Everyone is Searching for You
Mark 1:29-39
Belmont UMC—February 2-5-12
Ken Edwards, preaching

Audio - MP3

There is a tone of urgency in the Gospel of Mark. Mark skips the details of Jesus’ birth and childhood and moves straight to John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism, a brief mention of the wilderness temptation (no mention of fasting), the call of the disciples and then the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. And we are still in the first chapter. Mark’s favorite word is “immediately” and the word, which adds to the sense of urgency, comes up frequently in the first chapter.

Today’s story needs to be set in its context. The work of Jesus had been focused on the area near Capernaum, which is alongside the Sea of Galilee, the home of the fishermen whom Jesus called as disciples. The people of the area have been astonished by Jesus’ teaching and even more so by his authority over suffering. Last week’s story focused on his teaching in the synagogue and the deliverance of man suffering from an evil spirit. Mark writes, “At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.” (v. 28)

Today’s text finds Jesus and the disciples entering the house of Simon and Andrew, only to find Simon’s mother-in-law sick with fever. Jesus heals the woman and by evening the whole city has converged outside the door. Jesus begins to heal and restore those who ill. Sometime after midnight Jesus escapes to a quiet place to pray and here in the first chapter we get a glimpse of the pattern of Jesus’ life and the rhythm of service and prayer.

Simon and the other disciples do not understand Jesus’ need for solitude and they go to find him. The verb here has a hostile tone to it that is often missing in the translations, but Common English Bible translates it best with “they tracked him down.” They have come to tell Jesus, “Everyone is searching for you.”  Jesus tells them that his mission is to go to other towns to share God’s message.

“Everyone is searching for you.” Throughout the gospel stories crowds of people are attracted to Jesus. At one time he was standing beside the water and so many people came to see and hear him that he had to get in a boat and teach them from there. In our minds we can imagine the scene of people pressing in on him. (Mk 4:1-2) Another, more familiar time there were thousands who gathered to hear and see him and Jesus instructed the disciples to feed them. (Mk. 8:1-10)

Who are these people who are searching for Jesus and what do they hope to find?
Luke describes the people during the time of John the Baptist and Jesus as “being filled with expectation.” (Luke 3:15) One of my professors used to paraphrase this and say “the people were on tiptoe with expectation” or “on the edge of their seats” with expectation. They were people who felt the oppression of the Roman government and they longed for liberation. There was a deep longing within them for God to come among them and do something to turn things around. There was a deep spiritual hunger and thirst among the people. “Everyone is searching for you, Jesus!”

They were some people who were physically ill and desperate. In a time when health care was limited and when disease was often associated with God’s judgment, and often meant alienation from community life, there was a longing for wholeness. To be made whole carried with it the possibility of being liberated from suffering and a return to the fellowship of others.

Everyone is searching for you, Jesus! Those words continue to be contemporary. We have gathered here as those who are searching for Jesus. I worked alongside my good friend, David, for many years and he would always greet the church on Sunday morning with, “For whatever reason you find yourself here this morning, God greets you and welcomes you!” We have all gathered here with searching hearts. Yes, I’m here because I have certain responsibilities, but I come here each week searching and longing to be with you, to experience God’s presence in your presence. I come here each week, like you, with a deep hunger for God’s grace.

We may not know what brought us here this day, but we know that all those around us come with some human need. When I took a preaching class several years ago at our Lake Junaluska, NC, our professor took us through a series of exercises before we could begin to write. One of those exercises invited us to spend 15-30 minutes with the question, “Who is in the room?” And by that question he did not mean for us to answer with names, Mary, Bill, John, Amy, etc, but to answer with life situations and needs. Who is in this room? It’s a good question as you begin to look around your well loved seat. Who are the people around you and what are their needs? What are their greates joys? What are the longings of their hearts? How can we make them feel more welcomed? Everyone is searching!

I first met Andy when he was in the hospital; when he had his first cancer diagnosis. Someone asked us how we became such good friends and I quickly answered, “We became friends because from the first minute we met, Andy welcomed me into his life and made me feel at home in his presence.” I’d never really thought about it until those words flowed out in response. How many people come in here and need to find people who welcome them and make them feel at home in their presence?  I remember greeting a woman named Pam at the church one Sunday morning. When I asked, “Is this your first time here?” she answered, “No, I’ve been here at least 6 times before; this is the first time I ever got out of the car. If I had known I would be welcomed this way, I would have come in that first time.” Some of us here may have come anxious and reluctant but everyone is searching.  

There are folks among us who have come with deep spiritual hungers that they cannot identify. I remember a friend in college who sat near me in English class and often talked with me in the hallway. I wanted to share my faith story with him but I was reluctant. One day he blurted out, “I don’t what you have that I don’t have, but I want it. After class we’ll go for coffee and you can tell me about it.” I took that as an opening.

Some of us are searching for healing and wholeness. Some of us have experienced brokenness and suffering. Some of us are grieving. Some of us are fearful. Some of us are trying to break free from addictions and unhealthy life patterns. Some of us are suffering from a wounded sense of self and we will have trouble believing that God loves us or that anyone could love us. Some are us on the verge of giving up. Some of us are optimistic and hopeful. Some of us are struggling with doubts. Some of us are joyful and celebrating. Some of us are lonely and isolated.  Who is in the room? Everyone is searching for you, Jesus!

You have heard me say before that “Everyone” has to be one of God’s favorite words! Everyone is searching! In the Gospels the disciples find Jesus, but in life Jesus finds us and comes to us with grace and hope and healing. Jesus meets us here today and bids everyone to come to his table to feast on the graciousness of God.

LITANY: I invite you to join in a litany of response by saying the word “everyone” at the end of each sentence.

Everyone is searching for Jesus.
Everyone!
Everyone is invited to this table.
Everyone!
Everyone is welcomed at this table.
Everyone!
Everyone who is hungry and thirsty for the grace of God.
Everyone!
Everyone who is searching and uncertain of their faith.
Everyone!
Everyone who has ever felt rejected at other tables.
Everyone!
Everyone who is in need of God’s love.
Everyone!