Pop is 85 years old. He’s in perfect health.
He attributes that perfect health to the fact that he never goes to a doctor. Not since World War II. When we got him to agree to occasional physicals, it was a major victory. But he only did it so as to be on someone’s radar screen, in case he ever needs an insurance gatekeeper.
During those physicals, the doctor suggests this or that pill. Pop ignores it all.
Doctor: Actually, we don’t have any blood work on you.
Pop: That’s right, you don’t.
…………………………
The Bible writer Luke was a doctor, whatever that meant back then.
“Luke the beloved physician sends you his greetings, and so does Demas.” – Col 4:11)
He writes, not unkindly, towards his own profession: “And a woman, subject to a flow of blood for twelve years, who had not been able to get a cure from anyone, approached from behind and touched the fringe of his [Jesus’] outer garment, and instantly her flow of blood stopped.” – Luke 8:43-44
Yes, doctors had done their level best, but it hadn’t been enough. She hadn’t been able to get a cure from anyone.
But look what happens when the gospel writer Mark, not a doctor, relates the same event:
“Now there was a woman subject to a flow of blood twelve years, and she had been put to many pains by many physicians and had spent all her resources and had not been benefited but, rather, had got worse. [!]
a) put to many pains
b) spent all her resources
c) had not benefited; had gotten worse.
Mark and Pop would have gotten along well together.
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