There is “one man” – somewhere in the midst of that crowd over there…that you have to at least try to see…
It may be difficult for you to see him or even to lay eyes upon him. He’s there somewhere…or so I am told. It is the crowd that is obviously in the way.
He would be the one that they all are seeking. He is the “man of power.” He is the one they want to get close to – he is the one they all wish to speak with…
All of them desiring, just a moment of his time…in the mean time, they push and shove…and takeover our walkways and our paths.
This crowd has a momentum all of its own – and the people seemingly are swept away into it. The crowd takes on a life and movement all of its own, too.
The healer from Nazareth has “obviously” come to our town.
People are going crazy. They cannot get enough of him.
There are many here today who do not need healing, but are here – just to catch a glimpse of him. They desire to be close to him, to be near to him…
It is a sweaty swarming crowd, and in the middle of this teeming crowd, there are people who are sick and others – more than willing to fall into the dust or the muck at the feet of that “one man” located somewhere in that crowd.
Healing is all about touching…and these people are definitely touching. It is an ever swelling mass of humanity – all in -too close a proximity with one another, for me.
Look how the crowd is actually jammed together, pushing, shoving, crowding like royalty were in their midst.
Everyone wants to see for himself.
I can assure you of one thing – there is no ritual purity in our streets today. And that “man of power” is still there somewhere – in the midst of them all…otherwise the crowd would disperse.
I hear words being screamed and yelled, like, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on me.” “Rabbi help me,” “Teacher reach out to me,” “Lord, listen to me. It is a very strange day, indeed. All this commotion…and for what?
And yet, they are not all present to be healed. What did they want…the crowd that is…what did they come to see? What kind of a “word” do they expect to hear?
Did the whole crowd want healing…obviously not. How many were present because they heard things? They listen to all the rumors and the buzz. How many of them wanted to see a sign or a miracle? How many were present so they could tell others, they were there. They saw him. They were with him. They were lucky enough to talk to him. How many of them wanted to brag about their experience?
People come seeking this “man of power” for a variety of reasons.
As a matter of fact there was just a story I heard over there – that talked about his mastery over the waves and the sea. It was even said that he has control over nature itself.
So, people are curious, (of course, they are curious.) Why wouldn’t they be? They want to know if they should believe in him or not.
Is he the one that is to come? Or, are we to look for another? Could he possibly be the Messiah? People have a hundred questions…a thousand questions.
Look, the crowd stops. Something is happening. Something is going on…right now, this very second. The stories will come to our ears soon enough…everybody waits.
And now the crowd moves on…he is on the move again…
Look at that woman, still kneeling in the streets, as the crowd passes her by. What has happened to her – what is her story?
Oh they will be back and the stories will be shared. Someone just said he goes to Jairus’ house – his daughter has died.
Why would a healer go there now? Certainly he cannot raise the dead can he? If he could, surely “the whole world” would believe in him and follow him.
As for us, we might as well wait here…the stories will come to us. We will hear what happens at Jairus’ house. Just you wait and see…the stories will come running to us.
Thank God the commotion has died down for now and the crowds have been swept away with him…our streets are once more our own.
But they will be back, if he comes back this way…pray that he goes on to other towns and villages for the ruckus created – is too much for me.
Imagine, people saying that he can even control nature, the sea, the waves and the wind. Just who is he?