Seed Sprouting in Unlikely Places

A beautiful field of sprouted sunflowers -- with 
three beautiful ladies. 

Scripture:

Luke 8:40   Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. ⁴¹ Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, ⁴² for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. 

 As he went, the crowds pressed in on him. ⁴³ Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. ⁴⁴ She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. ⁴⁵ Then Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.” ⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.” ⁴⁷ When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. ⁴⁸ He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

Luke 8:49   While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.” ⁵⁰ When Jesus heard this, he replied, “Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.” ⁵¹ When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. ⁵² They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, “Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.” ⁵³ And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. ⁵⁴ But he took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!” ⁵⁵ Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. ⁵⁶ Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

Observation:

Luke ties together Jesus’ teaching with this story, within a story. The crowds have been growing along the way and suddenly we see that they represent the different types of soil about which Jesus had earlier spoken. The faith of the individuals in this story are now the seeds which are sprouting forth in places where no one would have anticipated growth. Joel Green helps us in our understanding:

A further element characteristic of this narrative unit is the presence of the crowds, who are as ubiquitous as their role is ambiguous. When they first appear they are portrayed positively, awaiting Jesus’ return and welcoming his arrival (v 40). Soon, however, they are described in a way reminiscent of the thorns of the story of the sower, as unwanted foliage growing up alongside sprouting seedlings that will eventually choke the desired vegetation. In the final scene (vv 51–54) unspecified bystanders laugh at Jesus, disbelieving his claims regarding the child, failing to recognize his authority to make such statements (and to make his words effective). The crowds are not portrayed as particularly malicious, nor are they presented as persons of faith, as persons whose faith is manifest in the harvest of perception and obedience. Against this backdrop, the woman with a hemorrhage is revealed as a person with faith that survives the test, and with faith that has human wholeness as its consequence. Similarly, even in the face of those who mock Jesus’ claims, Jairus and his wife are able to put aside their fear and to embrace faith in Jesus’ capacity to bring restoration (NICNT). 

Interestingly we see the “juxtaposition of the righteous synagogue leader and the unclean woman,” and this reveals to us the way in which Jesus bridges the gulf between these two radically different individuals. “Both receive his gracious healing, without respect to their status or gender” (Neale,, NBBC).

Luke helps us connect to these stories on an emotional level. Only here, in Luke’s gospel, does Jesus address the woman as “daughter.” This tender and affectionate term is used for this one who showed great faith. Luke also opens the door for us to see the pathos of those who respond overwhelmingly to his gracious acts. Jairus finds Jesus and falls down at his feet, begging Jesus to come to his home. The woman comes trembling and falls before Jesus. Those who were grieving the death of the child were weeping and wailing. 

These individuals paint a picture of the good seed. Often we think of the Pharisees in a negative light, but Luke gives us glimpses of those who were moved by Jesus, including this leader of the synagogue. There would be others who would appear along the way, swayed by Jesus, including the apostle Paul. Yes, there were Pharisees who could become good soil! 

The woman is a whole different story. It’s interesting how Luke refers to the twelve years she has been sick and the twelve years of age of the girl. The little girl has only been alive for as long as the woman has been “dead” to the world. Considered unclean for this entire time, Jesus gives the woman new life and restores the girl’s life. By calling her “daughter,” Jesus is including this woman, whom the world has thrown aside, into his new family. Neale tells us that “redemptive grace offers an open invitation into Christian communion for the disenfranchised and all in desperate need. Grace and rogue piety trump ritual practice and tradition” (NBBC). Green suggests that, “Taken together, [these stories] document the sort of faith for which Jesus has been looking. Moreover, the completion of the one incident prepares for the finale of the other. After the abundance of healing power available in the case of the woman with a hemorrhage, might we not anticipate Jesus’ ability to raise a dead girl to life?” (NICNT). 

As the crowds begin to fade away into the distance, Luke reveals to us that good soil is found in unlikely places, and the seeds of faith are beginning to sprout. 

Application:

Luke’s narrative unfolds as a handbook for mentoring disciples. We are supposed to be the ones sitting, in awe, at the Master’s feet, soaking in everything that Jesus has for us. Earlier in the gospel we mulled over the idea of the different soils and imagined that there were those in the crowds who represented every kind. This never stopped Jesus from preaching the good news. When we look out upon the world today we may think that there is no fertile ground for the gospel, and yet, that is not our call. Jesus warned about judging others because when we do, we may be creating boundaries, refusing to spread seed on what may potentially be good soil. 

When we follow Jesus on his journey, we find him in the most uncomfortable places, and yet, it’s in those places that he reveals who he really is. Through each one of these miracles he is displaying the mighty power of God. The people around him found it hard to believe that he could be God’s son. Trusting in him for the journey was, and is, hard. Only when we come to the point of complete desperation, can we come and fall at his feet, begging him to help us through. 

We have to quit trying to fix things for God, when what Jesus wants us to do is to open our eyes and realize who he really is, and what he can do in and through us. We are to become like Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood; we are to become the good soil where the seed can sprout and grow. If we are just hanging out in Christianity because of the show, we will become like the thorns; a distraction to the true work of God. Let us not choke out God’s desired vegetation by unbelief. “Lord, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) 

Prayer:

Lord, oh how I want to follow you. The noise around me is deafening, but the path before me takes me through the crowd to you. As I walk this earth help me to stop for those who would cry out for help, and pour out your love without judgement. Amen.