and congregations are expected by some to provide increased services and options at a time when less money available.
4. Churches and pastors often feel pressure to alleviate anxieties and uncertainties by giving them solutions and absolute truths, at a time when scholarly integrity requires us to recognise ambiguities and complexities.
5. Pastors and leaders are entrusted to tell the truth yet may feel they must be nice at all times, pleasing the customer – never expressing anger.

I’ve noticed that sometimes I fall into the trap of operating out of a need to keep people happy. The problem is the more capacity I show, the more people expect!

It’s not much wonder Jesus told the spirits to stay silent about who he was. He wouldn’t be able to cope with the demands of crowd who really knew his full capacity. He needed to take it slow, working at a sustainable pace with a wide spread of people.

The people who were looking for Jesus could have started showing signs of possessiveness. “Stay here and be our healer”. Jesus needed to get away before that happened.

The time alone in the hills was the escape valve for Jesus. He had to get some perspective beyond the immediate urgent concerns of the crowd.

In my role as mission consultant I’m seen by some as a source of support and resourcing. I’ll need to make sure I have time for solitude and big picture visioning.