re-creation not just recreation

then jesus left the vicinity of tyre and went through sidon, down to the sea of galilee and into the region of the decapolis. there some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.
after he took him aside, away from the crowd, jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. then he spit and touched the man's tongue. he looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "ephphatha!" (which means, "be opened!" ). at this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. but the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. people were overwhelmed with amazement. "he has done everything well," they said. "he even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
mark 7:31-37

i love this seemingly innocuous story from the life of jesus. i see so much of his heart in the way this goes down. notice the details mark shares. some people bring to jesus a man who was deaf and could hardly talk. what does jesus do? he takes the man aside away from the crowd. he does not make a spectacle of this man. the miracle is a personal encounter with jesus. jesus opens his ears and loosens his tongue.

why does his put his hands in his ears? why does he spit? we will talk about that sunday.

the thing that really gets me is that jesus pulled the guy aside and made him new again. jesus still is in the business of making things new, of doing everything well. he is into re-creation...not just recration.

what about us? is our faith about re-creating the kingdom here? is it about doing everything well? is it about meeting people as individuals and having god make them new? or is it more about recreation...hanging with a group of people who like the same things we like...believe the same things we do?

things to mull over until we meet on sunday at 4...see you at fude.

peace to you,
scott

dogs under the table

jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of tyre. he entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. in fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a greek, born in syrian phoenicia. she begged jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
"first let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
"yes, lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
then he told her, "for such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter."
she went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
mark 7:24-30

this sunday night at fude we will be talking about the dogs under the table...come with questions...see you at four on sunday night

peace to you,
scott