Proximity

Jesus *can* heal from a distance, but he usually draws near.

It’s rather interesting that Jesus had in mind to go to the centurion’s home to heal his servant, but in the end, does not after the centurion said he doesn’t need to. It brings up a question.

Why did Jesus ever travel somewhere to heal? If he could just do it from a distance, why not?

One of the things about Jesus and miracles is that miracles are not the point of Jesus. Taking the above a step further, God could have done everything Jesus did from heaven, no?

But the decision for Jesus to be in proximity with humanity is not just a cool miracle (the incarnation and all). Rather, it is a feature of God’s plan that tells us about who God is. Proximity becomes important in Jesus’s story. For many generations, the story tells us that God acted by proxy, from a distance, and spoke through other humans (prophets, etc.).

But in Christ, he came into the world to be present with humanity and as a part of humanity. In this case, the mode is the message. Sure, Jesus heals and saves and all that, but he usually comes near to do so.

That pattern of proximity didn’t end with Jesus’ earthly ministry. Through the Spirit and through the body of Christ, the Church, God still draws near to human need. Sometimes the healing is immediate, sometimes not, but the nearness itself is part of the saving work.

We are called to be participants of this proximity. But we live in a world of disconnectedness. As much as technology connects ideas and conversations, actual proximity is rarer these days. And even when people are near each other, it’s often still quite disconnected. Think a quiet subway train full of people or a highway full of traffic or even a shopping center full of busyness, but little interaction.

May the Lord be close to you today and may you choose to draw near to others as well.

Luke 7:1-17

After Jesus finished presenting all his words among the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion had a servant who was very important to him, but the servant was ill and about to die. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Jesus to ask him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they earnestly pleaded with Jesus. “He deserves to have you do this for him,” they said. “He loves our people and he built our synagogue for us.”

Jesus went with them. He had almost reached the house when the centurion sent friends to say to Jesus, “Lord, don’t be bothered. I don’t deserve to have you come under my roof. In fact, I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to you. Just say the word and my servant will be healed. I’m also a man appointed under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and the servant does it.”

When Jesus heard these words, he was impressed with the centurion. He turned to the crowd following him and said, “I tell you, even in Israel I haven’t found faith like this.” When the centurion’s friends returned to his house, they found the servant restored to health.

A little later Jesus went to a city called Nain. His disciples and a great crowd traveled with him. As he approached the city gate, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When he saw her, the Lord had compassion for her and said, “Don’t cry.” He stepped forward and touched the stretcher on which the dead man was being carried. Those carrying him stood still. Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, get up.” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

Awestruck, everyone praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding region.

Psalm 34:15-18

The Lord’s eyes watch the righteous, his ears listen to their cries for help. But the Lord’s face is set against those who do evil, to eliminate even the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry out, the Lord listens; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he saves those whose spirits are crushed.

Prayer

God,

Thank you for being close. Particularly in times of grief, pain, loneliness, and all sorts of difficulty, thank you for drawing near. The stories of Jesus sitting with a woman at the drinking place, or going to Zacchaeus’ home, or touching those who need healing…they say so much about who you are and who you want us to be.

Lord, help me to be the person who is not afraid of proximity. Give me enjoyment in sharing a meal, a conversation, or simply presence. Help me in times of anxiety wherein people seem scary or annoying. Give me the boldness, courage, and hopefulness of Jesus who saw the best possibilities in people and situations.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.