Bible Text: Isaiah 40:21-31 and Mark 1: 29-39 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes
There’s an old wives tale that says, “starve a fever, feed a cold”. It is a saying that I have heard a few times over this recent horrendous flu season. It turns out that it is only half true. One should never starve when ill, regardless of whether it is brought on by fever or cold. You likely all know how essential it is to make sure we take in lots of nutrients and fluid when sick. There’s also a traditional remedy for any kind of viral illness- chicken noodle soup. It turns out that there is likely more truth to that remedy then there is to the saying. Dr. Stephen Rennard, a pulmonary expert from Nebraska has even done extensive research on the subject and has published a paper stating that, “the anti-flammatory properties of many of chicken soup’s ingredients help ease the symptoms of a cold by reducing congestion.” Grandmothers around the world are nodding their head in agreement. It was likely this knowledge that led motivational speakers Jack Canfield and Mark Hansen to use chicken soup as a remedy for a self-help book which spun off into a very popular series, Chicken Soup for the Soul. Sometimes like the stories in the books, there is something nostalgic, hopeful and warm about chicken noodle soup. Perhaps it is the simplicity of it, or the memory of a Mom bringing you a bowl. Regardless of any healing properties or not, it does bring comfort.
We need to find comfort in today’s world. Our society and culture needs to take a sick day just so that we can take the time to sip on a hearty bowl of soup. Whether it is stories of natural disasters, violence around the globe or imbecilic behaviour of world leaders we need to heal. Both our Old and New Testament readings speak of the kind of comfort and healing that God can provide. This is the real chicken soup for the soul kind of stuff. It is about restoring and renewing, finding comfort and healing.
Isaiah’s passage also offers hope and encouragement. The people have been living in exile in Babylon but they have been given the hope that they will soon be able to return. One would think that upon hearing this rumour that they would be filled with rejoicing but the reality is they are apprehensive. Not only do they want to avoid being filled with false hope but they also don’t know if returning home is something they can do. After all, they have tried their best to make a life for themselves over the 70 year period that they have been in Babylon. Many have long given up hope, and many believe that God abandoned them the day the temple fell, so what is there to go back to? The prophet has his work cut out for him because he not only needs to convince them that returning home will happen, but that God will be the one to guide them. As a matter of fact, God has been with them this whole time. Our passage begins with a series of questions and I can almost hear this prophet pleading with them, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning?” Isaiah is begging them to reflect on who exactly God is- God is the one who brought them out of Egypt- and therefore surely God can bring them back from Babylon.
Then the passage builds on beautiful poetic words. It is a song about creation and the creator. It says God sits- as in God is undisturbed- and observes creation, challenges evil, and brings order out of chaos. Like the Israelite people who question whether God is still present, many of us look at the world around us and say, God has given up on us. We cannot see the order for the chaos, we cannot see creation for the destruction, we cannot see the raising up of goodness for the insatiable evil. But what are we if we do not have hope- especially the belief that even though there are rulers on this earth that are powerful, God is more powerful. The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth- and therefore God will bring evil to its knees.
But along with power God is caring because God gives this incredible power to the faint, God strengthens the powerless; their strength will be renewed in such a way that they will soar. God is powerful but God also restores. The trick or challenge is that we must seek this strength and restoration not among earthly things, but we must lift our eyes up to God. Charles Aaron Jr reminds us, “This powerful, caring deity will provide the energy the people need for their journey back to Jerusalem. If their experiences [in exile] have sapped their strength, they can draw on God’s strength for renewal.” This is real chicken soup for the soul.
Jesus then personifies this very message in three ways. First Jesus heals an individual, then Jesus heals the crowds, then Jesus seeks his own healing. Notice how these stories alternate between private and public events. Jesus leaves the public arena of the synagogue to visit in a private home. There Jesus heals in a very private and intimate way. That evening people are brought to him, in fact it says the whole city was gathered around the door. Then in the morning Jesus takes time in private prayer before declaring to the disciples that it is time to head off on a public preaching tour. Jesus balances the public and private aspects of faith. This story also demonstrates the reciprocal nature of true healing.
The first healing story in Mark, as oppose to the first exorcism, is of Simon’s mother-in-law. While the healing of a woman would not be particularly radical, the recording and the manner in which it is recorded would have been. First, as part of the healing, Jesus takes the woman’s hand, furthering the idea that touch can be healing. But also think about it: the woman is suffering from a fever, meaning she was likely contagious. Throughout this cold and flu season if I have encountered someone who says, “they might be coming down with something” my first response is to recoil, not reach out for their hand. But Jesus knows how restorative his touch can be. Then in states that he “lifted her up”. In most other translations it says, “he raised her up”. This is important because in the Gospel of Mark there is no reference to Jesus being raised up in the resurrection story. Instead it simply states that Jesus had gone ahead of the disciples and will meet them along the road. The term “raised up” is used six times, and all in reference to a healing story. In Mark, the resurrection stories, the raising up stories are in the healing of the sick, and in most cases, just like with Simon’s mother-in-law, as the people are raised they are able to serve.
I’ve mentioned it before that I almost get angry about the story- because how can the disciples be so callous that they expect this woman to serve them when just moments ago she was dying from a fever. In truth, it is her kind of servitude that should inspire us all! There is no better way to celebrate the healing presence of God than to serve God. New Testament professor, Cynthia Briggs Kittredge writes, “To be released from illness and restored to oneself means one can fulfil responsibilities to others. Serving epitomizes Jesus’ own ministry.” And this is where it is reciprocal, because in her feeding of Jesus, Jesus is able to have the energy to get up early, pray, and declare that he is ready to wander the countryside proclaiming and healing at every stop. This is true chicken soup for the soul.
Both the Isaiah and Mark passages speak of healing- finding strength in God and restoration through Christ. But they also speak to the fact that we are all part of something much bigger than our own individual needs. This world needs healing and that is in part because we have consistently sought healing from earthly things. This world needs healing and that is in part because we have consistently found healing solely for ourselves. Instead we need to make a broth that is filled with the Creator’s restorative herbs- and we need not look far for the right ingredients. In Galatians it says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control; now that sounds like a tasty soup for the soul. Amen