Abstract
Through interacting with the sick, did Jesus contract infectious diseases or did he take preventive herbs to avoid them? During biblical times, infectious diseases were fatal. Diarrhoea, cough, pneumonia and skin diseases would quickly spread across villages or cities. Underscoring the seriousness with which prevention of infectious diseases was taken, 213 of the 613 biblical commandments concern hygiene. This study has two tasks: firstly, exploring the various techniques undertaken to avoid infectious diseases by looking at daily preventive hygienic activities. Secondly, given that Jesus was always in the company of sick crowds, the study re-describes Mark 1:4–45, where Jesus, after healing the leper, was forbidden from entering the city as indicative of fear against infectious diseases. Furthermore, the story (Mk 3:7–12) whereby Jesus requested a boat to create a gap between himself and the people is plausible from the perspective of infectious diseases.
Highlights
In recent years the study of Jesus has focused on his context, that is, how he challenged cultural and political issues that oppressed people through his initiation of the imaginary kingdom of God (Moxnes 2003)
The other perspective is the picture presented in the Talmud: that itinerant healers were themselves carriers of infectious diseases, suspected of bringing sickness into villages or cities
While cities had advanced through facilities such as Roman sewers, many infectious diseases bred in various places such as cemeteries, swamps and crowded city places
Summary
In recent years the study of Jesus has focused on his context, that is, how he challenged cultural and political issues that oppressed people through his initiation of the imaginary kingdom of God (Moxnes 2003). By touching the infected places and being in contact with the sick, Jesus the physician must have contracted some infectious diseases. Upon meeting Jesus her flow of blood stopped, but no further explanation is given by Mark regarding the ritual cleanliness of the crowd and the disciples who had been in contact with the sick people.
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