Bible Text: Mark 5:21-43 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes
As many of you know I enjoy finding out the history behind songs. I find the stories about the songwriters interesting and I am always intrigued at how a song was inspired. Today I want to talk about two songwriters, sisters, Susan and Anna Warner. Susan was born in 1819 and Anna was born in 1824 to a wealthy American family. At the time of their births the family owned property in the wealthy Hudson Square neighbourhood in New York as well as a few summer homes. But tragedy struck the family early on when the mother and wife died in 1827 and then ten years later during a financial crisis that history calls “the panic of 1837”, the family lost nearly everything including their main home. Luckily on property that they own on Constitution Island there was an old farmhouse. The island is in the Hudson River across from West Point Military Academy. Not having much farming experience the family struggled to make ends meet and an auction of most of the family’s possessions took place in 1846. Neighbours challenged the family’s property rights and took them to court so that they were eventually evicted from the island in 1849, when the two sisters were in their twenties. Luckily the two daughters and Father were able to negotiate in court and remained in the farmhouse as renters. An aunt who had always taken an interest in the girls suggested that they try to contribute to the family income by writing stories.
Eventually Susan and Anna became published authors and wrote numerous children’s books. Their inspiration was their own struggles. They described stories of financial loss, helplessness, navigating poverty, and illness. During the Civil War the sisters published a newspaper for children, called “The Little American”. In amongst all this uncertainty the sisters began a Bible study at West Point for the cadets. A program that they ran for 40 years together and Anna continued that Bible study for 30 years following her sister’s death. Early on in their financial struggles the sisters began attending Mercer Street Presbyterian church and both were confirmed in that congregation in 1841. Their faith also began to strongly influence their writing. Susan published a poem in the children’s magazine called the Little Corporal. The poem was entitled, Jesus Bids Us Shine. It is indeed the words to that famous hymn. But it was Anna who would write the most famous children’s hymn of all time. It was published in a novel that the sisters jointly wrote titled “Say and Seal”. In the story a boy named Johnny Fox is dying. This boy’s Sunday School teacher came for a visit and took the boy in his arms and while rocking him he began to sing a song, “Jesus love me, this I know.” Hymn writer William Bradbury read this novel and composed the score to accompany Anna’s lyrics.
Despite that this hymn is one of the most famous hymns of all time. Both sisters were never able to become completely free of debt. In fact, they were often so desperate for money that the sisters would immediately sell the copyright of their work to publishers to meet expenses. When asked how had she had the strength to survive Anna took from the bookshelf a small delicate shell and said, “There was a time when I was very perplexed, bills were unpaid, necessities must be had, and someone sent me this exquisite thing. As I held it, I realized that if God could make this beautiful home for a little creature . He would take care of me.” You see the stories of hymn writers are often fascinating and teach us a lot about trusting, genuine and strong faith.
In our Gospel story we actually have two stories of profound faith and trust in God. Not only on this Sunday do you get free hotdogs but you get a two for one deal in our Bible stories. This is a narrative device that is very characteristic for the gospel of Mark as the writer weaves two miracle stories together. While Jesus is on his way to heal a dying girl, a woman touches his robe and despite the crowds and so many people reaching out to touch Jesus, he knows when this woman touches him and he stops. The effect of putting these stories together is to magnify the impact of the stories while at the same time to focus on the healing and faith which literally accompany Jesus’ actions.
It begins with Jairus begging Jesus to hurry and come to his home to save the life of his little girl. And Jesus responds with haste. Jesus went with him to find this girl. I can imagine Jairus having a sense of relief, that the prayer he approached Jesus with was answer, and the prospect of healing and life restored is good. But then there is an interruption in the narrative.
In fact Mark, really interrupts this story of Jairus and his daughter, by describing this woman’s ailment, fears, and inner dialogue. She said to herself, “If only I could touch his clothes then I would be made well.” Just one little brush of his cloak is all she’s looking for. It is not her intention to prevent Jesus from getting to this little girl before it is too late. But it is Jesus who feels the healing power leave him and he stops. Jesus demands to know who touched him and the woman trembles before him explaining what happened. Instead of lashing out that she has made him late and instead of telling the crowd to move along. Jesus turns to the woman and calls her daughter and proclaims that it is her faith that has made her well. Words of promise have added to her new reality of life. She has not only been healed but has received the peace, the shalom, of Jesus loving her, of Jesus calling her one of his own.
In mid-sentence, while Jesus is still giving her his blessing, others arrive to tell Jairus that his daughter has died. It is quite the juxtaposition. While one woman’s hopes have soared to new heights, another’s has been dashed to pieces. While Jesus claimed a daughter, Jairus has lost his. But Jesus responds, “Stop being afraid and go on living by faith.” Jesus’ words speak to all of us as well as he encourages Jairus to change fear into trust.
Both miracle stories provide a whole new dimension to Jesus’ salvation. Salvation isn’t about perfect actions and it isn’t about all that people write and say about in the doctrine of salvation. It’s simple. Have faith that Jesus loves you, that’s all you need to know. Because as Jesus arrived at Jairus’ house he took the little girl in his arms and said, “Arise”. Jesus loves you this I know, for the Bible told me so, little ones to him belong. They are weak be he is strong. Jesus simply transforms the situation by his healing presence so that instead of fear, those around him have faith. Because if God looks after the Sparrow, if God can create a delicate shell as home for a little creature, surely God will take care of us. Amen