The murky place between man and God- 7:31-37

They make it down to the region of the Decapolis- I don't think it was a particularly Jewish area- still lying low... And some concerned friends or family members of a deaf and almost mute man (interesting the little detail that he could hardly talk), bring him to Jesus and beg him to place his hand on him. Jesus doesn't want a scene and takes the man away from the crowd. After he had healed him, he commands 'them' not to tell anyone- which is one area where Jesus authority doesn't hold very well. Many of the healings seem to have a similar sort of feel. People know that he has this amazing power, so they bring either loved ones or themselves and ask him to heal them. He does not particularly seem to go looking for people to heal. And he tries to do it as discreetly as possible- although some situations prevent this- the man with the withered hand and through the ceiling man. It looks like Jesus did not want the healings to become a circus- which drowned out everything else. Interesting that in Josephus he is described as a wonder worker, or something like that. Indeed, in John especially, he has some strong things to say about signs, and the way people run after them. The word sign 'semeion' that John uses for miracles, shows how John thinks they should be thought of- pointers to something else, to something beyond. And this was a very real problem for Jesus, or more accurately many people. Many, did not treat him as a real person. He was an 'attraction' something to flock to. He did everything well and people loved to go and see him in action. In the end they struggled with precisely the same issue many do today with Jesus- by holding him in this category between 'man' and 'God'. He did amazing things- the people loved that- He was saying dangerous things- the pharisees didn't like that- and because of the wonders he was seen as a real threat. So they crucified him for acting more than a mere man, and claiming to be God.