Deliverance FROM and IN Suffering

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, January 15, 2025

The week of the first Sunday after Epiphany, The Baptism of Christ

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key verses in today’s Gospel for reflection.

30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

. . . .

32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33And the whole city was gathered around the door.  34And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons

. . . .

40 A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ 41Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ 42Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 942)

AM Psalm 119:1-24; PM Psalm 12, 13, 14

Isa. 41:1-16; Eph. 2:1-10; Mark 1:29-45

David's Reflections

The Gospel readings this week feel like a multimedia, three-screen show of Jesus’ healings.  Mark’s Gospel uses the adverb "immediately" over 50 times, fast-flashing images of Jesus on the move, healing, casting out demons, receiving the outcast and wounded.  This passage goes by like a blur--Peter's mother-in-law delivered of a fever, the sick and demon-oppressed being healed and delivered, Jesus on a prayer retreat, and Jesus healing a leper.

I get the feeling of deliverance-overload.  How many people do I know who have not been delivered or delivered with the dramatic suddenness of these episodes?  Does Jesus still heal?  Do such deliverances still take place?  If so, why not always and for every person?

Mark gives a stark example of Jesus' inability to heal (Mark 6) that feels like a shocker.  He actually says, “Jesus was not able to do many mighty works there.”  Jesus was not able to do many healings in his hometown because of the oppressive atmosphere of unbelief and skepticism he experienced there.  Is that it?  Is it our fault that healings and deliverances don't come?

It's not that simple.  In the New Testament Jesus sometimes healed when there was no faith to provoke it (John 5:1-11).  Rather, it seems our concept of deliverance looks out through too narrow a lens.  We tend to see no deliverance if suffering continues.  However, God was present in Jesus’ life during his crucifixion Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5 says that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself..  He observes in 2 Corinthians 13 that Jesus was crucified in weakness. There was no deliverance FROM suffering.

Could it be that deliverance sometimes comes not FROM but rather WITHIN suffering? As Martin Luther King, Jr. once observed Jesus moved from “if it be possible let this cup pass from me” to “not my will but yours be done.” On the cross Jesus moved from “My God, why have you forsaken me” to “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” He was delivered IN and THROUGH suffering.

I want my faith in Christ to be such that he is set free to work his deliverances without my prescribing how they are to come about.  Can I pray with bold expectancy, knowing that healing and deliverance will come, while at the same time avoiding looking only for a certain kind of deliverance? I  want to be moved by grace from “let this cup pass from me” to “your will be done.”

Lewis Smedes wrote: “Healing from within suffering is as wonderful as healing from suffering. God gives inner strength that compensates for loss, and gives the sufferer resourcefulness to live faithfully and effectively.”*

We must forego viewing well being and freedom from suffering as entitlements or assurances. We may well find that the most profound healing might be the healing of our relationship to our lingering sufferings. Rather than seeking deliverance from them, we can begin to seek God’s working presence within them. That was Paul’s learning witnessed in 2 Corinthians 12 when he prayed three times for what he called a “thorn in the flesh” to be removed. God’s response was that divine grace would suffice and that Paul had crucial learnings in store that only the “thorn” could generate. God’s answer, “My grace is enough for you,” may be the word that heals our relationship to our own sufferings.

• https://www.evergreensgv.org/blog/2019/2/27/healing-within-suffering

Collect of the Day, First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of our Lord

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.  (BCP, 214)

A Collect for Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)

For stewardship of creation

O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 259)

In the Order of Worship for Evening

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen.  (BCP, 113)

A Collect for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)

Daily Office Gospel, Mark 1:26-46

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33And the whole city was gathered around the door.  34And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ 38He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ 39And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

40 A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ 41Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ 42Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, 44saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ 45But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer 

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer