“If”.
We don’t think of this simple two letter word as very powerful. Yet, at the same time, we cannot escape the power of “if” we witness this morning in our scripture reading. The suffering woman in the story says it well: “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Of course, the clothes she speaks about belong to Jesus. Having suffered for years, enduring countless doctors and medical procedures, and spending all she had, the woman had come to the end of her rope. She threw all caution to the wind in the hope that an itinerant evangelist/teacher could heal her through a mere touch of his garment. What did she have to lose?
“If”.
She is not the only one. The impetus of the whole story begins with an unspoken “if” as a leader of the community—a synagogue leader—approaches Jesus and seeks his help as his daughter is dying. He pleads with Jesus to come to his home, lay his hands upon her, and heal her so that she lives. That is where Jesus is going when he has his encounter with the woman. It is a long shot on the part of the man. He does not know Jesus, he only knows of Jesus . . . the stories that he has heard, the rumors that are flying around, and the whisperings of his ability to heal. All this man knows is that his daughter is ill and dying, and he is willing to do anything to keep her alive . . . even relying upon some itinerant evangelist/teacher. What did he have to lose?
“If”.
While the word “if” is a powerful word, it is also a fickle word. With great potential the word can bring hope to the most distraught, yet at the same time it can take all the wind out of the sails when it falls flat on its face unfulfilled. We see that in the story. In an instant the woman is healed upon touching Jesus’ clothes. All the suffering is gone . . . she is healed. Yet, while this is happening the original intent of the story . . . the healing of the little girl gets delayed. While Jesus is dealing with the woman a messenger comes from the man’s house and tells him that his daughter has died. Tells the man there is no need to “bother the teacher anymore.” The girl is dead. The man has lost everything. The “if” comes crashing down.
It all seems lost at this point . . . kind of senseless to keep going. Yet, as much as the word “if” seems to be melting away, there is still power in the word . . . there is still hope. Overhearing the news Jesus re-sparks the hope potential of “if” . . . re-ignites the hope. He tells the man, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Besides, what does the man have to lose?
“If”.
Lately I have been listening to the conversations around me . . . locally, nationally, and worldly . . . and, it seems to me that we are living in some pretty dire times. Granted the past couple of years have been hard . . . the pandemic, politics, wars and the threat of wars, terrorism, natural disasters, and the list goes on and on. From the conversations I have been overhearing it seems as if morale is pretty low . . . the lowest I have seen in many years. People are stressed and anxious about the world we are living in right now . . . and, if I am listening, those conversations are also pointing to a bleak future. Folks believe it is going to get worse before it gets better. There is a sense of hopelessness and I have even heard more talk of apocalyptic times coming.
And, it is depressing. It is depressing visualizing all the dark pictures that are being painted . . . all the doom and gloom . . . all the hopelessness. It seems as if people are at the end of their ropes or at least getting close. That they are about ready to throw in the towel and hope for the best as the world comes crashing down in the future . . . cashing in on that heavenly insurance policy.
But is that the case? Because if that is the case, then it is a sad commentary for those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus. Sad because Jesus did not come to bring gloom and despair. Jesus came to bring life. Jesus does not paint in dark, somber colors; no, Jesus paints in broad, vibrant bright colors—the color of light. Jesus came to bring love . . . to bring hope. Jesus came to bring the power of “if”.
There
is no denying the power of “if” in the story we have heard this morning. The woman who had physically suffered for so
long . . . stepped out and risked the power of “if”. The man striving to do everything that he can
to keep his daughter alive . . . stepped out and risked the power of “if”. They both stepped out and onto the nexus of
“if” . . . as the woman stated,
“If
only . . .” Both were willing to
risk it all or whatever they had left for a shot at “if”. Long shots at best, but what did they have to
lose?
The woman was healed.
The child was brought back to life.
All on the power of “if”.
Jesus calls for his followers to hang onto the potential and power of “if”. Calls for them to step out and take the risk. He tells them, just as he told the man, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” We are his followers.
What would happen if we started to dabble in the power of “if”? What would happen if we stopped being afraid and started to believe? How would we change? How would the world change? Are we there yet . . . ready to step forward to take the risk . . . to believe?
Despite having heard all the conversations around me about the dire state of the world and life, I really cannot speak for anyone else. I do not know where everyone is in their life. All I can do is to make an assumption. My assumption at this point is that most folks are not happy with the state of affairs in the world today. That everything is going to hell in a handbasket! That there is not a whole lot of hope and that the end is coming faster than any of us expect it. That if we are not at the end of our ropes, we are getting pretty close.
And, it makes me sad.
Maybe I am an eternal optimist. Whatever the case, I must embrace “if” . . . I must believe. Jesus asks me to believe . . . to believe and to take the risk. The women believed so much that she was certain that if she even touched the hem of Jesus’ clothing, she would be healed . . . and, she was. The man believed so much that he was willing to risk everything, even his standing in the community as a leader, if Jesus would only lay his hands upon her . . . and, she was healed. They set aside their fear and believed. Stepping through that “if” they discover a new beginning . . . a new world . . . a new understanding of themselves.
So, it can be for us as the followers of Jesus if we set aside our fear and believe. Imagine what a difference it will make for us as individuals and as a group . . . a new understanding of who we are as created by God . . . a new beginning . . . a new world. One step closer to the Kingdom of God. Imagine how wonderful it would be.
“If”.
There is that word again. It all hinges on “if”. It is not an easy word to follow because we know that so much can happen when we delve into the world of “if”. It takes faith. For that reason, I implore you to hold close to your hearts this story of possibility and potential. Implore you to build your faith upon the foundation of the story. Embrace and hold tightly on “if” as you remember the words of Jesus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
What do you have to lose? Nothing. What do you gain? Everything. Amen.
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