As Luke moves into the development or 'construction' of a society based upon place one finds he is repeating material from Mark and this is also found in Matthew. The ointment woman pops up here towards the start of the gospel whereas in Mark and Matthew it is the incident with an ointment woman that triggers the betrayal of Jesus before his crucifixion. Why does Luke put her here? He is showing his readers that 'Christianity' is not simply a movement amongst Jews and only for those of a Jewish background. Rather from the very start of the ministry of Jesus people who were 'outsiders' were made welcome. Indeed they were providing hospitality. One is told here that there were 'certain women' who had backgrounds of varying acceptability. They not only accompanied Jesus and his disciples but they were actually supporting them. Later on in Acts it is well-to-do women who opened their houses for the emerging church and were crucial to its formation.

A secondary incident which is added here is the arrival of the mother and brothers of Jesus. In Mark's gospel these arrive to take control of Jesus as it was thought that he had lost his mind. (Strong language). Matthew's gospel which sets out a family based society avoids mention of this incident apparently because it could be seen as a negative comment on family. On the other hand Luke includes it but tones down their purpose in coming. Another thing going on here is the gradual introduction of 'the word' of God as having an existence of its own.

5. Power in nature

5:1-11

boats, big catch astonishment ...Fear thou not

8:22-25

boat, stills storm And fearing they marvelled

5:1-11 Now it happened that as the crowd pressed upon him when listening to him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennnesaret. He saw two boats standing by the lake. The fishermen from them had gone away and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats which belonged to Simon, he asked him to put out a little from the land. Then sitting in the boat he taught the crowds from there. When he had finished speaking he said to Simon. "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." Answering him Simon said. "Master we laboured through the whole night and we caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets." On doing this they caught a great multitude of fish. Their nets were being torn. They signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They did so and both the boats were fill almost to the stage of sinking. On seeing this Simon Peter then fell at the knees of Jesus saying. "Depart from me because I am a sinful man Lord. He did this because astonishment had seized him and all those with him at the size of the catch of fish they had made. Likewise astonished were both James and John, sons of Zebedee who were with Simon as his partners. Jesus said to Simon. "Do not be afraid for from now on you will be catching people." So on bringing the boats onto the land, they left everything and they followed him.

8:22-25 It happened that on one of those days he got into a boat with his disciples and he said to them. "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." They put out to sea. Now as they sailed he fell asleep. Then a storm of wind came down onto the lake and they were filling up with water and were in danger. Approaching him they woke him up saying "Master Master we're perishing." But he, on being woken up rebuked the wind and the waves. They stopped moving and there was calm. Then he said to them (the disciples) "Where is your faith?" With fear they marvelled saying to one another "Who is this man that he can even command the winds and the water and they obey him?"