Your Faith Has Made You Well
This is the second of seven posts highlighting lessons we can learn
from a variety of different Bible characters.
“Your faith has made you well.”
Who is it that is privileged to hear these words from Jesus? A woman who has been bleeding for 12 years, and who touches his cloak in a desperate bid for healing.
I’ve read this story numerous times and Jesus’ words always catch my attention.
Why? Because doctors…trained to know the human body and the healing arts…have failed her. In fact, she has spent all of her money pursuing the wisdom that the physicians of her day have to offer.
Nothing.
Furthermore, because of her incessant bleeding, she is considered ritually unclean under Jewish law. As a result, she is not able to freely socialize. She cannot participate in the spiritual life of the community. This woman’s life is tragic.
No relief.
No community.
No access to God.
Yet, she continues to have faith, despite being stigmatized and marginalized and isolated. A situation that would cause so many others to give up in despair…a life that would cause many to assume that God does not care…only deepens her resolve. Her trust. Her faith.
She obviously has heard that Jesus is a miracle worker and she is willing to pursue him at all costs. Yet she’s not supposed to mingle with the crowds, who might treat her harshly. She knows that other religious leaders would ignore her or chastise her, and it’s even possible that Jesus might do the same.
Yet her desperate need propels her. Her belief that Jesus can help propels her. She must get through the crowd! She must press on, and press in! She is convinced that even just a single touch of her hand on Jesus’ cloak will set her free.
And how does Jesus respond to her touch?
Nothing.
Furthermore, because of her incessant bleeding, she is considered ritually unclean under Jewish law. As a result, she is not able to freely socialize. She cannot participate in the spiritual life of the community. This woman’s life is tragic.
No relief.
No community.
No access to God.
Yet, she continues to have faith, despite being stigmatized and marginalized and isolated. A situation that would cause so many others to give up in despair…a life that would cause many to assume that God does not care…only deepens her resolve. Her trust. Her faith.
She obviously has heard that Jesus is a miracle worker and she is willing to pursue him at all costs. Yet she’s not supposed to mingle with the crowds, who might treat her harshly. She knows that other religious leaders would ignore her or chastise her, and it’s even possible that Jesus might do the same.
Yet her desperate need propels her. Her belief that Jesus can help propels her. She must get through the crowd! She must press on, and press in! She is convinced that even just a single touch of her hand on Jesus’ cloak will set her free.
And how does Jesus respond to her touch?
With compassion. With grace. He rewards her simple act of faith. Her powerful act of faith. He assures her that she is not in trouble for acting so boldly. Quite the opposite. She no longer is unclean, because she is restored to physical wholeness. Even more, this healing from Jesus restores her to social wholeness. To spiritual wholeness.
Jesus has given this woman her health back; her life back! She is freed of stigma after more than a decade of isolation (and we think the Coronavirus lockdown is difficult)!
“Your faith has made you well.”
Can you and I let these words from Jesus seep into our minds and hearts and souls? Today, is there an aspect of your life that needs God’s healing? Do you need a simple touch from Jesus to restore you to wholeness?
“Your faith has made you well.”
May these words be true in your life and in mine.
Let me pray for you. Dearest Jesus, thank you for the example of this woman’s simple, yet powerful faith. She was desperate for relief, desperate for community, desperate for healing. You saw her need, you immediately healed her, and you sent her off with a blessing of peace.
I pray that each person reading this blog would be encouraged by this woman’s example and your response to her. Help them to remember her story whenever they face pain, or are unsure where to turn. Help them to seek you passionately and boldly, trusting that you can restore them through the power of your name. As they make the daily choice to live by faith, may they experience your peace. In your precious and powerful name, Jesus. Amen!
Can you and I let these words from Jesus seep into our minds and hearts and souls? Today, is there an aspect of your life that needs God’s healing? Do you need a simple touch from Jesus to restore you to wholeness?
If so, think of this woman. Be inspired by her example. She is a living reminder that we can pursue Jesus with boldness…even with desperation…and he will respond with grace and compassion.
“Your faith has made you well.”
May these words be true in your life and in mine.
Let me pray for you. Dearest Jesus, thank you for the example of this woman’s simple, yet powerful faith. She was desperate for relief, desperate for community, desperate for healing. You saw her need, you immediately healed her, and you sent her off with a blessing of peace.
I pray that each person reading this blog would be encouraged by this woman’s example and your response to her. Help them to remember her story whenever they face pain, or are unsure where to turn. Help them to seek you passionately and boldly, trusting that you can restore them through the power of your name. As they make the daily choice to live by faith, may they experience your peace. In your precious and powerful name, Jesus. Amen!
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