March 25 - A Child
Following the transfiguration, Jesus and his disciples moved around for a bit, traveling through Galilee. Immediately down from the mountain, Jesus healed a boy possessed by an evil spirit. As I read the story the boy’s symptoms sound remarkably like epilepsy: falling violently to the ground; foaming at the mouth, grinding his teeth and becoming rigid. Jesus’ disciples had tried to heal him, but could not. Jesus again rebuked their lack of faith, and then healed the boy, restoring him to his father.
As they traveled through Galilee Jesus spent intentional time teaching his disciples, though they were constantly followed by crowds. They finally stopped for a while in Capernaum, finding houses to stay in. Capernaum was the headquarters of Jesus’ Galilean ministry, referred to as Jesus’ “own town.” Peter had a house there and Jesus often taught in the Capernaum synagogue. Residents of Capernaum were simple folk who made their living from fishing, agriculture, and trade. It was in the vicinity of Capernaum that Jesus chose several of his disciples; Peter and Andrew, John and James, and Matthew. And several of his miracles were performed in Capernaum, from the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law to the restoration of a paralytic on a pallet let down with ropes by his friends through a roof…to a multitude of healings.
The remains of a 1st Century synagogue have been discovered in Capernaum, featuring a basalt floor 60’X79’. Very likely, this is the synagogue in which Jesus taught. A site that may have been the house of Peter has also been excavated, under three layers of construction. The topmost layer has been identified as the remains of a 5th Century octagonal church; the fourth layer, a fourth century house-church; and the lowest layer, a simple, first century home with narrow walls and a roof of branches; perhaps the branches through which the paralytic was let down.
Mark records a telling incident that happened when they arrived at Capernaum. “After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, ‘What were you discussing out on the road?’ But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, ‘Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.’ Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.’”
Rank and status were important in the life of Jewish groups, and the disciples were jockeying for place. But Jesus disarmed them, not with a sharp rebuke, but with the presence of a child…a little child. Children are simple. They need love, safety, and food. Just like adults. In the presence of a child even contentious adults soften. And, remarkably, we become their servants, filling needs they are unable to fill for themselves. A child is a great example to hold before a proud, aggressive adult.
To welcome a child is to welcome Jesus. To welcome Jesus is to welcome God the Father, whose children we all are. Father of 3 and grandfather to 6, I would willingly give my life for any of them. And so did Jesus.
Prayer: “Great Father of us all, I rest in your care. Save me from the excesses of pride and competition so that I might have confidence in you rather than in myself. And let me never put another down so that I might raise myself up. Make of me a person of acceptance and gentleness, ready to strengthen and hold up another. Help me to be like Jesus, creator of the world, yet caring to all. May all be safe in my presence. Amen.”
Taft Mitchell, 2/22/2013