don’t touch

As you can see above, Jesus has finished teaching folk a series of parables. These (including the parable of the sower) were about human responses to him as well as indications of the presence of look-alikes among his followers.

Another was about his own love towards human beings in the field of the world. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” 

And yet another about the joy of a human being who finds priceless treasure in Jesus. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Now (above) he deliberately goes to “his hometown”. Here, they weigh the evidence in front of them. They decide that he is a mere man – one of them. Jesus then leaves them, unable to help those in his hometown - because of their unbelief.

After that, Matthew, the eye-witness biographer of Jesus, reports two key incidents, both of which occurred at that time and both of which involved “giving”.

 

The first related to King Herod and John the Baptist. King Herod had divorced and re-married. His second wife, Herodias, had earlier been the wife of his own brother. John the Baptist had spoken against that and the furious Herodias had an opportunity for revenge when her dancing daughter pleased all the guests at the birthday dinner party he had “given” for them. He promised “to give” his step-daughter anything. Prompted by Herodias, Herod was asked “to give” her the head of John the Baptist on a plate. He “gave” that to her. And she in turn “gave” that to her mother.

Jesus, a first cousin of John the Baptist, then went away from “his hometown” to a desolate destination unknown. It was there that he was joined by over 5,000 people. He asked his disciples “to give” these crowds something to eat. These folk weren’t his friends or family or home towners. 

When five small loaves and two fish were found by the disciples Jesus took them, broke them and “gave” them to his disciples. His disciples “gave” them to the crowds. All received ample and 12 baskets of left-overs remained at the end.

Another incident then took place during the crossing of the Sea of Galilee by the disciples – back towards Jesus’ hometown. It was a very stormy crossing. But the disciples were AOK when he was in the boat with them. (There’s more but I’ll leave that to you to read…)

 

And, crossing to the other side, they came over the earth into Gennesaret. And, the men of that place knowing him well, they sent out into that whole surrounding and brought to him all those miserably holding on. And they are imploring him that they may merely touch the extremity of his garment. And as many as touched were brought safely through. (Matthew 14: 34, my translation)

This group of disciples – and Jesus who joined them – “crossed to the other side”. Having journeyed across the sea, they traversed some land and came into the town of Gennesaret, 20 miles from his “hometown”. There, “they are imploring him that they may merely touch the extremity of his garment. And as many as touched were brought safely through."  For these, it had become clear that the decision to touch was the only one, in life, to bring them “safely through”.

But the message was clear from those in his hometown: Don’t touch. We know exactly who he is.