Two main events happen in this episode. Jesus heals a man with leprosy and then heals a man paralyzed since childhood.
Believe it or not, it's not these two events that I keep lingering on - it's Jesus' interactions with a woman on the side of the road. Jesus and the disciples are walking to Capernaum (Jesus has just taken his mother home from Cana following the wedding and has met back up with his students). It's along this road they encounter the leper. It's before this, however, that they run into an Egyptian woman picking flowers. Jesus has a conversation with her - telling her how he grew up in Egypt, how, as a child, they had to leave Bethlehem quickly.
James is shocked to hear that Jesus survived Herod's massacre of infants.
But again, that's not what I'm continuing to meditate on from this episode.
Had the disciples been walking without Jesus, they'd have probably ignored this woman on the road. Had Mary not spoken to her first, maybe they would have passed her by still. But, Jesus notices the necklace she is wearing, comments on the unique beauty of it. "I saw many pieces like this in the markets in Egypt," he explains.
This lady then watches as Jesus heals the man with leprosy.
We run into this lady again a few scenes later. Jesus has come to Zebedee's home.
And, can I just take a minute to say, when I finally meet Jesus face-to-face, I'm pretty sure I'll will be just like Zebedee's wife. I'll be totally enamored, awestruck, "fangirling" over this man! I absolutely love the way she gets all flustered and giddy in his presence! She knows who He is and she can't contain herself!
Anyway, Jesus is sitting with his students sharing stories and people start to gather outside the home, hoping to catch Jesus' words. We see some familiar faces in the crowd - the blind woman that came to Mary's home for Shabbat. We see Abigail and Joshua on a nearby roof. The crowd is pouring into the street.
The Egyptian woman then comes with four other men. They are carrying a man. He's unable to stand - his legs paralyzed.
Simon, in all of this, is working security - trying to keep Jesus safe. Mary sees the woman in the crowd and helps get them to the roof of the home.
Jesus is unaware of what is happening above him - he's busy teaching the crowd - when this woman calls out to him. "Jesus of Nazareth! If you are willing, I know you can make him well." He then watches from below as they remove the straw thatching, they remove some boards and lower the paralyzed man through the roof.
Jesus forgives this man's sins - causing an uproar with the nearby Pharisees. He tells the man to pick up his mat and walk. And he does!
He looks back to this woman - at the courage she had to go get her friend, to bring him through the crowd... "You're faith is beautiful," he says to her.
In the midst of all of this, Matthew has found a seat on a nearby roof with Abigail and Joshua to watch what unfolds. He's taking notes, writing everything down (another wonderful detail this show has included).
As the uproar over Jesus' words grows among the Pharisees, they call for Jesus' arrest. Jesus is led away by his students - out a backdoor. But, Matthew tries to follow. Jesus stops...he turns and he sees Matthew. He looks him dead in the eyes.
He sees Matthew. All of him!
Just like he saw the woman along the road.
Just like he saw the man with leprosy. He saw beneath the diseased skin.
Just like he saw past the demons to see Mary.
I want that!
I want to be seen by Jesus. I want to gaze into the soul of this man and I want to hear him say to me, "Your faith is beautiful."