In the calling of the disciples there is a little twist to the story by Luke. In Matthew the same incident appears to stress the family connection between two sets of brothers and the father of one pair. But here in Luke there is a business connection between all of them. Thus in this setting the core of Jesus' support group has come from the one business and work place.

6. V Disease & V bad spirits

5:12-15

City, leper the leprosy departed. into the desert . .

8:26-39

Gerasenes/city - demonised man " that not he order them into the abyss into the desert

5:12-15 It came to pass as he was going into one of the cities there was a man full of leprosy. On seeing Jesus he fell on his face and begged him saying. "Lord if you will, you can make be clean." And stretching out his hand he (Jesus) touched him saying. "I am willling. Be clean." Immediately the leprosy left the man. (Jesus) charged him that he should tell nobody. He said "Go show yourself to the priest and offer a cleansing ritual as required by Moses as a testimony to them (the priests etc)." (Jesus) moved on. But so too did the word concerning him. Many crowds accompanied him to hear and be healed from their infirmities.

8:26-39 And so they sailed down to the country of the Gerasenes which is opposite Galilee. As he (Jesus) went onto the land a certain man who had been from the city and who was possessed by demons, met him. (The man) did not live in a house but amongst the tombs. On seeing Jesus he cried out and fell prostrate before him. In a great voice he cried “What are you to me and to yourself Jesus Son of God the Most High? I beg you do not torment me.” This was because Jesus was meanwhile ordering the unclean spirit to come out of the man. This spirit had seized the man many times (before). He had been bound with chains and fetters and had been guarded. But he tore the bonds asunder and was driven by the demon into the desert. Jesus questioned him (the demon). "What is your name?" He said "Legion". This was because many demons had entered into him. They besought him that he would not order them away into the abyss. Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding in the mountain. They besought him that he would allow them to enter into them (instead) and he allowed it. So on coming out of the man the demons entered into the pigs. The herd rushed down the precipice into the lake and were drowned. On seeing what happened, those who were feeding (the pigs) fled and reported on all this in the city and on the farms. People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus. They found the man from whom the demons had been driven, sitting down. He was clothed and in his senses by the feet of Jesus. The people were afraid. Those who had seen all this reported to the people how the demon possessed man had been healed. Then all the crowd of the neighbourhood of the Gerasenes asked (Jesus) to go away from them because they were seized with a great fear. So (Jesus), embarking in a boat began to return (to Galilee). The man from whom the demons had gone begged him to let him go with him. But He dismissed him saying. "Return to your house and tell others what God has done for you. So (the man) went away throughout the city and told people what things Jesus had done to him.

There are obvious parallels here re the leper and the demonised man, both on the outskirts of a city. Gradually one finds ' the word' relating to Jesus taking on a life of its own. And, those who are carrying it are far from the technical purity of Judaism.

7. Prayer

5:16	Deserts, praying		8:40-48	Journey - woman touching Power having gone forth from me
5:16 but he was withdrawing into the deserts and praying.		8:40-48 Now when Jesus returned the crowd welcomed him for they were all expecting him. Then a man came whose name was Jairus. This man was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell at the feet of Jesus and begged him to come to his house because his daughter who was an only child and about twelve years of age was dying. Now as he went the crowds pressed upon him. As it happened, there was a woman who had had a flow of blood (menstrating) for twelve years. Nobody had been able to heal her. Approaching (Jesus) from behind she touched the fringe of his garment. At once the flow of blood was stopped. Jesus said "Who is the one touching me?" When all denied it Peter said. "Master the crowds are pressing upon you and jostling." But Jesus said "Someone touched me for I felt power going out of me." And seeing that she was found out, the woman came forward trembling. She prostrated before him and declared before everyone why she had touched him and how she had been cured at once. He said to her "Daughter your faith has healed you. "Go in peace."

8 .Forgiveness into new life

5:17-26	(House) forgives paralytic To thee I say, rise	8:49-56	House - raises Jairus' daughter He called saying "Maid arise"
5:17-26 It happened that on one of the days he was teaching (in a house), there were present Pharisees and law-teachers who had come out of every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord to cure was in him (Jesus). Then behold there were some men carrying a man on a stretcher. He had been paralysed. They sought to carry the man in and to lay him before (Jesus). But not being able to do so because of the crowd they went up onto the roof. They removed the tiles and they led him down with the stretcher into the middle of people and in front of Jesus. On seeing their faith He said. "Man you have been forgiven your sins." The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason amongst themselves. "Who is this man who is speaking blasphemy. Who can forgive sins except God?" But knowing their reasonings and answering them he said. "Why do you reason in your hearts? Which is easier to say 'Your sins have been forgiven' or to say 'Rise and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins---" he said to the paralysed one. "To you I say. Rise and take up your bed and go to your house." And at once, rising up before them and taking the bed on which he was lying, he went away to his house, glorifying God. Bewilderment took hold of all. They glorified God and were filled with fear saying. "We saw wonderful things today."				8:49-56 While he was still speaking someone came who was connected with the synagogue ruler. He was saying "Your daughter has died. Do not trouble the teacher any more." But Jesus on hearing answered him. "Do not be afraid. Only believe and she will be healed." On coming into the house he did not allow anyone to enter with him except Peter and James and John, and also the father and mother of the girl. Everyone was weeping and grieving for her. But he said "Do not cry. She did not die but is sleeping." They ridiculed him knowing that she had died. But he on holding her hand called to her saying "Young girl get up." And her spirit returned. She rose up at once. Then he ordered that she be given something to eat. The parents were amazed. But he enjoined them not to talk about what had happened.