Mark 6:1-6a

Donna Giver Johnston

July 9, 2006

Who are you? Where are you from? Are you married? Any children? Are you a believer?

Common questions everyone is asked when meeting. Everyone, except me, that is.

The only questions I’m asked are about my brother. What did he say? What did he do? Who does he think he is? How could he do that? Is he really who he says he is?

Questions, questions—none about me. All about him.

What else can I expect, as the little sister of Jesus.

They expect me to know the answers, they expect me to understand him, being his sister and all.

Truth is, I didn’t always know the answers. And I didn’t always understand him or his strange ways. I was just the little sister, who had a normal birth—without any stars or heavenly chorus marking the night; without any wisemen bringing me exotic gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh, without any expectations that I’d be anything more than just a girl born to Mary and Joseph. Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t that Jesus was a show-off, or even enjoyed the attention, but I just tired of hearing comments like, "Your brother can walk on water; and you can’t even swim." "Your parents treat your brother like he’s God. What’s with that?" And so the questions and the confusion about my brother continued.

All I can tell you about is what I’ve seen and heard and come to know as I’ve followed him closely.

What did he say?

Some among the religious authority say he teaches things contrary to the Law.

Strange things, like: forgive not seven, but seventy times seven; love your enemies; sell your things, give to the poor and follow me.

Everyone knows the law doesn’t require forgiveness; everyone knows it doesn’t require us to love our enemies; everyone knows we don’t have to give away our stuff and follow this one who obviously doesn’t even know the Law.

He also claimed to know about what the Kingdom of heaven is like. He said God is like a father who welcomes the lost sinful son home by throwing his arms around him and throwing him a banquet.

Everyone knows that you must follow the letter of the law to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Even I know that. Everyone knows that, everyone, except Jesus, that is.

I wonder if he does know something about the Kingdom of heaven and the way to get there?

What if God really is waiting with open arms? I doubt it. It just doesn’t seem possible.

What did he do?

Some Pharisees and scribes claim that only the Son of God has the power to forgive sins and heal.

Jesus once said to a paralyzed man, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you. Stand up and walk."

Immediately, the paralyzed man stood up and went home, glorifying God. (Luke 5:23-25). And he also healed a leper with a touch and a hemorrhaging woman with great faith.

What a strange thing!. . .Everyone knows that paralyzed men can’t be told to walk; everyone knows that lepers shouldn’t be touched; everyone knows that hemorrhaging women can only be healed by a doctor. Even I know that. Everyone knows, except Jesus, that is.

I wonder if he really does have the power to forgive sins and heal the sick? I don’t know.

All I know is that I once saw him make a blind man see. And while everyone tried to figure out how to explain it, the man said, "One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." (John 9:25)

I wondered what would happen if I let him open my eyes? Would I see things more clearly? Would I be able to see him more clearly? Then, would I believe? I don’t know.

Who does he think he is?

Some say he was the Messiah, the promised Savior, a King; but he didn’t act much like a King. He associated with strange people—sinners and taxcollectors, poor and lame, women and children, too.

He once said, "Come to me, all of you who are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28)

How strange! Everyone knows you shouldn’t associate with sinners or enemies; everyone know you shouldn’t eat with the poor. . .well, surely everyone knows when he said "Come to me, all of you," he didn’t really mean all. Everyone knows that. Everyone, except Jesus, that is.

I wonder if he really meant what he said. I don’t know. All I know is that once I saw a woman sneak into a house where Jesus and his disciples were having dinner. And he did not force her to leave. He welcomed her—and her gift of anointing. He blessed her, and remembered her. (Mark 14:9)

I wonder, will he remember me? I wonder.

How could he do that?

Some say he did so many strange things that he was a threat, and so they arrested him, crucified him and called him "King of the Jews."

I don’t know about any of that. . .All I know is that I saw him on the cross, bleeding, dying, crying out—words of forgiveness, words of love, words of acceptance.

What a strange thing to do—everyone knows you don’t forgive those who sin against you; everyone knows you don’t love those who hate you; everyone knows you don’t willingly die for those who don’t even believe in you . . .

Everyone knows that, everyone. . . everyone except you, that is.

O Brother, did you ever wonder?

Did you ever wonder if what you said was true?

Did you ever wonder if what you did was real?

Did you ever wonder if you really are who you claim to be—God’s son?

Did you ever wonder why it’s so hard for me—and others—to believe?

Did you ever wonder if your dying was enough to take away the sins of the world?

Did you ever wonder if you could just stop all of this, come down from the cross?

Did you ever wonder if there is another way?

Did you ever wonder if it was worth dying for?

Did you?

Brother, it’s me, your sister, talk to me. Now. Please.

What? Do I know my sins are forgiven? Do I know how much God loves me? Do I know how much you love me? Do I know this is not the end—that you will live again? That we will dance together again?

I don’t know. I don’t know about any of this. All I know is that I am going to miss you.

Brother, how could you do this? For me? For all of us?

Is he really who he says he is?

Some say the strangest thing of all—was that the stone of the tomb was rolled away and he was not there—that he rose from the dead.! One witness named Mary Magdalene swears that she saw the resurrected Jesus and he talked with her and told her to tell the others, so that they might come to believe.

Strange! Everyone knows death has the last word. Everyone knows there is no life after death. Everyone knows that you have to see it to believe it. Everyone except. . . me, that is. . . what about you?

Even years after his resurrection, the questions continue:

Who was Jesus? Some say he was just a carpenter. Some say a teacher. Some say a prophet. Some say just a good example.

But, he said, I am the Son of God, the Savior of the world; "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who believes in me will never die." (John 11:25-26)

Is he really who he says he is?

What do you say, Sister?

Honestly, there is much I still don’t know about my brother Jesus.

But, this much I do know: he said things, he did things, he loved people in ways I never thought possible.

And when I was with him, I never felt closer to God.

And so, I don’t know how he could be anything less.