June 5th 2016
Seaford Christian Church (Homecoming)
Express Kindness
Luke 8: 40 – 56
I heard about a woman who had just cashed her income tax return check, and as she was standing at a bus stop a man went over to a poorly dressed man, whispered something in his ear, and handed him some money. The woman was so taken back and moved by this act of kindness, that she too went over reached into her purse, pulled out a ten-dollar bill, and whispered in the man’s ear, “Never despair…never despair.”
The next day at the same bus stop the same man came over and handed her $110. The lady, shocked and confused, said, “What’s this?” The man replied, “Your horse won lady, Never Despair paid 10 to 1.”
Not every act of kindness pays 10 to 1; it doesn’t always turn out to be profitable. In fact, often times kindness costs us something. But it is fulfilling, it is commanded, and it’s an important attribute of love.
Do you remember some years back when George Bush Sr. was president? Do you remember how he promised a kinder, gentler nation? It hasn’t happened has it? For the past two decades violence has been on the rise. As a matter of fact, in America the leading cause of death among males ages 18 – 25 is homicide.
What does it mean to be kind? Kindness is love in action. The Phillips translation of 1 Corinthians 13:4 reads like this, “Love looks for a way to be constructive to improve someone else’s life.” Kindness is an attribute that doesn’t always come naturally. It takes practice and it takes occasional reminders. And I can’t think of a better reminder than Jesus. You see, Jesus is the King of kindness.
Luke 8 deals with two different people who came into contact with the kindness of Christ. They were very different; one was a man the other a woman. One of them was poor, destitute, a bag lady. And he was wealthy, influential, a man of means. She was a nobody, just a face in the crowd…he was a ruler in the synagogue.
Let’s begin this morning by refreshing our memories of the story. Jesus is by the Sea of Galilee; tons of people have come to see and to hear Him. No sooner does He arrive on the scene when a synagogue ruler by the name of Jairus comes running up with an urgent plea.
His voice drips and shakes with panic. His face is wrought with emotion and fear. And his request is a very simple one. He says, “Please…Jesus, please…just touch my daughter. Just save her life and heal her just by merely touching her.” Christ responded by heading straight for the house with this huge throng of people right on his heels. As they hurry to the home of Jairus the other character in the story comes onto the scene. She’s a woman we would’ve never remembered had she not crossed the path of one in which we could never forget. In fact, we don’t even know her name. She remains one of the vast company of mortals who for a moment found her immortality enlightened in the company of Jesus Christ.
Who she was was not nearly as important as why she had come. She had suffered from and incurable disease for 12 years. I’m almost certain she had heard about this man from Galilee, this man whom they said could heal with just a word from His lips or a touch of His hands. And Jesus became her only hope.
Now, Jesus is on His way to heal Jairus’ sick and dying 12-year-old, and while these masses of people are following perhaps this woman thought, “Oh, He doesn’t have time for me.” But just as she starts to leave, perhaps she caught just a glimpse of His robe flowing in the breeze. And just maybe she thought, “Hey, there’s power in that man…maybe if even flows through His robe.” So she gets so close that she can reach out and touch Jesus. She knifes her shoulder between two burly fishermen and she reaches out and stretches as far as she can and she just touches the hem of His garment.
The Gospel of Mark says that immediately she knew. Gone was that perpetual sense of pain, replaced with an inward sense of healing. She had touched the Great Physician and she would never be the same again.
But as soon as this happened, Jesus stopped dead in His tracks and the huge crowds of people were forced to stop as well. Jesus looked around and asked, “Who touched me?” Now, that’s a strange question, don’t you think? Luke’s account says, “that the crowd nearly crushed Him…” I can imagine the disciples chuckling a little bit as Jesus asked this question. “Who touched you? Jesus there are hundreds of people all around you and you ask us who touched you? Who hasn’t touched you Lord?” But you see Jesus could always distinguish between the casual jostling of the crowd and the purposeful touch of someone in need.
You see, power had gone out from Him and He simply wanted to find the one who had claimed it. Luke 8:47 reads, “Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched Him and how she had been instantly healed.” And then Jesus said, “Your faith, not my garments, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
But about that time, a servant from Jairus’ home came running up and he said to Jairus, “Don’t bother the teacher anymore. Your daughter has already died.” Just then Jesus looked at Jairus and said, “Don’t be afraid, just believe and she will be healed.” And they went to the house and there were mourners out in the front yard. Jesus said, “She’s just sleeping.” They began to mock Jesus for what He had just said. But He went on inside and He took the girl by the hand and said, “Get up little girl.” She arose, got out of bed and came back to life.
Christ’s kindness conquered the pain of sickness. Christ’s kindness conquered the grip of death.
How did Christ express kindness?
Christ expressed kindness first of all by giving the gift of…
#1 Attention:
Cal Thomas once said, “Love talked about is easily ignored, but love demonstrated is irresistible.” Jesus talked a great deal about love and kindness and how important they are, but He didn’t just give the lectures…He lived it.
Luke 8:40 reads, “When Jesus returned the crowd welcomed Him for they were expecting Him. Then a man named Jairus, a ruler in the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with Him to come to his house.”
I want you to notice that the crowd is gathered to hear Jesus speak. His reputation preceded Him. Thousands came to see this bronze Galilean who spoke with such thunderous authority and yet loved with such child-like humility.
But although the people were expecting Him to stay there and to hear His lessons, the plans changed immediately when Jesus heard that this child was sick. The sermon became secondary and the child took top priority. One way that Christ showed attention was by being…
? Flexible:
The Scripture doesn’t record a reply to this man’s frantic request. It simply says, “As Jesus went on His way.” He didn’t even hesitate.
A lot of times we look at interruptions and the unexpected as an inconvenience to our schedules, when we should see those as opportunities to lovingly minister to the needs of others. They provide us with an opportunity to show that Christians really are different. That’s why Paul said, “Honor one another above yourself.”
You see we’re all different. We don’t all dress alike, we don’t all have the same amount of money, we don’t all have the same goals for our lives. But we do share one thing in common and that is that God as allotted each of us with 24 hours in a day, 168 hours a week, and whether or not we hold on to that time and energy tightly or loosely depends upon whether or not we’re apt to show and express kindness.
Jesus also gave attention by being…
? Personal:
Look with me at verses 42 – 45 of our text, “A girl of about 12 was dying and as Jesus went on His way, the crowds almost crushed Him. A woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years but no one could heal her. She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak and immediately her bleeding stopped and Jesus asked, ‘Who touched me?’”
Jesus took time out in this crowded setting to have one-on-one interaction. This really wasn’t the type of setting that was conducive to one-on-one interaction. It was more like a professional sporting event when people are pouring out of the stadium to get to their car and beat the rush out of the parking lot.
You see personal, meaningful conversations rarely take place when a crowd is moving from one location to another. But Jesus gave her a personal touch.
Wouldn’t you agree that our society has moved away from being personal? Have you noticed that over the last few years? If we can come up with a shortcut that’s quicker, even though it’s less personal, we’re willing to try it. For example, you can go to a gas station and without even going inside or speaking into a box, you can purchase your gas, get a car-wash and be on your way just by slipping your credit card into the slot.
When I call to check on Teresa’s and my financial standing with the Credit Union, I don’t talk to a living soul. I just use my touch tone phone to press in our social security number or pin number, and then account number and the balance is given to me. No conversation with anyone.
Everything seems to be moving away from the personal touch. It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if in a few years you call 911 and they have voice mail. That would be kind of bad, wouldn’t it? If you wish to report a robbery, please press 1. If the burglar is in your house, press 2. If he has a gun, press 3, quickly.
The early New Testament Church followed Christ’s lead. They gave personal attention to one another. 2 Corinthians 13:12 tells us to, “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” 1 Peter 5:14 says, “Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ Jesus.” In fact, in five different New Testament books we’re encouraged to greet one another with a kiss. Now, can you imagine if we did that? By noon most of us would not only be tuckered out…we’d be puckered out. And I would be eating out because Teresa wouldn’t like that at all.
In this account, a touch was made. There was contact. There’s value which is derived through fellowship…through a hand shake…through a pat on the back…through a hug.
Friends, I really believe that the Church should be a personal place, a place of healing and encouragement. And if people don’t feel loved within this fellowship it worries me how they might try and find acceptance and approval and love throughout the week.
Sometimes when I hug a senior citizen, I wonder how long that hug has to last them before they receive another expression of personal kindness. In verse 46 Jesus said, “Someone touched me, because I know that power has gone out from me.” Notice that when we express kindness it costs us something. Maybe it’s time…maybe it’s energy. Somehow Jesus felt drained. He realized that power had gone out from Him. And when we express kindness, we have to give something up. Giving personal attention to the needs of others is one way that you and I can express kindness.
The 2nd gift that Jesus gave was the gift of…
#2: Affirmation:
Luke 8:47 reads, “Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet. In the presence of all the people she told why she had touched Him and how she had been instantly healed.” Jesus gave affirmation in two different ways.
1. Through what He did.
2. Through what He said.
Do you know what Jesus did to affirm this woman?
1. He listened to her.
Now this was a difficult setting in which to listen. Everyone was anxious…a child’s life was on the line. It’s tough to be patient in this type of setting, when someone is about to die. But Jesus patiently listened to her story…a story in which He already knew. But nonetheless, He listened.
Jesus knew that communication was more than just talking; it was also listening. And that’s a great way to express kindness.
Erma Bombeck was a humorous columnist that wrote in newspapers all across the nation. Several years ago she wrote an article entitled, “Please Listen.” It said…
It was one of those days. My son was telling me in complete detail about a movie he had just seen punctuated by 3,000 ‘ya knows?’ There were three phone calls, strike that, there were three monologues that could’ve been answered by any recording. And I fought the urge of saying, “Well it sure has been nice listening to you.” And later in the taxi from home to the airport I got another assault on my ear. This time it was by a cab driver who was rambling on and on about his son who was in college. At last there were 30 whole, beautiful minutes before my plane took off. Time for me to be alone with my own thoughts…to open a book and to just let my mind wander.”
But the silence was broken by a voice next to me that belonged to an elderly lady. She said, “I bet it’s cold in Chicago.” Stone faced, I replied, “It’s likely.” “I haven’t been to Chicago in nearly three years”, she persisted. “My son lives there.” “That’s nice.” I said, my eyes intently on my book.
“My husband’s body is on this plane. We were married for 53 years. I don’t drive you know and when he died a nun drove me home from the hospital. We’re not even catholic. The funeral director let me come to the airport with him.’
Erma Bombeck wrote, “I don’t think I have ever detested myself more than I did at that moment. Here was another human being screaming to be heard and in desperation had turned to a cold stranger who was more interested in a fictional novel than she was a real life drama that was unfolding by her elbow. She needed no advice, no money, no expertise, no assistance, no compassion. All she needed was for someone to listen. And she talked numbly and steadily until we boarded the plane, and then she found her seat in another section. And as I hung up my coat, I heard her plaintiff voice say to her seat companion, ‘I’ll bet it’s cold in Chicago.’ And I prayed, ‘Please God, let that person listen.’
Jesus affirmed this woman through what He did, by listening to her; but He also affirmed her through…
2. What He Said:
In verse 48 Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” He spoke to this woman. He elevated her at a time when men didn’t talk to women in public. Back then a man wasn’t even to talk to his sister or his wife in public. That was taboo.
But you see, people are affirmed and motivated by positive reinforcement. And it’s interesting that by Jewish traditions Jesus didn’t have to speak to her, not just because she was a woman, but also because her disease meant exclusion from society. You see on the self esteem scale she ranked in the negative numbers, but not to Jesus. His expressions of kindness weren’t contingent upon what she could do for Him, but rather what He could do for her. That’s the way Christ looked at it.
There’s a Chinese proverb that says, “One can pay back a loan of gold, but one dies forever in debt to those who are kind.”
I am a huge college basketball fan and my favorite team just so happens to be the Lord’s favorite team…the North Carolina Tarheels. I’m sure many of you can remember back in 1993 The NCAA basketball Championship game between the Michigan Wolverines and the North Carolina Tarheels. There are 11 seconds left in the game, and Michigan is down by two points. Chris Webber snatches down a rebound goes racing down the court and with just a few seconds left gets trapped in the corner and calls a timeout, which is a smart thing to do, except in this situation because Michigan didn’t have any timeouts left. His team was assessed a technical foul which gave North Carolina two free throws, possession of the ball, and for all practical purposes the 1993 NCAA Championship. And if you watched that game or any of the replays you could visibly see how sad Chris Webber was and how terrible he felt about that mistake.
But in the weeks to follow he received hundreds of letters; some from not very nice people, but he also received many from people wishing him well. But there was one letter sent to Chris Webber’s home in Detroit, Michigan that stands out. It was hand written and this is what it said:
Dear Chris,
I have been thinking about you a lot since I sat glued to the TV during the championship basketball game. I know that there may be nothing I or anyone else can say to ease the pain and disappointment of what happened. Still, for whatever it’s worth, you and your team were terrific. You can always regret what occurred, but don’t let it get you down or take away from the satisfaction that you have for what you’ve accomplished. I know how you feel because I’ve had some failures and some mistakes myself. You have a great future, so hang in there. Sincerely, Bill Clinton.
Folks, you and I both probably found a lot of faults in a lot of things Bill Clinton did while he was the president. And you can listen to those words and you can choose to think to yourself, “You know what? I’ll bet that was just a political ploy or some kind of publicity stunt.” You know what? I just choose to call it kindness. I just think that was a really kind thing to do for a young person who felt just horrible about a mistake he had made.
Proverbs 11:17 says, “A kind man benefits himself but a cruel man brings trouble upon himself.” Paul told the Christians at Thessalonica, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
The third gift that Jesus gave was the gift of…
#3: Acceptance:
Look with me at verses 49 & 50, “While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler, ‘Don’t bother the teacher anymore. Your daughter has already died.’ Jesus said, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.’” In verse 52 we read, “Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. ‘Stop wailing,’ Jesus said. ‘She is not dead but asleep.’”
The 53rd verse of our text in the NIV says, “They laughed at Him.” The KJV is more candid. It says, “They laughed Him to scorn.” Those were people who didn’t know the whole story. Those were individuals who didn’t know the power of Jesus Christ. But Jesus knew how the story would end. Jesus knew how to disagree without being disagreeable, and that takes a special knack. That’s a gift that all of us probably need to work harder at. Sometimes He spoke up at people that He opposed, and at other times He chose to remain silent. It’s not always what you say; sometimes it’s how you say it.
Did you hear about the 6’ 8” Texan who walked into a McDonalds? He walked up to the little lady behind the counter, put his huge fist onto the counter and looked at her and said, “I want half of a Big Mac.” She said, “I beg your pardon?” He said, “I want half of a Big Mac, and I want it right now.”
She said, “Excuse me just a second.” She went walking back to her manager, but she had no idea that this huge guy had followed her back there. She got to her manager’s office and said, “There’s some guy who looks like an ox. He’s dumber than lead and he wants half of a Big Mac.” Then out of the corner of her eye she saw the man standing there and thinking quickly on her feet she said, “And this gentleman would like the other half.”
You see? It’s not always what you say…it’s how you say it. And do you know what I have figured out about myself in the 37 years that I’ve been on this earth? I have learned that I haven’t to apologize for my position nearly as much as I’ve had to apologize for my disposition.
Jesus showed extreme tolerance and acceptance by ignoring the opportunity to lash back at the crowd. He could’ve done it before the miracle, or after the miracle. And Christ’s lesson for us is that we need to accept others the way God made them. And please understand, there’s a huge difference between acceptance and approval. I can accept someone without approving of their behavior. For example, I can accept that letter that Bill Clinton wrote to Chris Webber as kindness without approving of all of the many mistakes that he made in the White House and that he made in his own personal life…mistakes that we all make. There’s a big difference between acceptance and approval.
Jesus set the example for us in how to be kind to those who may not have yet surrendered their lives to Him. Throughout His three-year ministry, just about the time when you thought He was going to lash out in judgment, instead he extends acceptance. Christ had a unique way of motivating people to do what was right. He wouldn’t condone the sin, nor would He condemn the sinner. Romans 15:7 reads, “Accept one another then, just as Christ accepted you in order to bring praise unto God.” And if someone who is so perfect can be so accepting of me who is imperfect, then we as imperfect individuals need to be more accepting of others. Not accepting of what they do but of who they are.
Look with me at verses 54 – 56, “Jesus took her by the hand and said, ‘My child get up.’ Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. And then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. And the parents were astonished, but He ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.” Mark’s account gives us a little bit more detail. It says that Jesus spoke in Aramaic and He said to the girl, “Talitha Koum”, which literally meant, “Get up, little lamb.” What a tender and kind statement.
Now, not only was Jesus kind to His friends and to children; Jesus was also kind to His enemies; even to the self-righteous, pious individuals of His day. Even to this group that was outside, this group of doubting people; Jesus showed kindness.
Jesus was more concerned with others than He was Himself. Christ was more concerned with expressing kindness than saving face. He could’ve rubbed this miracle in the face of the doubters but instead He chose to be kind to them and let the miracle speak for itself. Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
I want to encourage you this week to try to take some steps of improving in acts of kindness. And I hope that you’ll be specific in expressing kindness because you see it’s real easy to be kind in a general sense; but it’s much more difficult to be kind in a specific sense. Pick out one person this week that you can do some act of kindness for to encourage them and build them up. I also want you to know that the key to kindness is acceptance; and that the source of kindness is Jesus Christ.
A construction crew was building a high rise across the street from a hospital. On one particular day four of the men were working up on the third floor right at eye level with the third floor of the hospital. They looked over and saw a little girl watching them out of her third story room window. She waved at them and the construction workers waved back.
The next morning the men noticed that the little girl was holding a hand-written sign that said, “My name is Lisa. What’s your names?”
The next day one of the guys brought a piece of poster board and a magic marker from home. The guys wrote, “Hi Lisa, our names are Bill, Terry, Bob, and Brad. How old are you?”
The next day they came to work and found Lisa waiting for them in the window with a written message that said, “I’m 7. How old are you all?”
For several days the men looked forward to the notes from Lisa. But on the 6th morning the window was empty…no Lisa…and no message. At break time one of the men went down to the telephone and called the hospital and asked for the nurse’s station on the third floor. He asked them if they could share with him any information about a 7-year-old girl by the name of Lisa whose room faced the construction site.
The nurse informed the men that she had taken a turn for the worse and had been transferred to ICU. So at lunch the men called a florist and had flowers sent to Lisa with a card wishing her well.
The next day when the guys arrived at work they found a message in that 3rd floor hospital window. It simply read, “Lisa has passed away…thanks for caring.”
You see folks, the truth of the matter is that what happened to Jairus’ daughter isn’t the norm. Sometimes little girls do die. Sometimes people who have gone to doctors for years don’t get better, they get worse. And though they pray for healing, it just doesn’t come. But you know what? You and I can help make the situation better just by expressing genuine kindness.
I think the most loving and kindest act that Jesus ever did for us was in that He went to Calvary in our place. Paul says it like this, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possible dare to die. But God demonstrated His love for us in this; while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” The King of Kindness…do you know Him personally today as your Lord and Savior?
