Spreading the news

When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district. (verses 23-26)

Read Matthew 9: 18-26

Winston Churchill once said, “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth gets a chance to get its pants on”. In today’s Bible reading it is not a lie, but the good news of a young girl brought back to life that spread throughout the district.

News has always travelled fast, even before the advent of social media. We are now accustomed to the rapid spread of news, both good and bad. We are also accustomed to comments, both good and bad, that spread via social media. More often than not these comments can be negative, even harmful.

Interestingly the news of the amazing miracle in today’s reading was spread by those who had laughed when Jesus announced the girl was not dead but sleeping. The flute players and the crowd overcame their initial reaction to Jesus. They no longer mocked him, but spread the exciting news.

It was not, however, the last time that Jesus would be mocked by the crowds. In some ways this reaction to Jesus foreshadows the actions of the crowd at his crucifixion. He was insulted and jeered at as he was lead to his death and even while on the cross, however, he also rose again and this Good News spread rapidly to all the nations.

Lord, help me to spread the Good News by sharing all you have done and continue to do for me. Amen

Written by Dianne Eckermann, Director of Leadership, Lutheran Education Australia, 2019

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