The Healing Man

Ch. 9-13
First, if I had to choose one word describing what Jesus did with his life it would be healing. For the most part, all that the gospel said was that Jesus went this way and that healing people everywhere he went. It didn't matter if you had a stomach ache or if your ear had been cut off; Jesus could make everything better for you.

There were many things I liked, many things I didn't understand, and many things I don't agree with. As I'm not sure how to put everything out there, I will just put everything as they start appearing in the text.

The first thing I didn't understand was how this is possible: "But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:27)." If I understand correctly, the Kingdom of God is Heaven, and how can one see Heaven without dying?

I have to notice that Jesus wasn't exactly a calmed man his whole life. Even though he did have many peace moments, he could lose it sometimes also. "And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? (Luke 9:41)"

I also have to accept that Jesus is a great man, and that he is very intelligent, but throughout the Gospel I didn't have much proof that told me his apostles were too. Instead, I had proof they were a little dumb. "Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. (Luke 9:46)" and "And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. (Luke 9:48)." Why would they stop someone who was trying to save someone else from the devil just because they are not part of his little club? And why would they fight about who is the best? I find that a little immature.

As I previously mentioned, Jesus didn't have his emotions exactly right, and in my opinion he could sometimes be a little mean with people who hadn't done anything wrong and were just normal people, like this guy, "...Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62)."

There are parts in the story where I don't think Jesus is being such an exemplary man, or at least, I am not smart enough to understand his reasoning. In this story, he tells the sister who is working that the other sister, who was doing nothing, was doing the right thing. Why? Don't ask me! "Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her (Luke 10:41)." And talking about stories, I have noticed that in all past books we have read, there is always a way in which we are presented the "teachings." In this one, it is very noticeable that the way they will tell us everything is in the form of stories. I actually like it, so I'm not going to say anything bad about it.

Here is a line that I want to share with you, not because I completely understand it, but because I think its meaning is very pretty and it can be related with many aspects of life: "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light (Luke 11:33)."

Something else that becomes more and more obvious as I read the Gospel is that the priests and Jesus don't exactly like each other. In fact, I think it was them who crucified Jesus, and Jesus is also insulting them at times. Here is a clear example: "Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered (Luke 11:52)." By the way, this is only true if "lawyers" is "priests," which I think they are.

The last thing that I want to mentioned that I have been seeing throughout it all is that in everything revolving around faith, and what is expected of you by Jesus, is that the poor have it a lot easier than the rich. Jesus is always saying that they have to get rid of everything you have in order to be faithful, which isn't that easy if you have spent all your life cultivating your richness. It is a lot easier if you don't have anything. It also mentions how Jesus-followers didn't have to take food or anything that was part of their daily necessities, because the Lord knew what they needed and would give it to them.

That's about it! See you soon!