Behind the Miracle
What is Jesus trying to teach us through his actions?
As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, "If you choose, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I do choose. Be made clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter. - Mark 1:29-45
When we want to teach something to someone, we show them through our actions and then hope they get the message.
Sometimes, the message doesn't sink in right away. When someone shows us something he or she does, we look at it as an oddity, a special talent or ability they have and we don't have.
This is our first reaction to Jesus when he performs a miracle. Good for him. I can't do that.
Really? We see the miracle and not the action of kindness and compassion behind it.
Imagine if Jesus saw someone who was sick and did nothing. Then, we would get a clear message. Their problems are theirs and not mine. Jesus could walk by, so we should as well. After all, what can we do?
Remember the parable Jesus told that starts with, if a friend comes to you in the middle of the night?
What he wants us to see is that we are all connected. If someone you know is in need of help, would you ignore them?
Behind the miracle is the action of compassion. That is what Jesus wants us to see and do. Show compassion for one another.
I have seen posts on social media that say the wildfires are God's punishment. Really? People actually believe that?
The winds of fire that took lives and property are not God's work. God's work comes through all of us now. We can help. We can show compassion. And the miracle might be that we all come together for one another.
How amazing would that be?
More to come...