sides
When Jesus heals us, transforms us something else dies. This ’something else’ is probably valued more than it ought to be by both ourselves and others. The reality is - it’s all swine compared to the transforming power of Christ.
He changes us to tell our story, not to hide it. Sometimes following Jesus means staying exactly where he changed you.
And of course, my favorite passage to preach - the bleeding woman. I still chuckle that folks got upset that I used the word “period” in church. I had about 8 different people tell me they didn’t realize that is what the bleeding was. Then I had someone else tell me that “menstrual cycle” would have been more appropriate. I can honestly say that I have never used the words “menstrual cycle” in a sentence. (Okay - I just did but I meant verbally.)
That whole discussion, however, is uncomfortably similiar to the situation as it’s describe in these chapters. The religious were more worried about the appropriateness of an action to the extent that they miss the larger picture of what God is doing. They undermine and devalue the person (a boy, a carpenter) and in doing so miss the miracle.