“A Case in Humility” – Mark 3:1-6 – July 12, 2009
There is nothing more humbling than the death of a loved one. My mother, who lived in Florida, died suddenly on July 1st. Her death has reminded me how vulnerable we humans really are. Like most people I like to be in control of my life but my mother’s death has reminded me that God is in control, not me. The experience has also taught me the importance of reaching out to others and giving them the freedom to care for me and my family.
The story of the man with a withered hand is a story of humility. The man had to humble himself and trust in Jesus’ healing power. In that day, those with diseases or infirmities were normally on the fringes of society. For some reason this man was in the synagogue, most likely standing in the back, out of sight. How hard it must have been for him to expose his disabled hand that day in the synagogue.
I believe this story is here to remind us that Jesus cares for the most vulnerable. The story also illustrates that he made healing and restoration a priority over religious laws. He took the risk of being arrested but Jesus’ love for others was more important than laws.
When we lend a helping hand, such as giving money to someone to buy groceries, we like to know how the money will be spent. We want to control what they buy. We don’t want to be taken advantage of. To buy anything other than food would be breaking our “rules of giving.” When we make judgments about the actions of others we are just like the Pharisees who stood in the background when Jesus healed the man with the withered hand. They were more concerned with their rules than the love of God.
In 1961 Clarence Earl Gideon committed a misdemeanor in the state of Florida. He was charged for stealing a bottle of wine and it was alleged that he took $50 in coins from a juke box. A local resident later testified he saw Clarence leave a tavern with the bottle of wine and his pockets bulging with coins. The judge who heard the case denied him counsel and Gideon was sent to prison for five years. Under Florida law at that time, no one was entitled to counsel.
While in prison, Gideon did some research studying the American legal system and concluded that he had been denied the right to counsel. He appealed his case to the FBI and Florida Supreme Court but they denied any help. In January, 1962 Clarence mailed a five-page petition to the U.S. Supreme Court and they agreed to hear his case.
A lawyer, Abe Fortas, was assigned to represent Clarence Gideon. He argued that “a common man with no training in law cannot go up against a trained lawyer and win and that you cannot have a fair trial without counsel.” The hearing lasted five hours and five minutes. The court ruled in Gideon’s favor, 9-0. As a result, about 2,000 unjustly convicted people in Florida were set free because of the decision.
Later, Gideon arranged for a retrial and he was acquitted. It turned out that the eye witness was really a lookout for some young men who were stealing beer. Another witness testified that Gideon had nothing in his hands or his pockets. He was set free after serving a sentence for a crime he never committed.
The case humbled the entire justice system. Because of Gideon’s efforts, everyone who is prosecuted is assured of the right to counsel. Clarence Gideon was set free because love prevailed over the law. Likewise, the man with the withered hand was healed because the love of Jesus prevailed over the laws of religion.
Just as Gideon reached out for help, the man with the withered hand reached out. He was challenged to expose his disability, showing the faith community where he was vulnerable. It is difficult for us to show others where we hurt. Pride has a way of keeping those weak parts of our lives in hiding. Because the man “stretched out his hand” he was healed. He trusted in the power of Jesus to heal him and acknowledged his dependency on God.
As I stated earlier my mother’s death has been a humbling experience for me. When someone dies that you love you realize how dependent you are on others for their help. You also realize how dependent you are on God. While I have drawn upon my own resources and faith to help me through this personal loss, I have also learned how important it is to let others reach out to you. Ministers, friends, relatives, neighbors and church folks have all been there to give me and my family their love.
When we are experiencing a personal crisis others want to give us an extended hand. But we are so used to depending on our own resources we don’t give others the opportunity to help. When Lin and I traveled to Florida last week we could have rented a car. My brother arranged for one of my nephews to pick us up. When we left Florida, a niece took us to the airport. Those trips gave us a chance to interact with family members who we rarely see. It was also meaning to them since it gave them an opportunity to do something for the family.
One time there was an immigrant by the name of Ed Leedskalvin, traveling in South Florida. He arrived in the United States suffering from Tuberculosis. He was searching for a place to build his castle. As he walked along the road, a man by the name of Mosier offered him a ride. He could see that Ed was sick and so he took him home and nursed him back to health. Ed became well and over a period of years he built his castle out of coral rock. Some of them weighed as much as nine tons. It is a total mystery as to how Ed managed to cut the stones and position them without machines. There are all kinds of theories as to how Ed achieved his goal. His project remains a mystery and a remarkable stone garden remains in South Florida to this day. But, had it not been for the extended hand of Mosier, Ed would have never been able to accomplish the task.
Religious historians have evidence that the man with the withered hand was a stone mason. Like Ed, he was a man who needed his hands to build. Perhaps Jesus needed him to help build the Church. In any event, the story reminds us that there are times when we need to humble ourselves and let God help us. We are all vulnerable in some way. Stretching out our hands is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength. It means we are willing to move away from our pride and trust in God to care for us.
Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio