Sunday 15 July, 2012

40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” 49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” 53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” 55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

I love the story of great faith this passage talks about, from both the synagogue leader & the beggar woman.  The leader had the right to come into the crowd and stand before Jesus.  The beggar woman would have been an outcast and not allowed to mix with people, due to her “uncleanliness”. Still, both had great needs and knew that Jesus could provide the solution…

In both of their situations, Jesus showed great compassion – He responded to their faith.

When I read these two examples I often think about India and people I’ve seen there in similar circumstances. There was a time after a morning church service, I had prayed for a husband & wife.  The Holy Spirit had touched this couple so much they raced to the hospital to get their son. Just as we were leaving the church, they arrived back with their son, still with a drip in his arm!!  We prayed for him and he received salvation, healing & deliverance… He was bound in Hinduism and was set free that day.  Verse 48, “…your faith has made you well.  Go in peace.”

I love seeing faith in action, really letting go and believing that God can achieve all things.

The woman in the story took herself out of her comfort zone to go to Jesus.  Even though she was treated as an outcast, she knew that if she could just touch something of Jesus, she would be healed…  I want that faith in every situation – to be able to push through and not doubt what I believe God has spoken to me.  To let go of my own abilities and let God…

Written by Ps. Mandy Miller