There have been some healings in the gospel so far, but now it’s as if Jesus goes up a gear, and he heals without being near the person, and he raises the dead. Could this really be the Messiah they were all waiting for? John the Baptist asks the question, and Jesus lists his credentials, not in order to boast of his abilities, but to inspire faith. What is it that attracted us to Jesus? What is it that keeps us following him? The ‘people of that generation’ wanted it the other way round; they wanted to play the tune and see if Jesus would follow. When do we tend towards doing that?

The Revd. David Hildred