As we prepare for Lent, we will journey along with some figures of absolute faith.
Today on the “Bible on the Road” we see two stories conveyed in three Gospels. They stand together in each of the Gospels so they must have occurred together to be remembered always side by side. In Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43 and Luke 8:40-55, we hear the story of the woman who for twelve years suffered from a bleeding illness. And, the synagogue official, Ja’irus who’s daughter was dying from an illness.
These two individuals should be stalwarts of faith for us. Ja’irus had never met Jesus, he only knew what he had heard of this rabbi within the synagogue – probably not all good. Yet, he didn’t just believe Jesus could heal his daughter – he knew. The same with the woman. She never met Jesus, being ritually unclean from the constant bleeding, the best she had was hear Him from a distant edge of a crowd – so distant He was hard to hear or see. But, she too knew Jesus could heal her. In fact, she was so sure, she knew He didn’t even have to heal her to heal her. She only need “touch even His garments” (Mark v. 28) to be made well.
Anyone who knows my story, knows this woman’s prayer and belief was something I held onto and prayed many times a day, many thousands of times in a few months for my daughter to be made well from her diagnosis of Lupus Nephritis. I had faith that if only He stretch out a tassel of His cloak to her, she would be made well. So, this Gospel holds a dear place in my heart and along my Road of Faith.
The woman did reach out to Jesus, touching His garment and ‘immediately her flow of blood ceased” (Luke v. 44). Jesus knew what had occurred, He looked for who it was that had touched Him. The woman, terrified, fell before Him and admitted to touching Him and being healed. Jesus didn’t seek her out in the crowd to condemn her for being sneaky but to exalt her faith – “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” (Matthew v. 22).
Jesus then continued with Ja’irus. Ja’irus received heartbreaking news. He wasn’t fast enough, his daughter had died. I’m sure Ja’irus broke down in tears but Jesus turned to him with hope for his faith. Saying, “do not fear, only believe.” Ja’irus, hand held by Jesus, came before his daughter. Jesus bent down, telling the girl, “little girl, I say to you, arise.” And, she woke. The emotional swing for Ja’irus and his wife had to be overwhelming.
Ja’irus witnessed incredible faith, watching the woman be made well. Then, moments later, saw his faith come to fruition.
Jesus rewarded the faith of the woman and Ja’irus with healing. We are uplifted by Matthew, Mark and Luke in the accounts of these events. In both situations, it wasn’t Jesus who did it, it was their faith.
Did God answer my prayer for healing of my daughter? I didn’t have the faith of these two. I came to Jesus more looking for a sign of His presence. Certainly, not with the faith of these two, At the point of healing, all I had remaining was desperate faith. Jesus took what it was with which I came to Him and used it to make a miracle in me. His healing was for me, greater than I could have hoped for. His healing changed my life as it did Ja’irus and the woman, deeper than the physical world. Imagine their lives after they witnessed their healing, I know mine now.
Do you have the faith to approach Jesus, knowing He could do incredible miracles in your life?