Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick?
Lat week, as I was driving home from school I was disturbed by the sound of sirens approaching from behind. I pulled over expecting what was about to happen. Three police motorcycles cleared the roadway waving cars down as they came. They were followed by several four-wheel drive vehicles, a large armoured prison vehicle, more four-wheel drives and a police car. A helicopter hovered overhead, following them along the Northern Rd and down onto the M4. The prison vehicle contained nine men. They are on trial at Penrith Court accused of planning to blow up some significant Sydney landmarks.
As we watched them disappear into the distance I wondered about their families and their faces. Each of them is somebody’s father, brother or son. Yet in the media they appear as faceless men with black bars across their faces. They are alleged “terrorists” whose potential to cause great harm to many people is evidenced by the strict security surrounding them. We continued our journey home. But they stayed in my mind. I wondered what background and beliefs have led them to where they are today. I wondered if one of my friends who is a chaplain at Silverwater jail would get to meet them, or at least see them face to face. I thought about sitting across a table in Berrima jail talking with a convicted murderer, who seemed so “ordinary”. I remembered visiting a local juvenile justice facility and sitting opposite a young boy who had shot a relative. I didn’t see a “criminal”, just another human being.
I also remembered one of the questions that Jesus asked the religious leaders of his day.
“Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders in, not coddle insiders.” (Matthew 9:12-13 Msg) Jesus was being criticised at the time by the respectable people, for being friendly with “crooks and riff-raff”. But that was exactly who he came to earth to save. Christianity was never meant to be a religion for “good” or “perfect” people. It is God’s invitation to imperfect and sinful people of all nations, tribes and tongues. All of us need “Doctor Jesus”. Some of us realise that we are “sick” and in need of healing. Others, like the religious leaders Jesus questioned, need it but don’t see that they do.
In our school community there are some people who are brilliant students, athletes and musicians. There are others who struggle to study, compete or play. Some people have multiple certificates, awards and trophies. Others have none. Some people find it easy to keep school rules about uniform, homework etc. while others are pleased to have a week without getting a detention. But Jesus question speaks to all of us, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick?” The answer is obvious. Sick people need a doctor. All of us are “sick” in some way. All of us need the healing and saving power of Jesus in our lives. Have you been to “Doctor Jesus” lately?
As we watched them disappear into the distance I wondered about their families and their faces. Each of them is somebody’s father, brother or son. Yet in the media they appear as faceless men with black bars across their faces. They are alleged “terrorists” whose potential to cause great harm to many people is evidenced by the strict security surrounding them. We continued our journey home. But they stayed in my mind. I wondered what background and beliefs have led them to where they are today. I wondered if one of my friends who is a chaplain at Silverwater jail would get to meet them, or at least see them face to face. I thought about sitting across a table in Berrima jail talking with a convicted murderer, who seemed so “ordinary”. I remembered visiting a local juvenile justice facility and sitting opposite a young boy who had shot a relative. I didn’t see a “criminal”, just another human being.
I also remembered one of the questions that Jesus asked the religious leaders of his day.
“Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders in, not coddle insiders.” (Matthew 9:12-13 Msg) Jesus was being criticised at the time by the respectable people, for being friendly with “crooks and riff-raff”. But that was exactly who he came to earth to save. Christianity was never meant to be a religion for “good” or “perfect” people. It is God’s invitation to imperfect and sinful people of all nations, tribes and tongues. All of us need “Doctor Jesus”. Some of us realise that we are “sick” and in need of healing. Others, like the religious leaders Jesus questioned, need it but don’t see that they do.
In our school community there are some people who are brilliant students, athletes and musicians. There are others who struggle to study, compete or play. Some people have multiple certificates, awards and trophies. Others have none. Some people find it easy to keep school rules about uniform, homework etc. while others are pleased to have a week without getting a detention. But Jesus question speaks to all of us, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick?” The answer is obvious. Sick people need a doctor. All of us are “sick” in some way. All of us need the healing and saving power of Jesus in our lives. Have you been to “Doctor Jesus” lately?
posted by Peter Wilson at 3:17 PM
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