The Violence That Heals

Healings..No two are exactly the same...either in Biblical accounts or in my own
experience. Some of them seem relatively easy to acquire. The paralytic had only
to stay on his mat while others(like corporeal intercessors) dug through the ceiling
to reach the Healer. The beggar by the gate Beautiful wasn't even seeking healing...only
spare change. Most of them do seem to require some sort of effort(act of faith), though.
Naaman had to forsake his pride and bathe in the 'filthy' Jordan. The woman who touched
the hem of His robe had to fight her way through the crowd.

Ah, but we are stiff-necked people, are we not? It seems we are born and bred to struggle,
to fight, to violently take the Kingdom AND,sometimes, our healing by force. A Canaanite
woman had to dare to contend with Jesus to get healing for her daughter. Jacob wrestled
with God to obtain his blessing.

I do not know what Jesus' childhood was like...but I imagine Mary playing piggies with
His little toes(or maybe lambies...gotta stay kosher, y'know) kissing His skinned Knees,
teaching Him how to ride a donkey; or Joseph taking Him fishing in the Galilee, digging
splinters out of His Fingers, saying bedtime prayers with Him..(imagine,if you will, the
Boy across the Seder table from His dad asking the traditional question, 'Why is this
night different from all other nights?' Could Joseph possibly have known his traditional
response was living prophecy in the very act of fulfillment??)

Enough tangential reverie for now. It suffices to say that His parents probably loved Him
the way we love our children. In any case, in Gospel accounts He shows none of the fears,
insecurities, and self-doubts that are the trademark of an abused child.

Might have been a whole different gospel if He had spent His life hiding in shadows,
staring at people through wary eyes, if He'd had no disciples because He was afraid
to look them in the eye, to talk with them, if He'd had no time for lunch with Zaccheus,
no crumbs for the Canaanite woman...

Certainly, one might argue that, since He was 'tempted in every way,' He must have had
fears and insecurities to deal with. If this is the case, then the evidence suggests
that He not only wrestled with them...He overcame them completely...

Whether having the latenight heart-to-heart with Nicodemus, sharing the secrets of the
Kingdom with the twelve, dazzling the crowds with His parables, or confounding the
pharisees and doctors of the Law...He seems at ease and gracious with people...He went
to parties. He went out for dinner. He visited with Mary and Martha. Even invited Himself
over to Zaccheus' house. He played with children. He made horrid Greek (and probably
Aramaic and Hebrew, too) puns...and I'll bet He laughed at jokes, gave gifts, and hugged
people often.

If He is our example, if we are to put on Christ, if we are to be conformed to His
image, then this is what I must aspire to. This is what I must become. Loving others is
not an option. It's a commandment. Thus, we need to be willing to do whatever it
takes...have the attitude of acceptance, the yielded heart of the beggar. Might have to
dig through the roof. Might have to humble ourselves and bathe in the muddy Jordan. Might
even have to wrestle God Himself to the ground...to possess, to lay hold of the healing
He has for us...to become like Him.