Rev Gav

Moth

Luke 6:17-19

When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those troubled by evil spirits were healed. Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone.

Reflect

Jesus came down from the mountain and was about to launch into four blessings for those that chose to follow his way of thinking, and four woes for those that chose to ignore or oppose it. I wonder if Luke had in mind Moses? Hundreds of years before Jesus, Moses was a great leader of the Jewish people who came down from a mountain with instructions from God called ‘the ten commandments’ — the beginnings of the Jewish law. I wonder if, in the same way, Jesus came down the mountain ready to share how his Kingdom would operate? Anyway, people flocked to Jesus and they came from all over the place to hear his message, to be healed or set free from oppression. The power radiated out of Jesus so much that people just wanted to touch him.

This story always reminds me of moths attracted to a bright light in the night-time. Jesus was like a bright light in the darkness of our world, and the people, like moths, were attracted to his brightness. People went to great lengths to find Jesus and we have to remember that it was not just a case of simply popping in your car and going to a destination. To find Jesus would have meant quite a trek using first century transportation — presumably donkeys, camels, or horses (if you were wealthy). You would have had to pack overnight kit including food and water, then travel to where Jesus was supposed to be, and find him via word of mouth directions. Once you got there it sounded like you would have had to fight your way through a crowd to get to see him, let alone touch him. Yet, once you got there, there was enough of Jesus’ power for everyone.

I wonder if, in our car-culture of microwave ready-meals and instant gratification, we wait for God to come to us — to show up in our lives rather than us seeking out God? I suppose that, in some ways, the very fact that you are reading this demonstrates that you are already on the path to seeking out Jesus.

Do

Today, commit to seeking out Jesus and to finding God. This will mean consciously making the move towards a God that has moved everything to be with you.

Pray

Holy God
In my darkness I am drawn to your light
and I long to rest in your presence.
Help me to find you and to touch you,
that you might heal me, restore me and forgive me.
This day and for ever.
Amen.

Think

How far would you travel, and what difficulties would you be prepared to overcome, in order to find Jesus?