Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!

 

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”

Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it.  Be made clean.”  And the leprosy left him immediately……. [Luke 5:12-16]

As I was reflecting on this Gospel today, I thought that it’s a good thing Jesus lived 2,000 years before TV and the Internet. I imagined this healing story spreading instantly worldwide.

 It would be an absolute nightmare.

Word would first get out via email then spread rapidly to social media and leprosy websites.  From there it’s a short jump to CNN worldwide – and the media frenzy to track down this Jesus and investigate His claims would be on.

When Fox finds the former leper, its exclusive interview with him will become the day’s top story.  This will prompt two or three major newspapers and competing networks to investigate the wild claims.

Frustrated when calls to Jesus’ cell phone are not returned, they’ll stake out Mary’s home in Nazareth but all she knows is that He had withdrawn somewhere to pray, as He usually does.  He didn’t tell her where that was, exactly.  Meanwhile other cure seekers who had heard about the miracle on CNN were besieging her and she couldn’t even go to the well for water.  Why would Jesus do this to his mother?????

Since they couldn’t find Jesus, reporters speculated about why He had gone into hiding.  No one believed Mary’s tale about Him going off to pray.  Was He doing a deal with a competitor?  Had He fabricated the entire episode?  Was He with His advisors (the Apostles) trying to spin the story?  Was He a psychotic in need of care?  Was He a menace to sick people who would abandon scientific treatment for a faith cure that was certainly delusional?

You take it from there.  I can’t even fathom the memes that would be circulated!

This Gospel asks us to ponder root questions which fast-forwarding 2,000 years highlights.  Do we really believe in Jesus?  Would we believe in Him if he were a contemporary?

We live in a skeptical age.  We suspect miracles and distrust anyone who claims to speak or act for God.  We believers walk a fine line between faith and credulity.  When we ponder accounts like the one in Luke’s gospel, we may find ourselves repeating the old prayer: “Lord I believe. Help my unbelief.”  [Mark 9:24]