Gaining Access

Luke 7:1-10

Before I entered the ministry I was trained as a journalist.  I spent a decade involved with radio and television new and sports.  Although I never moved above a market size larger than Wichita, I was familiar with the necessities of those who perform on a much larger stage.  Journalists need sources.  They need leads.  They need tips.  But to be a player for the really big scoops you need access.

Access involves getting close to the decision makers, the eyewitnesses, the people with power.  Access is everything to a reporter.  In truth access is more than a journalism question.  Access is important in many parts of our society.  Who has access to education?  Who has access to healthcare?  Who has access to government and decision-making?  However we might answer those questions, we know there are many who do not have access to these fundamentals aspects of life.  Many do not have access to good education. There are many who have no access to health care.  There are many who literally have no chance to fight city hall.

In Jesus’ day access was pretty important too.  Obviously the ones with access to power and perks were the Roman citizens.  But many Jewish people did as well, particularly the leaders of the synagogue; the Scribes and Pharisees.  Although they were not Roman citizens, they were powerful enough to position themselves favorably in Roman society, often at the expense of the poor and the marginalized who looked to the synagogue and its leaders as the interpreters of God’s laws and the bearer of God’s grace.

This question of “access” is very much at the heart of Luke’s gospel.  Perhaps you recall an earlier passage from Luke that is often read at Christmas time.  Right after the angel tells Mary she is to bear God’s son, Mary sings a song.  A portion of that song goes like this:  “He has used the power of his arm; he scattered the proud of heart, he overthrew princes from their thrones, and the humble he uplifted, the hungry he has loaded with good things, and the rich he sent away empty.” 

After Jesus returns to his home in Nazareth as an adult, he enters the synagogue and reads aloud from the prophet Isaiah.  Jesus reads, “the Spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has consecrated me to bring good news to poor people, he has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and restoration of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed at liberty, to proclaim a year of favor from the Lord.” 

All of this helps us to see why today’s reading is so fascinating.  Given Luke’s preference for the poor, we would expect Jesus to do what he commonly does—extend healing and wholeness to the forgotten ones of Israel.  But here we have something unexpected.  We have someone of privilege—someone who customarily experiences “access” coming to Jesus in need.

But he doesn’t actually come himself.  The first we learn of the crisis is through intermediaries.  The Roman captain sends some Judean Elders to Jesus.  Although accustomed to getting what he wants, suddenly the Roman captain is unsure, deferential.  Rather than approach Jesus with a sense of entitlement, he sends fellow Jews to Jesus to offer intercession.

Jesus agrees to go with the men.  What we are not certain of is why.  Did Jesus offer the man preferential treatment because of his large donation to the building fund?  I hope not.  I hope Jesus went because there was need.  And as the story unfolds, I believe this is in fact the case.

Before Jesus reaches the Roman in question…. and therefore his slave…Jesus encounters yet another group of intercessors.  These are members of the Roman officer’s staff.  But rather than continue to entreat Jesus to come… perhaps even encourage him to get a move on… they suggest his visit is not necessary at all.  This is another surprise.  Suddenly there does not seem to be the same sense of urgency?  Perhaps the slave has died.  Jesus is too late.

No, the slave is still alive.  But rather than bid Jesus to hurry, these intermediaries suggest he need not come at all.  They bring a message from their friend, “I am unworthy to receive you under my roof,” he begins.  Now earlier we heard that the Roman captain “deserves this favor.”  And now we learn that he believes himself unworthy.  But Jesus, safe to say, is indifferent to all of that.  For Jesus does not see worthy or unworthy.  He sees need.  He responds to suffering.  He offers wholeness.

Is this a rhetorical stunt by the Roman?  Is it sincere?  The Roman captain says that Jesus simply needs to say the word and his servant will be made well.  This is the last surprise of the story, and it comes as a surprise even to Jesus.  Jesus was “surprised” to hear these words.  “I tell you, nowhere in Israel have I met with such faith as this!”

How does this story help us to understand access and intercession as these apply to Jesus?

We generally associate access with privilege.  Even in Jesus’ day there was a pretty big gap between those who had access to a good life and those who did not.  And given what Luke has said about the place of the poor in Jesus’ ministry, we would expect him to limit his access to the least fortunate.

But this story leads us to rethink this.  Certainly Jesus does make himself accessible to those who ordinarily had no access to life’s necessities.  But Jesus is also accessible to one more accustomed to a comfortable life.  By his own statement, as sent through his friends, the Roman is accustomed to giving orders and having them obeyed.  But in this case the circumstances went beyond this kind of worldly power.  The Roman officer understood that his authority did not extend to his servant who was lying near death.  This circumstance did not call for conquest.  It called for surrender… a surrender to faith.

The Roman is an unlikely recipient of Jesus’ healing power.  But Jesus sees beyond all earthly condition.  Jesus responds to need.  Jesus responds to those who respond to him in faith.  And that is the key here—faith.  What Jesus marvels at in this instance is the power and certainty of the man’s faith.  Not even in Israel—not even among those whom Jesus would expect to have faith and understanding—has he seen such a display.  The power of Jesus’ healing touch is accessible to anyone and everyone, regardless of earthly condition, if that power is embraced in faith.  We have been saved by faith through the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

But before we leave this story for this morning we should consider one more thing.  Intercession.  In the course of this story Jesus’ encounters several people.  He encounters members of the Jewish community who vouch for the Roman captain.  He encounters the friends of the Roman captain.  But he never encounters the Roman captain himself.  And the slave who is healed?  Jesus never touches him or lays eyes on him.

The intercessions on behalf of the sick man are many.  Are they responsible for Jesus’ response?  Certainly Jesus would not have known of the need if the need had not been brought to his attention.  The Jewish community, the man’s friends, the man himself, all petition Jesus to intercede for the need.  The result is healing.

As the church of Jesus Christ, we do not control access to Jesus.  And we must be vigilant that our message is one of grace and faith… that faith opens us up to the healing power of Jesus and not the adherence to some doctrinal code.

But as the church of Jesus Christ, we do have an obligation to bring our intercessions on behalf of others and the world.  Our intercessions help bring the healing power of Jesus to those in need.  And although we certainly offer intercessory prayer, anytime we advocate for those in need, when we send relief and aid to victims of disaster, whenever we lift up the suffering, we intercede.  Intercession in union with faith is the way to access the healing power of God in Jesus Christ.