It is time to go over to the other side

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Mark 5:1-20

Our reading today really starts at Mk 4:35:

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’

The “other side” is the other side of the Sea of Galilee … the Decapolis … pagan territory … there are 2000 pigs close to where they land. For the good Jew, this is the other side, this is no-go area. You did not go here, you stayed away from here … you teach your children to stay away from here. This place and this people are not like us and we are to have nothing … nothing,  to do with them. Do you have the expression "the other side of the railway line?" The Decapolis is something like that.You don’t mix with them, you don’t play with them, if you can possibly help it you don’t go to school with them, if you happen to work with them you have as little to do with them as possible, you certainly don’t ever think of marrying someone from the other side and you’d never consider living on the other side.

But Jesus says: ‘Let us go over to the other side.’

And, because they are disciples, they go over to the other side with Him … not for the first time and certainly not for the last. This, after all, is the man who in Jerusalem was known as “a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” Luke 7:34, not because He was a glutton and a drunkard, but because he crossed over to the other side of social norms and mixed with gluttons and drunkards and became their friends.

And so having gone over to the other side, our reading begins with

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes

The disciples follow Jesus, because that is what disciples do, and they continue to discover that Jesus seems to love the outcasts, those on the fringes of society, “the least” among us. They continue to discover that Jesus is constantly stretching them … as He will continue to do until they die.

This was the cross they had to pick up and carry that particular day. There will would have been to not go there, Jesus will was to go there … and so a cross formed … and they picked it up and carried it. Remember, a cross forms when your will is at right angles to God’s will.

And as soon as they land … trouble! An outcast from society, a man with so many demons He calls himself Legion or Mob: He had lost his name. He had lost his individuality. All that was left was a boiling struggle of conflicting forces. It was as though a Roman legion was at war within him. There are many like him in our city, just as there are in all the cities we’ve ministered. Some of the mentally ill and homeless persons in large cities, especially those who exhibit violent behavior, evoke the same fear and repulsion in people today that the demoniac must have inspired in ancient Palestinians. Unlike the man in Mark’s story, most of the homeless and mentally ill persons in our cities continue to wear clothes, use language, and appear to be functioning members of human society. Yet volunteers at homeless shelters or at homes for the mentally ill often struggle to overcome their fear and aversion of the persons they are trying to help. But if they overcome that fear and aversion, they are often surprised to discover human beings beneath the rags, smell, and foul language.

Jesus acts and the situation turns around for that man. The disciples are just present … Jesus does the work.

Now, many of us don’t have to "cross over to the other side" for this kind of experience: The story of this poor man speaks (if we have ears to hear it) a word of assurance and hope to those of us for whom every day is a battle with depression, fear, anxiety, compulsive behavior we can't get away from. You will understand what would lead a person to say that his name is “mob”.  

How many families are at their wits’ end because no one has been able to help them cure or care for a mentally ill loved one? It is no secret that we live in a country with an ageing population and increasing mental illness and many, in the words of verse 29 are “driven into solitary places” and for them and their families it is as if they now live on the other side.... and it's lonely.

This gospel story reminds us that the compassion of Jesus (and the obedience of the disciples, because He needed them to get Him across the sea) the compassion of Jesus led him to cross a sea to reach such a person and the power of Jesus’ word confronted the disorder and dis-ease in this person and restored him to wholeness. Can you believe with me that Jesus wants to do a similar thing in your life this morning?  Do you long for healing or wholeness in some area of your life now?

On that particular day, the disciples exercised the ministry of presence, the ministry of being there … they were there. Jesus exercised the ministry of healing, restoration and wholeness.

The man is restored … Jesus is asked to leave (I don’t think it would be any different in Norfolk today if Jesus' presence resulted in 2000 pigs drowning in the closest broad) … Jesus is asked to leave; the man begs to come with Jesus, but Jesus says “No!”as he so often does to our very reasonable requests:

 ‘Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’

Friends, in this story we have the essence of evangelism and discipleship. An evangelism and discipleship that will change your home, your workplace, our city. It is an evangelism and discipleship that goes where Jesus would go, going where He leads, which is often “to the other side” … beyond your comfort zone ... to be with the "other" ... to be present. In God's timing, this may eventually lead to an opportunity to tell how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you.

So how does this affect me right now, Cedric, how does this change the rest of this day and work tomorrow?

Well … some of you might sit at a lunch table today … but there’s an ocean between you … go over to the other side.

Marriages break up, families divide, brothers, sisters, parents, children, former friends don’t talk to each other … it’s time for you to go over to the other side.

Some of you struggle to get on with other folk in the fellowship … it’s time to cross over.

Young people, invite older people into your homes, start with the fellowship. Older folk, invite younger folk from the fellowship into your homes … it’s time to cross over.

At work … there are people you don’t like and don’t get on with … it’s time to cross over … that might mean going to stand with them while they smoke, or even going with them to where they drink after work … it’s time to cross over.

You might not know the least in your place of work … those who clean up your work area or empty your bin … it’s time to cross over.

Shall I go on? Do you know all your neighbors names? Do you want to reach out to the poor and hungry of Norwich through our soup kitchen? Do you want to help young drunk party-goers get safely home from Prince of Wales street on a Friday night? Yesterday's London Times told the story of a judge warning young women that they are more likely to be raped when they are drunk. One response is for the church to say "Well ... they shouldn't get drunk" ... another is the Street Pastors response: "Let's help young drunks get home safely." Guess which of those responses has been shown to provide more opportunities for growing the Kingdom of God? It is time to go over to the other side.

It’s time to cross over.

If any of these struck a cord with you … no way, you say … well maybe a cross is forming there for you to pick up.

What does it mean for you to “go over to the other side?” You will be amazed at what a difference “going over to the other side” will make … to you, to the one you go to, and to God’s kingdom here on earth. This will change for the better, the place you cross over to … because you are salt and you are light … yes, you might be asked to leave … don’t let that stop you. Your obedience in reaching out to the type of people Jesus reached out to, whatever the cost, WILL make a difference. Salt and light make a difference just by being present.

Be present, mix, reconcile, when appropriate, pray … when appropriate and when trust and friendship have developed, tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.

In all this, the important thing is to be present … just being there, talking, perhaps serving, is going to make a difference. Where healing and wholeness are longed for, hope for and pray for a mustard seed of God’s grace to fall … but leave that to Him … you just cross over and take Jesus with you.

What does it mean for you to go over to the other side?

Let us pray.

I said earlier: On that particular day, the disciples exercised the ministry of presence, the ministry of being there. Jesus exercised the ministry of healing, restoration and wholeness.

For me to cross over to the other side today means to invite you to come forward and ask Jesus to exercise His ministry of healing, restoration and wholeness in your life. In my experience of healing ministry, sometimes He answers just as we want Him to, most times, He doesn’t ... but always, He leaves a blessing … always, He imparts His love. My part, as an elder, is to lay hands on you … your part is to come forward (that’s the asking part), or to raise your hand, and we’ll come to you.