Things Disease Cannot Touch

THINGS DISEASE CANNOT TOUCH

(Sermons2011/Things Disease Cannot Touch) NCBC 5/1/2011 Mark 5;24b-34

Pink in the Pew Sunday

Storms left us with lots of stories this week. Cancer leaves everyone with a story.

Introduce you to my Aunt Millie. She was full of life and laughter.

We spent every Christmas Eve at Millie’s house.

We laugh about a trip to the Israel and Egypt. She was a big hit among the Egyptian men who had not seen many blonds.

Mid 1970’s she discovered breast cancer. 3 years later it was in her bones.

Millie fought courageously for six years more years

My mother gave watch care to her, including lots of trips to M.D. Anderson.

When I proposed to Michelle, Millie said that it was a good thing I did because otherwise my dad would have to adopt her.

She died in the Spring of 1983 at 54 years old, just a couple of months before Michelle and I got married.

Bible story about a sick lady.

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Mark 5:24b-34 NIV

I do not know if her condition was the result of cancer. They did not have the medical understanding we do now. I do know many types of cancer are related to the reproductive system. And I know that cancer is a disease that can do many of the same things this lady endured

If you have not experienced Cancer yourself, chances are that someone in your family has.

Prayers to West Cleveland Baptist Church and their pastor Jeff Bentley who is battling cancer that, apart from divine intervention, seems terminal.

Qualities of Disease … you can think of the word Cancer

DISEASE CAN TOUCH YOUR TIME

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years Mark 5:25 NIV

Twelve years. Most health issues we deal with on the short run.

A cold lasts a few days.

The flu maybe a week to ten days.

Some injuries may take several months to rehab.

So many folks who deal with cancer are in a grinding marathon

It is there every morning and every evening for days, weeks, months, and years.

Outpatient treatment, In patient treatment, Surgeries, Recovery, etc.

· Sister-in-law Nancy fought Ovarian Cancer for 12 years

DISEASE CAN TOUCH YOUR STATUS

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years Mark 5:25 NIV

This woman’s condition meant that she was considered religiously unclean and anyone who touched her would be considered unclean.

This woman’s condition meant she could not bear children. And thus she lost a lot of the status and respect women had in that society.

Some things should not be… but sometimes cancer brings a stigma.

Maybe it is in the physical toll of chemo and radiation.

Maybe it is the appearance of the cancer itself.

Some cancer patients feel as if folks treat them as if their condition is contagious.

Extraordinarily sad are those would say that your cancer is the result of some kind of sin in your life for which you are being punished. Or that, if you just had enough faith God would heal you.

DISEASE CAN TOUCH YOUR FINANCES

She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. Mark 5:26 NIV

I don’t read that verse as an indictment against first century doctors. I imagine they were doing the best they could with what they could understand.

Medical treatments are expensive.

Even if you have good insurance, the out of pocket expenses are formidable.

DISEASE CAN TOUCH YOUR STRENGTH