John uses some of Rob Bell’s story to explore some of the issues with our gospel reading this morning, particularly how healing stories are problematic, and how passages like this are used to limit the role of women in ministry to serving men who do the real work of ministry.
He goes on to use the theme of liberation, in scripture and in Mark, to ask how this might be read as a story of liberation and restoration. Karoline Lewis says that Jesus heals because the Kingdom of God is here. Now is the time! Healing people restores them to communities and restores and heals communities. Peters mother in law is liberated from her fever and restored to her household and her vocation in that household. And in her service, she reminds us all that the real work of ministry is service. Jesus said so of himself. She can be seen as the first disciple who gets that. Some of the men take much longer.
What has this to do with Waitangi Day?
The notes for this sermon can be found here