“Jesus wasn’t a fixer.
“Presumably, Jesus could have waved a hand over each crowd he encountered and mended all the hearts, spines, bruises, minds, and father-wounds all at once. As a kid, it bothered me that he didn’t. How could he witness any amount of suffering and not use his power to change it?
“Instead, his work was maddeningly slow. He talked with people and asked them questions. He forgave sins, spit in the mud, posed riddles, and told stories all along the way of his healing journeys. This was the kingdom of God, he said, touching the ragtag rabble, one person at a time.
“Jesus wasn’t a fixer. He healed people, but not because he was uncomfortable with their pain. He met them face-to-face so they could experience his particular love for them; then he not only healed their bodies but restored them to community. Many of them left behind not only their pain and suffering but also their former status as outcasts. At times the Bible literally says he 'gave them back' to their families. Some of them he gave back to themselves.”
