Matthew 9:18-25 (NLT) 18As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.” 19So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. 20Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, 21for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” 22Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith had made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment. 23When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. 24 “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. 25After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up!
This is the story of a miracle within a miracle, and both involving the sense of touch. In one case it was a request for the Master’s touch—a touch that could change death into life. In the other, it was the touch of faith and humility by someone whom the culture of the day considered to be less than a dog—a women with bleeding issues deemed unclean and unfit for society.
One must admire the courage of the synagogue leader, for I’m certain his quest for Jesus’ help would not have been popular among the other pharisees of that area. All the other pharisees were in the process of trying to disprove and discredit Jesus. This leader knows the truth and is convinced that just the touch of Jesus’ hand can bring his daughter back to life. That is faith in action; faith that is willing to stand up no matter what others may think.
The woman knows her denigrated status in society all too well. She cannot ask Jesus to touch her, for she is unclean and has been for twelve years. She does not dare approach Jesus to his face. And yet although she stealthily sneaks up behind him, her faith is exceedingly strong. She is confident the mere touching of the fringe of his robe will be enough to bring healing.
In his compassion, Jesus responds to the faith of both requests. With the touch of his hand, the synagogue leader’s daughter is restored to life. Even without his physical touch, he restores not only the woman’s health, but he also restores her social status to “daughter”—a high honor in Jewish culture.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Thank you for these and other examples of faith in your Word. Sometimes our faith seems strong and bold. Sometimes our faith seems weak and frail. But You know the right touch to strengthen us. We come to you in humility of heart. We thank you for life, for health, and for daily blessings.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.