Matt. 13:31-33,44-52, Added Notes (1)

For the next few posts we are going to rest from our relentless journey through Mark’s Gospel.  I want to share some notes related to recent passages.  I hope you are encouraged.

In the most recent post, when Jesus continued to the home of Jairus, He only took along Peter, James and John.  The question is “why these three?”  He did this on 3 occasions: here, Mk. 9:2 at the transfiguration, and Mk. 14:33 in Gethsemane.  He does not say why so it is not of major importance.  The obvious reasons are two.  First, He would want no less than three because, as Eccl. 4:12 notes, there is extra strength in the testimony of three over one of two.  Second, these three are designated for leadership above the rest.  We don’t hear of the others in Acts.  The others play significant roles in the early Church, yes, even including James whose leadership comes from the fact that he was the first martyr among the Apostles (Ac. 12:1-2).

Concerning the woman with the issue of blood (5:21-43), who spent all her money on doctors, one commentator (Lightfoot) had this to say.

[And had suffered many things of many physicians.] And it is no wonder: for see what various and manifold kinds of medicines are prescribed to a woman labouring under a flux:

1.    "R. Jochanan saith, Bring (or take) of gum of Alexandria the weight of a zuzee; and of alum, the weight of a zuzee; and of crocus hortensis the weight of a zuzee; let these be bruised together, and be given in wine to the woman that hath an issue of blood; etc.

2.    "But if this does not benefit, take of Persian onions thrice three logs; boil them in wine, and then give it her to drink, and say Arise from thy flux

3.    "But if this does not prevail, set her in a place where two ways meet; and let her hold a cup of wine in her hand; and let somebody come behind her and affright her, and say, Arise from thy flux.

4.    "But if that do no good, take a handful of cummin, and a handful of crocus, and a handful of foenum groecum. Let these be boiled in wine, and give them her to drink, and say, Arise from thy flux."

5.    But if these do not benefit, other doses and others still are prescribed, in number ten or more, which see, if you please, in the place cited [Babylonian Schabb. folio 110.]. Among them I cannot omit this:

6.    "Let them dig seven ditches: in which let them burn some cuttings of such vines as are not circumcised; [that is, that are not yet four years old]. And let her take in her hand a cup of wine. And let them lead her away from this ditch, and make her sit down over that. And let them remove her from that, and make her sit down over another. And in every removal you must say to her, Arise from thy flux;" etc.