Luke 11:29-32: The sign of Jonah

The crowd has been ever-present with Jesus: hanging on his words, marvelling at his miracles, clumping around him, getting in the way.

But today there's something sinister about them. Luke says they were pressing ever closer. Somehow their interest feels dangerous, no longer a sign of how popular Jesus is, more painting a target to make it easier for his enemies to find him.

Jesus seems to react against this negative feel with his words, condemning his generation for their lack of faith, their shallow interest - just waiting to be entertained by another "sign."

Enigmatically, he promises them nothing more than the sign of Jonah. Luke, for reasons best known to himself, leaves out the line of explanation included by Matthew: For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 

Did Jesus actually say that? Or did Matthew try and work out for himself what this cryptic sign must have meant? Nobody knows.

There are certainly times when Jesus makes it clear that the crowd don't understand him, don't realise how important or urgent things are. They don't get his parables, they don't think beyond the miracles to wonder who is this who is doing them.

Their curdled thinking seems to have turned him sour.

They've had their chance. Have they missed it for good?

I will be taking a break from blogging for a week or so. Tomorrow is Good Friday, and I will be focussing my thoughts entirely on Jesus, church and family for a few days. See you in April.

Luke 11:14-28: Jesus versus the demons

Oh no. Another terrorist atrocity. IS have murdered 31 innocent people in Belgium, to make up for some of the thousands of innocents who have died at the hands of the West in the Muslim world. Today we are rudely reminded that there is a war on.

And in Luke's gospel, after yesterday's nice, encouraging. wholesome talk about prayer, today we are plunged into a sour controversy.

Jesus spends a lot of time arguing with people in the gospels. John's gospel in particular. I think this is the first of the bad-tempered disputes that we've encountered in Luke, but there will be more, I'm sure of it. Looking ahead, the rest of chapter 11 is going to be pretty adversarial, I think.

So what's it all about? Today, demons are the subject under discussion. Jesus' opponents have made a pretty outrageous accusation - that Jesus is only able to cast out demons with the help of their chief. In other words, he's one of them - he may look amazing, but he's an enemy in disguise.

Wild accusations like this seem ridiculous, but they can be very damaging. It reminds me of the tactics of Barack Obama's opponents - insinuating that he is a Muslim and not born in America.

So what if he's a Muslim, so what if he's not born in America? That's my first reaction.

My second is, that's ridiculous, as far as I know he's a Christian, and I'm pretty certain he was born in America, although he has roots in Kenya.

And that's the whole point. I've got distracted, thinking about who he is and where he comes from, not thinking about what he's doing or saying.

Enough! Concentrate!

Jesus deploys ridicule against this argument: if I'm destroying demons with the help of their leader, it's not looking very good for their team, is it? Not exactly Demons United, are they? More Demons Disunited.

Whose side are you on? Is it the side of the angels? "Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me." You think you're all spick and span, got your houses in order? If you don't fill yourself up with goodness, you could end up with a worse infestation of evil than you began.

Then a fan in the crowd speaks up: Oh Jesus! I wish I was your mother! How blessed she is to have a son like you! And he retorts: "Even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice."

Don't argue. Do something right.

Luke 11:1-13: Pray!

Yesterday we saw Mary discovering the thing that really matters. Today we see Jesus  focussed on the same thing, and the disciples, eager to learn for once, sitting at his feet.

Jesus responds with the immortal words we have come to call the Lord's Prayer. Simple and memorable, he came up with something that would help his disciple remember all the bases they should cover when asking God for things.

“Father, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
Give us each day the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
 And don’t let us yield to temptation.”

Then he gives them some encouraging parables and stories - reminding them that they are praying to a heavenly Father who loves them even more than they love their own children. They need to trust that God will be good to them,

I wonder what was most impressive about watching Jesus pray?

I imagine that he just looked completely at home with his Dad, relaxed, confident and peaceful. Nothing troubled him, nothing broke his trust, nothing broke his relationship with his Father, until the day he died.

Luke 10:38-42: Martha & Mary, not Mary & Martha?

Mary and Martha. Chalk and cheese. A classic example of two opposites.

We tend to characterise them like this: Mary is the wise, spiritual one, sitting at Jesus' feet and drinking in his teaching. Martha the practical busybody, impatient with her sister, all too aware that if it wasn't for her, domestic chaos would ensue.

But it's not quite as simple as that. As I read the passage closely today, I find that it is Martha who invited Jesus to her house. So it was Martha who recognised Jesus as someone they had to listen to. It was Martha who was ensuring that Jesus' needs were met - in common with those other women we encountered a while back, who were quietly making his ministry possible.

Is there a clue in what Jesus said about Mary's motivation? "Mary has discovered it." Discovered what? The one thing that matters. The kingdom of God, the person of Jesus. Maybe Mary hadn't been interested in Jesus before, but now she has finally met him, she has become a convert.

Maybe Jesus is actually sharing a little secret with Martha: Well Martha, at long last Mary has found what you and I have known for a long time, that my message is really important. Let's not interrupt her now she's listening at last. Be patient with her. You know I'm here for the latecomers, as well as the early adopters.

Luke 10:25-37:

If you know one parable Jesus taught, chances are you know this one. Challenged by a lawyer who was trying to prove that obtaining eternal life wasn't a straightforward business, Jesus tells him, Obey the law and you will live. Love God, love your neighbour, that'll do.

Can you define "neighbour" for me?

Yes I can. Listen to this story. A man is mugged, and two people have an opportunity to help him. Both are his brothers, fellow Jews, and not just any old Jews, but members of the religious tribe,  a Levite and a priest.

These are people who should know the law.

Well perhaps they do. The law says if you touch a dead body you will be defiled all day. For the rest of that day you will be unable to perform your religious duties. Surely obedience to God's law means keeping yourself clean, keeping yourself available to serve God's people as his representatives in the Temple.

This is a little like the "don't heal on the sabbath" argument that Jesus has had already. If the sabbath is meant to be a day of life and hope, a day of worship and freedom, then how come it's become a day of prohibitions? Jesus clearly thinks that the sabbath has become self-serving, not people-serving.

And so in Jesus' story, it's someone who is not yoked to the law who is free to truly obey it. A Samaritan comes by, not troubled by thoughts of ritual uncleanness, and shows mercy and kindness to the man in need.

What did Jesus quote to the pharisees once? "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." (This comes in Matthew's version of the account of the calling of the tax collector).

Luke 10:21-24: Phew!

I've never thought of this before, but I wonder of Jesus was nervous about how the disciples' mission would go. Maybe it would all end in disaster - they'd try and fail to heal someone and then blame it on their "lack of faith." Or they'd commit some awful heresy in their preaching: "God loves everybody, except you."

So when they all came back with big grins on their faces, maybe there was a massive sense of relief for him.

If I read his prayer in that light, perhaps it gives me a clue as to what he was thinking while they were away. "Oh Father, what have I done? I've entrusted my mission to people who have as much clue as babies! They haven't begun to understand what we're doing, Father. Is it all going to go wrong?"

But back come these babies, and Jesus finds that God trusted them with his truth, primed them with his power, and asserted his authority through them. Jesus as he had through Jesus. The prophets had longed to see God at work in this way, and never had. And this bunch of fishermen and tax collectors, with not a GSCE in RE between them have seen into the heart of God's plan for the world and faithfully proclaimed it to everyone they met.

Wow! Thank you God!

In the end, it's all about trust. Jesus trusts his Father, the disciples trust Jesus, and God the heavenly Father trusts the disciples.

Luke 10:1-20:MI 2

A second mission, this time with 6 times as many disciples. Jesus gets ready to send 72 people out into the fray.

This time, Luke gives us much more detailed instructions. There's the same injunction to travel light - don't look like you're a professional travelling preacher. One of the advantages of this was that it would make the missionaries dependent on the hospitality that they received. Jesus' next directions seem to enforce this - he encourages them to build up a relationship with their host. Stay in one place, don't move around. Find somebody trustworthy and accept their gifts.

You have gifts to give in return - heal their sick, leave them with the good news that the kingdom of God is near at hand. And if you stumble across an ungrateful town, give them a different gift - a message of judgement.

Jesus expands on his judging thoughts as he fulminates against Korazin and Bethsaida. We can assume that he didn't get a good reception there. Even Capernaum, where Jesus lived, comes in for criticism.

And we hear that things went well. The disciples return, cock a hoop. Boom! Even the demons go running when we mention your name, Jesus!

Jesus takes the opportunity to remind them that he is more powerful than any opposition they might face. He witnessed Satan's fall from grace, so puny demons running for cover is nothing new.

But - he warns them not to get carried away. Don't rejoice that they devil flees from you, rejoice that you are heading to where he can never go - heaven.

Luke 9:57-62: Count the cost!

To finish off this extraordinary chapter, Luke collects together three uncompromising replies that Jesus made in response to quite reasonable-sounding questions or requests.

First, somebody promises to follow Jesus unconditionally. Wherever you go, I'll be there. Jesus retorts that it won't be an easy ride: "Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head."

Second, he asks another person to become a follower. That person hesitates: his father is ill, or dying, or dead. He asks permission to go and see to the burial, and finds permission refused. Ignore the dead! Get out there and preach!

Third, a person offers to follow Jesus, as soon as goodbyes have been said to the family. Back comes the reply: "No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Luke, what have you done with the real Jesus?

What is going on here?  The person we've been learning about has been showing authentic care to potential followers. He's been gentle with the weak and worried, kind to the poor and perplexed. Now, he seems to throwing their family love and commitment back in their face. What has happened?

Two possible things to say occur to me.

First, there has been a significant gear change in this chapter. Jesus has been revealed as who he really is (the Transfiguration). He's begun to talk about his death, and more than once expressed impatience with his dim disciples who aren't showing much sign of shaping up. Perhaps this stern talk is in keeping with a new sense of urgency.

A second thing to say is that it's horses for courses. Jesus often tailors his reply to his enquirers - if he sensed that someone wasn't serious in their desire to follow him, he would not be afraid to challenge them, to put his finger on their compromised motivation. Anyone is welcome to come and listen to Jesus, to think about what he says, to receive his blessings. But to be a disciple? That's different. It needs real commitment.

I'm not sure how convincing I find either of those arguments, but I'm sure of one thing: if Jesus' last pronouncement is true, there's can't be many people "fit" for God's kingdom. Certainly not me.

I've had backward glances aplenty.

Luke 9:49-56: For us or against us?

Luke sticks a couple of snippets together that feature John and his brother James. They were some of the more well known disciples, although we don't think much about them these days. Really, it's only Peter who we feel that we know in depth, and possibly Thomas, poor chap, because he had nipped out for something or other when Jesus made his first resurrection appearance, and had to suffer for a week before Jesus popped up again.

But James and John were in the inner circle - invited up the mountain with Peter to witness the resurrection, and given their own nicknames like he was. They were  called Boanerges, which apparently means Sons of Thunder.

Today we get a clue why they might have earned the name. They come across as a bit over-zealous, rebuking someone who was trying to copy Jesus, and wanting retribution for some ungrateful Samaritans.

Jesus shows he is prepared to be generous - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - and he's not worried about someone else making dents in Satan's kingdom. And as for the Samaritan village that wouldn't offer them houseroom - treating them like Sodom and Gomorrah seems a little bit of an over reaction.

Zeal is a difficult thing to deal with. Enthusiasm is good, commitment is to be prized, but somehow zeal is more dangerous. Too near the edge of fanaticism? Inclined to be exclusive and judgemental?

Jesus cares for everyone, not just those who say yes. So he remembers mercy.

So should we.

Luke 9:43b-48:missing the point

In the middle of the swirling confusion, in the middle of the wild delight, as Jesus has once again triumphed over the forces of evil, he draws the 12 aside and says again, "Remember, I am on my way to die."

But their minds are overloaded, they've seen too much and they can't take it in. How can anyone think straight in the middle of this maelstrom?

Jesus can see that their eyes aren't focused, he can tell that they aren't listening. They are dazzled with thoughts of greatness. He tries to ram his point home.

Grabbing a child, he says "Listen to me! Look at her! Here's your model, here's your example! This is what you need to copy - get it through your thick heads!"

The kingdom of God isn't about big things, it's about tiny things.
It's not mountains, it's mustard seeds.
It's not a giant, it's a child.
It's not a warrior's might, it's a widow's mite.
It's not an army, it's a sacrifice.

Luke 9:37-43a:wild ride

The word rollercoaster comes to mind. This chapter has been a combination of massive highs and lows. Today just continues the wild oscillations from exultation to despair.

The very next day after the mind-blowing events on the mountain top, Jesus comes across a boy afflicted by demons that the disciples couldn't shift. No doubt while Jesus had been away they'd tried their best, but they'd ended up hot and bothered, and the boy was no better. Now they were wishing that the crowds would melt away so they could enjoy their humiliation in peace.

Jesus gives vent to a rare moment of exasperation: “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you and put up with you?” Then swiftly he acts to put the boy out of his misery.

Luke has repeatedly told us that Jesus doesn't just cast out demons, he casts out difficult demons. We've had Legion, the mad foreigner, and now we've got a case where others have tried and failed.

Jesus is demonstrating that he can tackle the hardest cases without breaking a sweat.

But for all this, I can't help wondering: is Jesus feeling the strain? His opponents are increasingly resistant, his closest friends, while supporting him, are clearly miles away from understanding him. Jesus has been riding the wave of popularity, but it is showing signs of sweeping him out of control. Only his Father really understands, really sympathises, really cares.

Luke 9:28-36: A shaft of sunlight through the clouds

If yesterday, it seemed as though the storm clouds suddenly rolled around Jesus, when after what should have been a moment of triumph came a message of disaster, then today the sun breaks blindingly through once again.

A week after Jesus' portentous announcement, and with the disciples probably still trembling inside, Jesus sets off up a mountain with just his three closest friends allowed to come with him.

Jesus has a habit of disappearing up a hillside in order to get alone and pray, but today he wants a limited amount of company.

What happens up there leaves his companions looking like a dictionary definition of a blown mind.

What did happen, exactly? Did the light change? Did the sun get brighter? It seemed that Jesus' clothes changed colour, reflecting this heavenly light into dazzled disciples' minds. And two shining souls seemed to appear, two great heroes from the Old Testament, talking to Jesus as if they were equals, matter-of-factly discussing the most momentous of events as if trying to decide where to go for coffee.

The disciples' overloaded brains blew a fuse and they lost consciousness. On waking up, and seeing the strange conversation still going on, Peter blurts something about making tents for the three of them: "one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah."

What was he thinking? Was it the Feast of Tabernacles? Was it the Tent of Meeting, where the Shekinah Glory of God shone, so that Moses had to veil his face? Or was his mouth just opening and closing by itself, the lights on upstairs, but nobody home?

Whatever was happening to Peter, God interrupted him. A voice from the cloud of glory confirmed Peter's earlier identification of Jesus, and added, "Listen to him!"

I suggested last Friday that Jesus might have wondered if he was still on track. He had succumbed to doing a miracle for a purpose not strictly necessary, he had seen clearly that his mission was going to lead him to torture and death. He needed an affirmation from his heavenly Father, and he got it. In spades.

Luke 9:21-27: Suddenly things get gloomy

Today comes as quite a shock. We've just had a triumphant moment when Peter gets it, and proclaims that Jesus is the messiah, the one sent from God.

YESS!! The air is punched.

No - it isn't actually.

Instead, Jesus warns people to secrecy, and then drops a bombshell, talking about terrible suffering coming his way, rejection leading to death.

It's stark, and it sounds like defeat. Is Jesus really predicting that his mission is going to fail?

Then to the crowds listening in, he tells them there is a huge price for following him. You are going to need to take up your cross, if you're going to walk my way.

People wouldn't have failed to understand this. Ugly crosses of wood  and crude scaffolds were common sight at crossroads and market squares. It was how the Romans made examples of rebels. Before they were nailed up and left to die, they were made to "carry their cross," to walk with their means of execution on their back to the place where they would be hoisted aloft and left as food for the carrion birds.

Try and hang on to your life, and you will lose it, warned Jesus. What did he mean? How is it possible to give up your life and yet save it? This isn't a parable, it's a plain contradiction. How can anybody make sense of this?

Jesus, what's going on?

Luke 9:18-20: Cards on the table

Finally Luke describes Jesus breaking free from the crowds for some time to pray alone. No details, except to say that only the twelve were with him.

The time for a debrief after their mission has come and gone, and on the agenda today for Jesus is a lengthy time in his Father's presence.

It's probably significant that Luke puts this straight after the feeding of the 5000. The other gospel writers imply that this was a watershed moment, that this miracle excited people's expectations to fever pitch.

Funny - why should one lunch have more impact than any number of healings? Maybe it's the potential implied - if you can do this, you can do anything.

For me, it's very significant that Jesus immediately retreats to pray. One of the temptations he faced when he was in the wilderness (remember that?) was to make food miraculously. Back then, he dismissed it disdainfully - "People do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from God's mouth." Perhaps he's concerned that he might have yielded to this temptation now, and used his power for the wrong reason. So he spends time checking out with God where he stands. Is he still on the right path?

Then he carries out another check - asking his little focus group to take the temperature of public opinion. "Who do people say I am?"

He gets back the same rumour about John the Baptist raised from the dead. This is beginning to intrigue me. I've never noticed it before - somebody seems to be carrying on in the spirit of the Baptist, and people jump to the conclusion that a resurrection has occurred. I've always thought that Jesus' resurrection was so surprising, so unexpected that it exploded everybody's world. And yet here's evidence that the thought was already out there.

[Break]

I've just got up from the computer and read my three commentaries on Luke. None of them have anything much to say about this point. Ah well - maybe it's just me.

On to the main point. Jesus applies his final litmus test - what are his inner circle thinking?

Back comes the decisive answer - "You are the messiah sent from God!"

They've got it.

Luke 9:10-17: Picnic Time

The disciples' Mission Improbable has gone well. Jesus knew it would, and with a quiet inward smile he arranges for some quiet time with them for a debrief. But perhaps one of the disciples dropped a hint that they were headed for Bethsaida, and the crowd followed.

What was meant to be an intimate and concentrated time with his inner circle has turned into another of Jesus' mass teaching sessions. Never mind! He welcomes the crowd with a smile and sets to work.

Why did that disciple do it? Why tell the crowd where to follow? Adlai Stevenson once said "Adulation is alright so long as you don't inhale." I suspect that disciple had sucked the atmosphere of approval in very deeply indeed, and wanted another fix.

What he got was a bit more than he bargained for.

The crowd hang around all day, and by evening they're tired and hungry, and the disciples have their work cut out trying to keep them under control. Time for that quiet time with Jesus after all, they think.

So they go to Jesus with a sensible idea: “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.”

But Jesus said, "You feed them."

You wanted the crowd? You look after them.

Panic ensued in the disciples' minds. A rapid appeal for help amongst the assembled masses yields only a poor result - less than one packed lunch amongst 5000 people. Back to Jesus they run: "What are you expecting us to do? Buy enough food for this lot??"

In other words, "Jesus - help!!"

They may have had a good time out on their mission. They may have experienced God's power flowing through them as they preached and stretched out their hands to heal. But right now, they're running on empty.

It is left to Jesus to demonstrate once again how deep are the wells he draws from.

Mass catering? No problem for the Messiah.

Luke 9:7-9: Herod's getting worried

Suddenly Luke switches the camera to Herod. We haven't heard about him for a long while, and we are reminded that he dealt harshly with John the Baptist. Will he try and do something similar to Jesus?

At the moment, he just seems perplexed. He's heard rumours that John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. Wait a minute - when did he die? (At least, that's what you'd be saying if you only had Luke's gospel to go on - it seems that the story of his beheading when Herod was led by the nose by his wanton stepdaughter didn't make the cut in Luke's account).

Herod had a problem - he knew he was out of line with God, he'd acted to silence one critic who had publicly reminded him of the fact, and now another has popped up, just as threatening to his peace of mind, and possibly to his powerbase.

Herod needs to have people showing him proper respect, and if too many people start getting all moral and disapproving, his position as ruler might be in jeopardy. He knows deep down he's only here because the Romans tolerate him, he knows he's only playing at being a king. He is a man insecure on many levels.

Herod decides he needs to see Jesus, to check him out. But he can't just turn up at the back of the crowd. That would be undignified. But he kept trying. He needs to see Jesus. Really needs it. I don't suppose he allows himself to look at that need too closely, that's a can of worms whose lid needs to stay tightly shut.

Ironic, isn't it? The people who count themselves righteous are turning against Jesus, suspicious that he isn't playing by the rules, but Herod, who knows full well he's broken the rules, is desperate to meet him.

It seems the more sinful you know yourself to be, the more attractive Jesus appears.

Luke 9:1-6: Mission Improbable

Jesus decides it's time for his disciples to fly solo.

So soon? Have they even begun to understand who you really are, Jesus? Have they the remotest clue what is actually going on?

They've watched him teaching and healing, Jesus thinks that should be enough. Now they get to do it for themselves. He delegates his authority to them, and assures them that they will have the same power of illness and evil that he has.

I'm not sure I would have believed that until I saw it, if I was one of the twelve, so maybe that's why his only instructions to them are to travel light. The temptation would be to take something else to rely on "just in case."

Interesting that Jesus didn't bother to tell his disciples how to heal or cast out demons, isn't it? Was he relying on the fact that they had seen him do it, and so presumably would try it the same way? Or maybe he gave them lessons at another time, and Luke didn't bother to record it.

Hmm, I don't think so. This is a careful account, remember. Luke would have included anything so important. No - I think the reason the "how" is not mentioned is because it doesn't matter. If you've got the power and you've got the authority, it doesn't really matter how you do it.

Sometimes Jesus healed by touch, sometimes he did it at a distance. Sometimes he silenced demons before they could speak a word, sometimes he negotiated with them.

It isn't the how, it's the why.

Why heal? Why cast out demons? Why preach about the kingdom of God? Well, for the disciples, surely it's because they've got Jesus right behind them, doing these things already. They can sense the momentum of the coming kingdom - this is the wave they are riding. When people asked them, "Why are you doing this?" they would have an answer. Because God is doing it. And if people aren't interested in getting on board with what God is doing they have Jesus' permission to move on, leaving that faithless dust behind them.

It seems people are beginning to split into pro-Jesus or anti-. Not much scope for sitting on the fence, is there?

As for the disciples, the way to learn is to do. If that sounds a bit like Yoda, just remember - Jesus got there first.

Luke 8:40-56: Mercy, agony, faith, and more mercy

A long section to read today, and there's a reason for that. To break up these 16 verses would be to spoil a lovely story. Go and read it now, before you finish today's post.

Two healing miracles are twined together in today's passage, and the one adds suspense and depth to the other. It begins with Jesus honouring a request to help the leader of a local synagogue, whose daughter is dangerously ill. We can speculate that it was hard for Jairus to swallow his pride and ask for help in this way. He would have heard OFSTED's conclusion that Jesus was not to be trusted, and would have presumably resented the way he took people's attention away from their normal worship.

But when your daughter is dying, you will do anything. Even fall on your knees before a heretic preacher.

Jesus, fresh (if that's the word) from his victory over the mad foreigner across the lake, has returned to home territory and adulation from the crowd, Eager to see another miracle, they all follow him on the way to Jairus' home.

But there's a delay. If you were at the back of the crowd, you'd wonder what was going on.

Why are we stopping? I thought this was meant to be urgent. Can anyone see what's going on?

Word filtered back that Jesus had stopped to identify someone who had reached out to him.

Well of all the selfish things! Couldn't they wait? Just wanted to touch his cloak did they?

The crowd conveniently forget that if only they could get close enough they'd do the same themselves.

The delay goes on, while Jesus searches the crowd, No one knows what he is looking for - one face among so many.

But Jesus knows, He is is looking for the only face that isn't looking back at him. In a flash, he's realised that somebody needed him, but wanted to keep it a secret. He's going to have to disappoint this person, he's going to have to bring their need out into the open. If he doesn't, they'll never understand what has really brought about their healing.

Eventually, a woman's nerve breaks, and trembling with fear, she becomes the second person that day to be on their knees before Jesus.

The crowd are hushed into silence. straining to hear her whispered conversation with Jesus.

Ill for 12 years? Oh, poor soul!

Jesus is looking her in the eye, earnestly explaining something to her. "It's not me - it's your faith that has made you well. Do you understand? What matters for the future is not that you just happened to meet me in the flesh - it's your faith that counts! Work on that!"

The crowd begin shuffling, making room for someone to come through. A messenger. Making a beeline for Jairus.

Don't bother the rabbi any more. It's too late. Your daughter's dead.

His words fall into a deep well of silence.

Jairus is numb. The newly healed woman is desperately contrite. Oh I'm so sorry! I didn't mean  to hold you up. I could have waited. I'm so sorry - I wish I'd never come here today. I wish I was still ill so that your daughter could live.

This situation is going out of control. What should have been a beautiful healing is going horribly wrong.

But not to Jesus. It might look like he's lost control, but he hasn't. He's still in command. Turning to Jairus, he urges him not to give up.

They press on, reaching the house. They go in, Jesus overriding every argument, every hand raised to stop him, repeating "She's not dead, she's only asleep!"

People laugh. They know death when they see it. Why won't this crazy preacher admit he is beaten?

Only of course he isn't beaten. He confronts death with a shout and sends it scurrying into the darkness from whence it came. The girl gets up, Jesus gives her to her parents, telling them to get her something to eat. "Look after her, she's still weak."

And for the life of me I cannot understand why Jesus tried to keep it a secret. Doesn't he know there'a curious crowd out there? Does he think that if Jairus comes out and tells them all to go away, there's nothing to see, that they'll meekly obey? That's a mystery to me.

But as for the rest - it's beautiful. Jesus showing infinite pains, infinite care, and demonstrating the strength of his power, not in glorious deeds, but in simple, gentle lovingkindness.