Jesus the Healer Part II – Churchill-Gilford Pastoral Charge

“Jesus the Healer, Part II”**

For the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany Feb 4, 2024

Churchill and Gilford United Churches

Krista M. Moore

Mark 1:29-39 Jesus Heals Simon’s Mother-in-Law
Introduction to the Scriptures:
Jesus is in Capernaum, spreading the Gospel. He has started his healing ministry. People are astonished. So much so that he heads up a hill to escape the crowds and pray to his Father, God, whom he calls Abba.

Let me share what he might have been thinking.

JESUS: Abba, they are asking. So many are asking for you. I am here to give them what you promised. I have healed many today. But the crowds, they are gathering. I need a moment to gather myself.

Simon is so happy; his mother is healed. She was singing in the kitchen again!

They are starting to believe in me, that you sent me.

But some still doubt. Some are afraid.

Give me strength, Father, for the road ahead. Amen.

SERMON/REFLECTION
It is not easy to believe in healing.

What Jesus taught, what he did in Capernaum that day, many became believers.

But for us, it is harder. With modern technology, science, secularization in our churches and schools, it is even more challenging to believe in God, especially the God who came to heal us in Jesus Christ.

I am a believer.

Last week I shared some of the stories to explain why I believe that Jesus’s healing is real, and how I’ve experienced healing in my life. Today I will share more stories in Jesus the Healer Part II.** **If you haven’t seen or heard last week’s sermon, I highly recommend you go back and watch it on our YouTube channel. If you aren’t sure how to find it, ask me, Steve, or Cathy.

So let me tell you another story.

STORY 1: Girl in the Theatre
Back in my theatre days, I was at a rehearsal with a fellow actor, a young woman. We were talking about all things spiritual, and she got the idea that I had a spiritual gift. I had experienced some spiritual things in my life, and I was happy to share with her.

But I was still cautious.

I was a skeptic myself, I just assumed most people would be skeptical.

But she was completely open and wanted to know more. So she asked me if I could find out if her grandmother who passed was OK?

I said oh no! I’m not a medium. I don’t see dead people! And I don’t talk to them! I was dead set against that – it is forbidden in the Bible after all.

THEN not two seconds later, as I was just sitting there looking at her, I got the sudden overwhelming scent of ROSES washing over me. I was startled and shocked and whipped around to see where the scent was coming from.

There were about twenty of us sitting around in the theatre waiting for rehearsals to begin, and I asked the people behind us if there were roses anywhere? They all looked at me like I was nuts and said no…. (it wasn’t opening night; it was just a rehearsal).

I suddenly realized that this scent was not of the earth, but from heaven. I got tingles down my spine. I became aware that I had to tell my friend it was a sign from God that her grandmother was alright. Somehow I just knew this. It was a feeling. She was so relieved and happy. But I was a nervous wreck!

What did this mean?!

STORY 2: Jack Stage 4 Lung Cancer
Last year I shared that we lost Steve’s mother suddenly a few days before 9/11.

She was in perfect health, slim, fit, an avid gardener, and the kindest woman I had ever met. A saint. She was only 61. On one visit, she asked Steve if he was Ok, and happy. He was surprised by her question, and said yes, of course (he had me after all?!)

Then she did the same thing with his brother and sister. It was the Friday before, September 8th when she died of an unexplained heart or stroke. They never knew what happened. Steve believes his mother left to go and help all the souls who died at 9/11 who were in shock. She always believed and had her Bible by her side.

A few years later, his father Jack took ill. We didn’t realize it, but he had stage 4 lung cancer. It was like he didn’t want to fight it – he missed his wife so much.

He came to stay with us for a while, which turned into three months. I was studying healing at the time, the same healing we talked about last week.

I took him to his radiation appointments at Sunnybrook, and I remember him wincing in the car as we drove over the bumpy roads. One day he was recuperating at home, and I was getting ready to give him a therapeutic massage on the back, to relieve some of the pain. He was lying face down and couldn’t see me.

Before I applied my hands, I bowed my head and prayed. And I asked God to send a bright light of healing into his lungs. Suddenly he jumped straight up and cried, “what did you do?!” I was so startled I cried, “What do you mean?!!” I thought he was hurt. But he wasn’t.

I told him I just prayed for some healing before we started. He said he felt something like an electrical current – like a lightning bolt – go through him. He wasn’t hurt, just startled. But I think I was more startled than him. Again, I am a believer, but I’m also a skeptic, and when something happens I’m just as surprised or more than the person I’m assisting.

I’d like to tell you that he got better, but his healing was different than I expected.

As I said last week, sometimes God comes to heal our hearts, minds, and souls, not just our bodies.

Jack was perfectly content. He was so at peace.

One day I went outside to see him lying on his lounger with his blanket. I asked him, “How are you feeling today?”

And he said, calmly, “I’m communing with my God.”

That said it all.

On the night Jack died, we were all gathered around. He had a beautiful last few moments with us. He had no oxygen and was as calm as could be.

In the final moments, Jack reached out his hand and began waving in the air. He wanted to say something.

We asked him what was happening, and he whispered these words:
“White wall…” He was amazed.

Then he began talking to someone under his breath, and Steve kept asking who he was talking to. He asked but his dad couldn’t get the words out. Until Steve asked, “is it mom?” And he nodded excitedly. Then he made a motion like he was petting a dog, and Steve asked is it Lady? (His most recent dog) and he shook his head no. Then Steve struggled to remember and asked, is it Sheeba? And he nodded yes. That was their first dog from a long time ago.

This went on for some time, him explaining to us in his own way what he saw – the interesting thing is, everything he saw and was talking to had already passed.

Jack had a peaceful death, which was a grace. God gave him healing and a reunion with his wife, best friend, and dog. In a dream shortly after, Jack came to me, with my dog, that I had lost. He was showing me that he was looking after my dog for me, and he waved goodbye. I will never forget that.

These experiences taught me that healing is not always about preventing death.

Sometimes it is about bringing peace to the one who dies, or to their loved ones who are left behind, that they are OK and doing well. Better than us most times!

SCRIPTURE
Jesus offered healing to Simon’s mother-in-law who had a high fever, and she suddenly sprung up (like Jack!) and started cooking for everybody. I’m not sure that was such a great reward! If that happened to me, I’d hope someone would come and feed me! But I am no saint. And those who came to the chili cookoff yesterday can attest to that – I’m not the best cook either!

JESUS THE HEALER
Jesus teaches us that healing is possible, in many forms. Not all the people were healed that day in Capernaum. He did what he could. I could imagine Jesus was tired and had to escape the crowd and find a quiet space for himself to reflect and pray.

Even Jesus needed healing. He needed to spend time with God.

STORY: The Ghost at the Manse
I promised you one more story. The Ghost at the Manse. Maybe you’ve heard from our previous minister, Glen, or Cliff, that there was a ghost at the manse.

And I can honestly tell you…. It’s true.

When I came to the manse as an office, I would go into this one room and suddenly I would feel dizzy and get a little headache. It was so weird. I couldn’t figure it out.

I also got the impression of someone’s presence in the hall. In my nervousness I would talk out loud to reassure them.

One day, my mom was visiting the manse with the quilters and went upstairs and felt the presence of a woman staring at her from across the banister. She couldn’t see her but felt her presence. And my mom also tried to reassure her that it was OK.
Finally I asked my spiritual friend Elizabeth to help me solve the mystery. We channeled and asked God what was going on. Let me explain.

Part of my healing practice was to pray to God, Jesus, and the angels for support. Then I would feel a bright white or golden light come down over me, and the presence of God or the Spirit fill me. I was no longer thinking as Krista but was open to receive whatever God wanted to help the person in front of me. In this case it was a ghost.

The healing or information may come through words, impressions, visions, sounds, smells, or tones like singing. Sometimes Jesus would speak to people directly through me.

We prayed, and we both got an impression of a woman in her mid 50s wearing a dress that looked straight out of 1910.

We found out she had suffered a sudden heart attack, and likely was the Lady of the house – and was confused about what had happened to her. Maybe she had a family.

She wondered why no one else had helped her. All those ministers! So we prayed and asked God and Jesus to help her go where she belonged, to reunite with her loved ones.

And we felt her lift up into the light and leave the manse, grateful to be healed and brought to heaven to be with God.

Now when I go in that room or walk across that hallway I do not feel any supernatural energy. Just a feeling of peace, and a room that is starting to feel like home.

SO- WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN TO US?
Jesus healed many people in Capernaum that day.

He came to show us what is possible, and to help us believe that God really is active in our lives both then and now. If only we would pray and ask.

Even when we are doubtful, God can use us. I was a huge skeptic, and now look at me!

LAST STORY – Commuting – To be Continued:
One more quick story.

I was working at my old job in Markham at Rogers, commuting an hour and a half each way to Alliston. I was also going to school at night, finishing my first degree at U of T part-time, commuting back and forth days and nights. It was a hectic time.

Let’s just say I was dead tired. I was really pushing myself. When we’re young (or old) we don’t always know when death is just a moment away.

But you will have to wait to hear what happens next week for Part III of Jesus the Healer.

CLOSING
Let me close with this.

God or Jesus can work through us when we pray and ask. Not everyone gets healed physically. But that’s not what healing is for. God wants to heal our hearts, minds, and souls, to help us return to the light of God.

Sometimes we may pray and feel like our prayers are not answered. But God’s miracles come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes it is physical healing, and sometimes it is peace of mind, forgiveness of the past, acceptance that death is not the end, and that reconciliation with loved ones is possible.

And of course, love.

God’s unconditional love is eternal.

Jesus is with us.

He was with us 2000 years ago, and he is with us today.

From the day we are born, to the day we die.

To the great hereafter.

Jesus heals us.

God is with us.

Thanks be to God.
Amen.