Do not be afraid any longer; only believe

Luke 8:40-9:6 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

And as Jesus returned, the people welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him. ⁴¹ And there came a man named Jairus, and he was an official of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus’ feet, and began to implore Him to come to his house; ⁴² for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. But as He went, the crowds were pressing against Him.

⁴³ And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, ⁴⁴ came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. ⁴⁵ And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.” ⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.” ⁴⁷ When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason 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 came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore.” ⁵⁰ But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, “Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well.” ⁵¹ When He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl’s father and mother. ⁵² Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her; but He said, “Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep.” ⁵³ And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died. ⁵⁴ He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Child, arise!” ⁵⁵ And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat. ⁵⁶ Her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

9 And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. ² And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. ³ And He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece. ⁴ Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city. ⁵ And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” ⁶ Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

In today’s text it says:   And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone,  came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.” But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.” When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”   In Matthew 9:20-21 it says:  A woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak;  for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.”   Faith surely played a significant role in this woman’s healing. She was healed without a willful act on the part of Jesus. It was her faith, believing in the power of Christ to heal that caused her to be healed. Still that she was healed with no willful act of Jesus indicates that it is His will that we be healed. Had her healing been against Jesus will, she would not have received her healing. We cannot steal what the Lord gives freely.  

The text continues saying:  While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore.” But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, “Do not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be made well.” When He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl’s father and mother. Now they were all weeping and lamenting for her; but He said, “Stop weeping, for she has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died. He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Child, arise!” And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat. Her parents were amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.   2 Corinthians 5:7 says:  We walk by faith, not by sight.  Having faith in God that is not supported by the evidence of what we see can be difficult; particularly when we are in the midst of an unbelieving and mocking crowd. Some times Jesus may call us come into His presence with others who believe. It is not for the sake of His power, but rather for the sake of our faith. The account of Jesus returning to His hometown is often cited as an indication of the importance of faith. In Mark 6:1-6 it says: Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him. When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He wondered at their unbelief.   The majority of the people of His hometown were unable to receive what Jesus wanted to give them, because they were familiar with who Jesus was as a man. They did not believe that He was the Christ; that He was one with God. Still there were a few sick people who had faith to believe and receive. We are amazed today if a few sick people are healed. Is it perhaps that we too often know Jesus the man? Do we focus so much on the way He lived that we forget why he lived; that He came to suffer and die so that we could be redeemed from sin, reconciled to God and restored to His perfect image and likeness?  Does Jesus wonder at our unbelief because we know so much about Him, but do not really know who He is?  Can we, in the midst of the unbelieving and mocking masses, press in; can we believe and receive all that Jesus wants to give?

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit, may I believe in spite of the evidence around me, may I believe, even when the masses may laugh at my faith. May I press in to Your presence and receive all that You desire to give me. May I walk by faith believing in who You truly are. May I be fully redeemed, reconciled and restored.   Amen.