June 27, 2021

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for June 27th : 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27, Psalm 130, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43: Theme: loving one another : Song: There’s A Spirit in the Air – UMH 192 2 Corinthians: This scripture gets to the heart of the definition of stewardship. Paul is comparing the Philippian church with the people of the Macedonian Church. The Philipian church is rich, the Macedonian church is poor. Yet Paul uses the Macedonian Church as an example. They did not have much, so they were much more willing to share with others. Paul says that the reward for their willingness to help the mission of Paul is grace. God’s grace provides for all that they need. Paul is encouraging all of us to live in God’s grace and to trust that God will provide for us. That is called the economy of grace. Paul is urging the modern church to look at those in need and to be willing to help others no matter who they are and where they live in the world. Mark: Mark also gets to the heart of the matter in this text. Mark wants everyone to know that Jesus is indeed the messiah – a practical messiah who helps you at your point of need. This is a story of two people who come to Jesus because they have nowhere else to turn. A soldier is afraid that his daughter is about to die, and a woman has been struggling for years and no one can help her. Mark usually likes to sandwich two stories together to further drive his point. Jesus is travelling the countryside to save the Jews, neither of these people are Jewish, but Jesus listens to their pain and heals them anyway. He brings the little girl back to life in front of the authorities – and of course they are paying attention. Jesus knows what they will do in the end, but for now he tells both parties to say nothing about their healing, but to let their lives be a testament that the messiah lives. Questions: Are you rich or poor? Who is it important for you to help? What does healing look like for you? If a major problem of yours was solved- what would you do to thank Jesus for healing?