Mind Reading Reported

Wandering Preacher Heals, Forgives Sins

Scribe claims preacher reads minds 

Capernaum – Thursday the traveling preacher returned to his adopted home town after a two week absence to teach and heal a long-term paralyzed man after forgiving his sins. The scribes present at the time of message, forgiveness, and miracle say he knew what they were thinking.

Jesus, the roving Nazarene preacher returned to Capernaum, with the focus of the trip being preaching. The last time he was in town many of the disease-laden and demon-possessed were healed in a lengthy night-time gathering. 

"This time my mission is different. This time I came to Pete's house to teach," Jesus said, adding, ”Challenging peopled to change is my job, and it was a key reason I left town two weeks ago.”

Pete's modern home was packed with listeners, disciple-hopefuls, and curiosity seekers. All reported his teaching authoritatively.

Two hours into his message a foursome began tearing the roof off Pete's home at 220 Sardine St. The four men created a hole large enough for a rope-borne stretcher to be lowered into the great room.

Joshua Trotter, 27, of 517 Perch Street, said he has not walk for more than 12 years. "I caught the fever when I was 15 and have not walked a step since," Trotter said. 

"My four friends heard Jesus was back in town and got real excited," exclaimed Trotter, adding, "They were not going to let him get out of town this time before getting me to him."

Those in attendance reported how jammed the house was. 

Trotter said his friends were convinced that the traveling minister would heal him. "They just knew it would happen. There was no doubt in their minds," the Capernaum native said.

The men, after peeling back the roof, tied ropes to the pallet and lowered Trotter down directly in front of Jesus. "That is when the unexpected happened," Trotter said.

"Jesus said my sins were forgiven," Trotter reported. "The scribes gasped so violently I thought they were going to swallow their tongues," he added. 

Joe Sample, an accomplished scribe in attendance, said the next statement from Jesus shows he was reading their mind. "I was thinking that only God can forgive sins. So this man was blaspheming," Sample said.

Sample said Jesus looked sternly at him and asked "Why are you thinking like that? Which is easier, to forgive this man's sins or to tell him to go home."

Jesus continued, "I want you to know I have the authority to forgive men's sins," Sample reported.

"He stopped talking to Joe and looked right at me. He told me to get up, roll up my pallet and go home," Trotter chimed in.

Trotter said he had not felt strength in his legs for years but suddenly did. "So I did what he said. I got up and went home," he added.

Sample said he just sat there for a long time. "I heard people saying things like, 'Never seen anything like that before.'," Sample concluded.
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This fictionalized news story of a Bible event leaves me with a question that Mark, the gospel writer, failed to answer. What is it going to take before these people figure out Jesus is God's son???

All Good. No Bad.

Today was insane at the Galilee Gazette. It required more reporters than usual and none of the news stories they were bad. It was all good news. Imagine that: more good news than bad. The reporters had to re-think how to cover the stories. And there were so many of them.

This man, from a tough city west of here, was healing everyone of everything bad. If they had diabetes, he fixed it. If they had cancer, it was removed without surgery, radiation, or chemo. Epileptics stopped having seizures.

Take Dominique for example. Two years ago he was bucked off his horse, broke his neck, and hasn't walked since. But today he is walking, thanks to the new resident of Capernaum. His story was inspiring. His joy was unspeakable. His parents cried. His children screamed. Now, which aspect (inspiration, parents, children) should the reporter investigate??

And Jacqueline's story is no less awesome. After having her skull cracked from her father backing over her with the chariot, she has not said a word. Today, eight years later, she is talking clearly without a speech therapist. She told her own story, with her own voice, of being filled with years of pain and frustration, and now completely ok. The reporter thought he had a one-of-a-kind story, of healing relating to the new face in town.

How wrong the reporter was. The same man, doing so many good things, in the same town, with people from all over. And all the reporters were getting the same story.

It didn't matter if the person was a Jew or not. He just healed them all. Even the little girl with leprosy from over near Damascus (more than a two-day walk).

And the local economy has suddenly improved.The T-shirt shop was reported to have sold out of the "He Fixed Me" T-shirts for the third time. They can't make them fast enough. And the grocery store reporting business almost as brisk as Thanksgiving in America. Even the Gazette is considering running a special section if they can get the ads sold and produced by tomorrow's deadline.

Politicians are getting in on the frenzy. They say this man has come to Galilee to escape the certain persecution mounting against the family and followers of John after he was incarcerated recently by Herod. The Gazette's contacts in Jerusalem have not been able to confirm or deny these statements.
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We are so ingrained at hearing all the negative things going on in our world. Today, at CNN.com you can read these depressing headlines:

• Baseball star Clemens charged with perjury;
• Gay rights gaining global acceptance? 
• American Airlines Flight 24 moved to remote location at San Francisco airport after alleged threat, according to the TSA.

MSNBC.com reports Anger rises as adequate aid fails to reach Pakistan

Now, here is a tough one for me to answer. You might have trouble too.  How would I react to real news stories like these?

It might have something to do with my needs. If I was healthy, I might be curious, or indifferent. If I was in pain / sick / hurt/ etc, I might be scrambling to do anything to get there. I might be thinking, "This just might be the one who can help."

He represented hope to many, He was not important to others. But I might be viewing him through the eyes of my need. The greater the need, the more hope. The lesser the need, the more passiveness.

So how would you react?

Please tell us what you might be thinking in the comment box? Let's see if we can help each other.