Luke 5:12-26
Good morning, RTB’ers!
Faith and healings. Today’s STS asks a good question, comparing the faith of the individuals involved in each of today’s healings. It’s a good question to ponder – and then to ask ourselves about our own faith when we pray for healings.
Ben has announced a St. Andrew’s healing service for January 20. These would be good scriptures for background for that service. I would encourage you to attend that service and to re-read today’s passage as preparation before you go.
… Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem (verse 17). We have already seen that Jesus’ fame was spreading throughout Galilee. Now we have Pharisees and scribes coming all the way from Jerusalem (~80 miles) and even farther from locations throughout Judea. Clearly Jesus’ fame was spreading! Carol had pointed out to me a few years back that the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem were always on the lookout for anyone claiming to be the Messiah or someone who was healing or teaching or recruiting followers. So the Pharisees and Scribes may have been there to check Jesus out – and probably with an eye to discredit Him. Unfortunately for them, Jesus was up to the task and the Pharisees and Scribes got more than they bargained for!
Blessings!