Reflections...

A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Sunday 6th May 2007 by Rev. Kwok Nai Wang. The scripture readings that day were Hosea 11:8-11 and Luke 7:11-17.


It is believed that the Gospel composer of Luke was a doctor. So Luke’s Gospel put a great deal emphasis on the healing ministry of Jesus. There are 16 healing stories in Luke; compared with 12 a piece in both the Gospels according to Mark and Matthew. Of Luke’s 16 healing stories, five are not found either in Matthew or in Mark. They are: the healing of the Centurion’s slave (7:2-10); the raising of a widow’s son from death in Nain (7:11-17); the healing of a crippled woman on a Sabbath (13:10-17); the healing of a man with swollen legs and arms (14:1-6) and finally the healing of ten lepers (17:11-19). In other words, these five healing stories are unique and very special in Luke.

In the 4 gospels, there are altogether three stories about Jesus raising people from death: the first one is the bringing of Lazarus to life. It is recorded only in John. The second one is the bringing of Jairu’s daughter to life. It is in Luke 8:40-41, then continuing in 49-50 as well as in Mark 5:22-24, then 35-43. The third one, Jesus raised the widow’s son in Nain which is only found in Luke 7:11-17 This was what we read in the New Testament this morning.

The raising of the widow’s son to life is one of the most moving stories in Luke. It certainly was extremely sad that the widow had lost her only son. Many people felt sorry for the widow. So the funeral possession drew a big crowd from the town. When Jesus saw this, his heart was filled with pity for the widow. He consoled her, “Don’t cry”. Immediately, he walked over and touched the coffin. Then Jesus ordered the widow’s son to get up. He did and started to talk…

This is a miracle. A miracle is defined as a human impossibility becomes possible. It is a sign of God’s work. Jesus performed many miracles. He could perform miracles because Jesus was God incarnate. He was called God’s son. So what he did was also God’s work. This is what John recorded, “Jesus said, my father still goes on working, and I am at work, too.” (5:17, N.J.B.). The Gospel of John emphasized repeatedly that God and Jesus are in unity. That was why Jesus was full of authority and power: He drove out demons; he fed the hungry; he walked on the water; healed the sick and brought the dead to life…

However, as we look deeper at the healing stories or in that regard many other miracles Jesus performed, we can discover the words “he has pity on him/her”, “he felt sorry for them” etc. appeared often. Jesus felt sorry for the 5000 hungry people in the wilderness who came to hear him preached and taught, so he fed them with five loaves and two fish. He had pity on the widow who lost her son, so he raised him from the dead…

In some versions of the Bible, the word “compassion” was used instead of “his heart was filled with pity” or “he has pity”. Jesus had compassion on those who suffered. So he decided to do something to alleviate their pain and suffering. The word “compassion” was often used in the Old Testament to show God’s love for people.

One of the most moving passages of the Old Testament I think is the few verses we read from Hosea this morning. Let me read it to you again from the New Jerusalem Bible;

“Ephraim, how could I part with you?
Israel, How could I give you up?
How could I make you like Admah
Or treat you like Zeboiim?
(both towns were destroyed, c.f. Gen. 14:8)
My heart within me is overwhelmed,
Fever grips my inmost being.
I will not give rein to my fierce anger,
I will not destroy Ephraim again,
For I am God, not man,
The Holy One in your midst,
And I shall not come to you in anger.”
(11:8-11)

God always has compassion on the entire creation. The Story of the Flood as found in Genesis 6-9 described the pain of God when he saw the wickedness of human being.

The word “passion” means suffering. Hence the word “compassion” literally means suffering together with those who suffer. Jesus identified with those who suffered, so much so that he suffered with them. Consequently he decided to help those who were suffering. In John 11, we read about the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. When he saw how sad were Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters, Jesus wept (11:35). This was the shortest verse in the whole Bible. It has only two words, “Jesus wept.” But it said it all: Jesus identified fully with the sorrow of Mary and Martha. He had compassion on them. So he decided to bring Lazarus back to life.

A great many concerned people would say that the world to-day is hopeless. The rich and powerful spare no efforts to promote their own interests. The poor and the powerless are oppressed, exploited and discriminated. This world is full of gross violations of human nights, armed conflicts and genocides as well as abuse of nature and the environment. But I believe the most serious problem we face to-day is people’s indifference. We are so indifferent that we ignore totally the massive suffering of people all over the world, which include those at our doorsteps.

Twenty years ago, I conducted a workshop for a local church in Sau Mau Ping. Right across the street from the church was a squatter area from the hillside. To my surprise, many members did not know of its existence much less to care enough to pay a visit to the people who were their neighbours!

Just last week, in a seminar for senior students, the discussion was on the democratic development in Hong Kong. It was suggested the fact that Hong Kong has a government by a few and for a few. It may be major contributor for the growing rich and poor gap. A student who is a minister of a local church objected vehemently. According to him, Hong Kong does not have a poverty problem. He further hinted that it is only fair for those who have the capability to get more than those who are less capable. How isolated is this minister from the realities of Hong Kong! According to government statistics, to-day in Hong Kong about 1.03 million people have less than $4000 to spend a month. Of those who have gainful employment, 310,000 earn less than $5000 or less per month. 620,000 households have less than $10,000 to spend a month. A single person received only $1605 from public assistance a month. 154,000 were unemployed in February and 88,000 were under-employed. From these figures, who can say that Hong Kong does not have a poverty problem. Worse still, Hong Kong has a very serious problem regarding the gap between the have and have-nots. The rich-poor gap continued to widen in the past 30 years. Gini-coefficent (an index used to measure this gap) showed that in 1977 it was 0.375. Now it has raised to 0.525! How can Hong Kong have a harmonious society when there is such a big gap between the rich and the poor? So many suggested there should be a more open, participatory and caring government. I agree. But that is not enough. The value system of the people of Hong Kong should be radically changed. “Everybody for themselves” mindset can get us nowhere. Hong Kong should aim to become a caring community, the sooner, the better.

Where do we start? It should start with us. It is because as Christians we care. We need to transform our hearts and minds so that we become like Jesus who has the compassion on all those who suffer. Only compassion – the deepest kind of love can conquer all ills and problems.

Compassion: the decision to suffer with those who suffer can go a long way. Only compassion can play the trick of turning impossible situations into new opportunities and possibilities.

Upon my return from my theological studies, I was invited to take up the pastorate in a church located in a resettlement area. I was very young, barely 27 at the time. Very soon after I took up my job, one Sunday evening, I received a call saying that one deacon had dropped dead in the midst of a game of mahjong in the early afternoon. I was shocked because only a few hours earlier, he was in church, talking with me about how we should furnish the new church building. My first reaction was to rush to his home, only to find his wife lying on their bed crying. Not knowing what exactly what I should do or what words of comfort I should offer, I just held her hands and prayed with her. I really felt compassion for her. Years later, the widow became one of the most dedicated deaconesses in the church. She would recall that my compassion on her when she encountered the saddest day in her life has helped to transform her life!

Coming back to the miracle story about Jesus raised a widow’s son. Jesus said “Young man! Get up, I tell you!.” Immediately the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother” (7:14b-15).

This was the usual way Jesus healed and took care of people. No medicine. Not even the laying on of his hands. Jesus used his words to heal people. Jesus’ words came from the Word of God. Jesus is the Logos. He is the Word of God.

It is true that doctors can cure many kinds of disease and can alleviate sick people’s physical pain and discomfort. But we know that many diseases are psycho-somatic. It is the psycho side that doctors find it entirely helpless. But Jesus can deal with all our problems in entirety. Jesus’ words are the words of comfort or strength; “Do not be afraid; for love cast out fear.”

But there is also the social dimension in all illnesses. When a person is sick, he/she is separated from other people or even the whole society. For example, in Jesus’ time, lepers were not allowed to go into any town. When Peter’s mother felt ill, she was not able to serve Jesus when he was a house guest in her home… A deep sense of separation persists for those who are sick as well as sick people’s colleagues, friends and relatives. Jesus’ healing is for the wholeness of a person and even the wholeness of the society.

As disciples of Jesus, we must learn to follow what Jesus said, did as well as his life style.

When I was a boy, I got sick often. My father forced me to learn Tai Chi. So twice a week, early in the morning, he brought me to a Tai Chi master. The Tai Chi master taught me how to move my hands, legs as well as the whole body. I imitated every single movement of his. Jesus is our life master. Do we want to imitate his life like what I did when I learned Tai Chi?

The Christian Gospel is this: Become like Jesus. Jesus had compassion on people, especially those who suffer and were in great pain. This we must learn. After all, a little compassion is what this world needs the most.