The table on the next page of this essay enables instant comparison between the three parables. A striking detail is that their individual lengths are inversely proportional to their full gospel lengths. Contrary to what might have been expected, Mark’s version has been lengthened at the expense it seems of an explicit nativity story or of a genealogy for instance.Talking of genealogies, Matthew’s version of a genealogy begins at Abraham but Luke’s ends at Adam and calls him a son of God. Therefore I need to include a fifth key phrase: ‘Abraham gave a great banquet on the day that Isaac was weaned’ (Genesis 21; 8). Evidence for its liturgical significance is in the epithet Thaddeus and in Nestorianism and in Robin Hood, William Tell and rumours of toothache remedies. The point is that because Abraham and Isaac stood for the first two persons of the Holy Trinity in an erstwhile scheme of Christian worship then Ishmael was available to stand for Adam whether towards mainstream members or towards wayward cults or sects. Ishmael in scripture became a bowman and he had a wife and the promise of many descendants. He has strongly influenced the William Tell legend in terms of family life but Robin Hood is seen to have taken more after Isaac by incorporating the (babies’) toothache which accompanies weaning. As late as the second quarter of the 19th century a Robin Hood gravestone was chipped completely away by navvies on York and Lancs Railway to ‘medicinally’ put grains under their pillows. Needless to say this portrayal of the sons of Abraham, who were born only fourteen years apart, as if those two sons of God (Adam and Jesus) had some disastrous consequences doctrinally. However I’m not going to pursue that further here for it is only the tip of an iceberg far too big for me to cope with.

In the parables the figure twelve is constant only for the woman. One expects that the haemorrhage must be menstruation of an unwelcome nature for being a public indicator of childlessness. Could she represent a widow or a barren spouse or a mixture of two or more themes?

Only Mark and Luke mention the girl’s age. Upon Jesus’ 12th birthday the apostle James had recently been conceived and James’ mother could perhaps have been menstruating for twelve years before this first pregnancy of hers. Nearly six months later, John the Baptist became eligible for his Bar Mitzvah. Upon Jesus’ 19th birthday (i.e. about twelve as measured from the age of reason) the apostle John had recently been presented in the temple as a baby. The words, ‘about twelve’, are to emphasise that Jesus’ love for John was not robotic. Perhaps therefore these parables are about Zebedee’s wife and are similar to the idea behind the making of the Turin Shroud towards the end of the 13th century.

Twelve is also the age for Bat Mitzvah. As Jairus is a nickname for the Torah then perhaps the parable discusses hypothetically a girl whose periods started when she was aged 12 years but who became a true or truer Daughter of the Book twelve years later through her communion with Christ; the living Word, the Word made flesh. There was of course no Torah in the days of Adam, Isaac or Abraham and there was no canonical New Testament in the days of Christ’s incarnation on Earth so could one get along without Holy Scripture now too? A selection of exact historical dates follows; not the current dates of church liturgy.

9th February, 8 BC In Spain, Jesus’ weaning and teething.28th September, 1 BC Zebedee’s privilege to read from the Torah scroll aloud in synagogue on the Sabbath

before his wedding. Their betrothal had been 25th August, 2 BC.2nd October, 1 BC Wedding between Mary and Zebedee.

28th January, 3 AD James’ mother’s attendance at synagogue after years of regular monthly absence caused some consternation.

21st January, 10 AD Apostle John’s presentation.11th February, 10 AD Jesus’ 19th birthday

Parables with crowdsJerusalem Bible 1966 Canonical gospels in chronological order

Mark 5; 21-43 Matthew 9; 18-26 Luke 8; 40-56Position in gospel text 1st after Gerasene

demoniac.2nd before mission of 12.

A few after Gadara demoniacs.

A few before mission of 12.

1st after Gerasene demoniac.

1st before mission of 12.Location Lakeside Unspecified Unspecified

First petitioner’s identity One of synagogue officials, Jairus

One of the officials Jairus, an official of the synagogue

Petitioner’s mannerism Fell at feet, earnestly pleading

Bowed low before him Fell at feet, pleading

Favourite’s identity His little daughter His daughter His only daughterPetitioner’s request Come and lay hands, save

her lifeCome and lay hands, save

her lifeCome to his house

Favourite’s age Absent Absent About 12 years old2nd petitioner’s identity Woman bleeding

12 yearsWoman bleeding

12 yearsWoman bleeding

12 yearsResults of her previous entreaties elsewhere

Impoverished by doctors’ fees for long, painful, ineffective therapies

Absent None had been able to cure (impoverished by

doctors’ fees)Presumption here From behind, touched

his cloakFrom behind, touched

fringe of his cloakFrom behind, touched

fringe of his cloakImmediate result Bleeding dried up Absent Bleeding stopped

Jesus’ alarm Aware of power loss, “Who touched my clothes”

Turned round and saw her “Who or someone touched me, sapping power”

Mannerism of this petitioner’s penitence

Frightened, trembling, fell at his feet

Absent Trembling and falling at feet of Jesus

Jesus’ familiarisation My daughter My daughter My daughterJesus’ absolution Restored by faith; go in

peaceCourage; restored by faith Restored by faith; go in

peaceFirst petition resumed Death reported No extra introduction Death reported

Jesus’ companions in this petitioner’s house

Pater, James, John and girl’s parents

Absent Peter, John, James and girl’s parents

Mourners’ response to, “Not dead but asleep”

Laughed at Jesus Laughed at Jesus Laughed at JesusJesus’ bodily contact with

patientTook by hand Took little girl by hand Took by hand

Jesus’ words to patient Little girl, get up Absent Child, get upPatient’s reaction Got up, walked about Stood up Her spirit returned, she got

upPatient’s age 12 years old Absent AbsentJesus’ finale Tell nobody, give her food

to eatAbsent Give her food to eat, tell

nobodyAftermath Absent News spread all around

countrysideAbsent

How many words? 496 187 350How many chapters? 16 28 24

Bold, enlarged lettering above indicates the greater likenesses between the three parables. My essay by no means draws attention to the parables’ every detail but the reader can try to unravel more if wished.

Author and publisher Andrew Staniforth, 124 Neill Road, Sheffield, UK, S11 8QJ November, 2019