I moved to the Washington DC metro area (which includes counties in Maryland and Virginia) in 2000. It was a huge transition from Selma, AL. There are so many more people, and these people are from all over the United States and the world. Traffic is extremely congested and everyone is rude and drives like a maniac. I only knew one or two ways to my job in Chevy Chase, MD which was mainly on Highway 495 with every one who dared to get in a car was driving on at the same time I was. It was a lesson for me in what rush hour is all about. It was a rude awakening.
I can remember traffic coming to a complete stand still on 495. I would panic because I did not want to be late for work. A co-worker told me to lesson to WTOP, 103.5 FM for the traffic report so I would know where the back-ups were so I could take alternative routes. I had to learn what those routes were, and I did. Twelve years later and I am a WTOP junkie.
I was listening to WTOP this morning as I pulled out of my garage for 9:30 am Sunday service. Usually traffic is not an issue Sunday mornings, but as I said I am a WTOP junkie, and I never know when or where there's going to be a traffic and/or whether incident. I figure it's better to be safe than sorry. The news was on when I started my car and backed out of the garage and down the driveway. Announcer, "Yesterday at 6:00 pm a 16 year old girl was killed in a hit and run accident. She was hit first by a black Toyota. She fell into the street when she was hit and was then run over by a tan mini van. The driver of the Toyota stopped, but the second driver did not." I was totally stunned, and feeling terrible for the young lady, when within 3 seconds another story came on, something about stolen crabs. A young woman was killed in the street and she got a total of 20 seconds of air time on the radio.
When I got up this morning I picked up my Bible and read Matthew chapter 9. Matthew was a Jew tax collector during the life time of Jesus. He worked for the Romans and his fellow Jews hated him. He was also one of Jesus' disciples. He is also the author of the first book of the New Testament, which is the first Gospel listed, and it is titled his name. I have read Matthew before, but this time it has become clear to me that Matthew could of worked for WTOP. He was an eye witness account to much of the ministry of Jesus and he, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, simply records what happened, no more no less. He gives no context, background information, additional details, report's commentary, or anything else. It fits his former profession as a tax collector. He just needed name and profession and he collected the tax, he could not get caught up in the details or he would not be able to do his job.
In verses 20-22, he mentions the woman with an issue of blood. He does so almost in passing or a side note. He does include she had been suffering for 12 years and that she had faith, touched Jesus' garment, and was healed. This is such a powerful story and Matthew covers it in 3 short verses. Luke, who was not a disciple, but is the author of one of the gospel also records the woman with the issue of blood, but includes more details, but once again she is a nameless woman, or as I like to think of it, every woman.
A young woman killed in a hit and run, What was the purpose of reporting this story? How can it possibly mean anything to anyone outside her immediate family and friends? I teach high school, so the young woman could of been one of my students. I cannot imagine what she went through at the time of her death. It had to be horrifying and extremely painful for her. I cannot imagine the pain her family and friends are going through right now, and even the first driver who hit her. A young life, with so much potential gone in a matter of terrifying moments. Who was this young woman? What can we learn from her life and death? How will she be remembered? How will her life be honored? I may never know the answers to these questions, but hopefully someone who loved her well.
The woman with the issue of blood is even more remote and harder to empathize with. I have written about her before. There is so much about Jewish culture that comes into play. This woman was considered unclean because of her issue of blood, which means she could not participate in the activities and customs of her own people. You will not find that in that Bible, that requires research to know and understand. She was also very weak, because of the loss of blood. I have also written about the importance of blood to the body and how without it we die. There is no way anyone can totally understand or empathize in the three short verses that Matthew wrote. There was so much more to her story, the most important thing is, and this is what remains to be seen with the young woman who was killed yesterday, we know why this woman's story was told. It was told to build up our faith, the details are not the focus, faith is.
I will continue to listen to WTOP and reading Matthew, but after much consideration, prayer, and writing this blog I am beginning to understand the style of reporting both entities follow, and even though it is not my style, which is much more detailed and in-depth, I hold it high regard it because it has a purpose.
Praying that you will have a safe end of the holiday celebration. Happy New Year!!!
I can remember traffic coming to a complete stand still on 495. I would panic because I did not want to be late for work. A co-worker told me to lesson to WTOP, 103.5 FM for the traffic report so I would know where the back-ups were so I could take alternative routes. I had to learn what those routes were, and I did. Twelve years later and I am a WTOP junkie.
I was listening to WTOP this morning as I pulled out of my garage for 9:30 am Sunday service. Usually traffic is not an issue Sunday mornings, but as I said I am a WTOP junkie, and I never know when or where there's going to be a traffic and/or whether incident. I figure it's better to be safe than sorry. The news was on when I started my car and backed out of the garage and down the driveway. Announcer, "Yesterday at 6:00 pm a 16 year old girl was killed in a hit and run accident. She was hit first by a black Toyota. She fell into the street when she was hit and was then run over by a tan mini van. The driver of the Toyota stopped, but the second driver did not." I was totally stunned, and feeling terrible for the young lady, when within 3 seconds another story came on, something about stolen crabs. A young woman was killed in the street and she got a total of 20 seconds of air time on the radio.
When I got up this morning I picked up my Bible and read Matthew chapter 9. Matthew was a Jew tax collector during the life time of Jesus. He worked for the Romans and his fellow Jews hated him. He was also one of Jesus' disciples. He is also the author of the first book of the New Testament, which is the first Gospel listed, and it is titled his name. I have read Matthew before, but this time it has become clear to me that Matthew could of worked for WTOP. He was an eye witness account to much of the ministry of Jesus and he, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, simply records what happened, no more no less. He gives no context, background information, additional details, report's commentary, or anything else. It fits his former profession as a tax collector. He just needed name and profession and he collected the tax, he could not get caught up in the details or he would not be able to do his job.
In verses 20-22, he mentions the woman with an issue of blood. He does so almost in passing or a side note. He does include she had been suffering for 12 years and that she had faith, touched Jesus' garment, and was healed. This is such a powerful story and Matthew covers it in 3 short verses. Luke, who was not a disciple, but is the author of one of the gospel also records the woman with the issue of blood, but includes more details, but once again she is a nameless woman, or as I like to think of it, every woman.
A young woman killed in a hit and run, What was the purpose of reporting this story? How can it possibly mean anything to anyone outside her immediate family and friends? I teach high school, so the young woman could of been one of my students. I cannot imagine what she went through at the time of her death. It had to be horrifying and extremely painful for her. I cannot imagine the pain her family and friends are going through right now, and even the first driver who hit her. A young life, with so much potential gone in a matter of terrifying moments. Who was this young woman? What can we learn from her life and death? How will she be remembered? How will her life be honored? I may never know the answers to these questions, but hopefully someone who loved her well.
The woman with the issue of blood is even more remote and harder to empathize with. I have written about her before. There is so much about Jewish culture that comes into play. This woman was considered unclean because of her issue of blood, which means she could not participate in the activities and customs of her own people. You will not find that in that Bible, that requires research to know and understand. She was also very weak, because of the loss of blood. I have also written about the importance of blood to the body and how without it we die. There is no way anyone can totally understand or empathize in the three short verses that Matthew wrote. There was so much more to her story, the most important thing is, and this is what remains to be seen with the young woman who was killed yesterday, we know why this woman's story was told. It was told to build up our faith, the details are not the focus, faith is.
I will continue to listen to WTOP and reading Matthew, but after much consideration, prayer, and writing this blog I am beginning to understand the style of reporting both entities follow, and even though it is not my style, which is much more detailed and in-depth, I hold it high regard it because it has a purpose.
Praying that you will have a safe end of the holiday celebration. Happy New Year!!!
Matthew 9:20-22 - Remember one of God's names is Healer
New International Version (NIV)
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.”And the woman was healed at that moment.
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.”And the woman was healed at that moment.
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