Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter[g] said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” 49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.”50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
As I mentioned yesterday, this woman in our text had lost everything, she had lost her health, her wealth and probably the most painful loss, that of her standing in society, particularly, the religious community. Her ailment rendered her unclean. There was no going to the tabernacle or the temple, not for her, she would not be allowed according to the law of Moses.
The one hope for the Jews, for the people who were under Roman rule was what happened in the temple and tabernacle, that was their national identity, that is where they renewed hope for Messiah. And this woman was not allowed in…was not allowed to participate in any of the covenant liturgical expressions that were so dear to the people of that day.
We have prominent people, powerful important people, like Jarius and we have outcast people, like this woman, and yet their need is the same…they must make it to Jesus or else they have no hope. Social class, economic class or whatever other barrier that is common among men crumbles at the feet of Jesus. There is but one class in the eyes of Jesus, sinner…sinner in need of the grace and mercy of God, nothing else.
The greatness of this woman’s faith does of course stand out. She believed that the power of Christ to heal was such that she did not need him to give her His undivided attention or to come to her house, in fact He didn’t even need to know what was going on. If only I could touch him, and even then, only the back of his garment, that is enough. Now, you might argue that her faith was not all that pure, seeing that she thought she NEEDED to touch him, as if Jesus couldn’t heal without the touch. And maybe you would be right to conclude such.
But imperfect though her faith might have been, the Lord rewarded it.
Let’s stop for a moment and consider that. Your faith, imperfect as it is, lacking as it does at times, nonetheless, is rewarded by your Savior.
Here is what this woman teaches us. Even the slightest connection with the Lord of Glory, the slightest touch of our grasping hands, will bless us. This woman believed that the slightest touch of Christ would be enough. She was not looking for great things to do, great knowledge to attain…she just wanted to touch the Savior.
This woman had tried everything, had gone to every doctor she could get too and her situation was more than complicated and yet faith directed her to touch Jesus…that’s it, you can’t get more simple than touching Jesus.
Just as this woman’s faith cried out for the simplicity of touching Jesus, so the answer to most if not all of our dilemmas is the same. And no matter how imperfect our faith is, the Lord nonetheless has deigned to bless it when it comes to Him, full of holes and limping along…nonetheless, comes to Him.
I am going to tell you some things and your temptation is going to be to say to me that it’s not that easy…that MY situation is more complicated than that. And I am going to respond to you just as I have promised, “No it’s not…it really isn’t”
Take your imperfect faith, and reach out to Jesus. Get a fresh hold of the Lord…find Him in worship…in the preaching of his Word and at His table. Caution to the wind…just touch Him, that is enough. If your spiritual fervor is waning, your eyes are dull, your heart cold and unmoved, your head does not bow and your knees do not bend…
…Then take what is left of your battered faith and set it to seeking the Lord Jesus Christ and find Him as no other. For our Lord is kind and merciful, gracious to forgive, to restore, to pour out His love on those who are totally undeserving. Come to Him. It IS that simple. Cry out to HIM, it is no more complicated than letting go of your damned pride and self-sufficiency and finding the Lord Jesus, this day!
Prayer: Father, You have ordered my days and it is my deepest desire to be faithful with the time that has been set for me. Help me to do the simple things: Help me to seek my Savior this day with all my heart. Keep me from sin, both those that come to me and those that come from me. Give me a heart that wants to redeem the time and honor my Savior who has loved me with an everlasting love. I know that I am not my own, give me a rejoicing spirit this day to the honor and praise of my God and King, in Jesus name, Amen.
Song: Create in Me
