The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 9:20-22(day seven)

“At once the woman was made well.”

This last phrase “was made well” comes from the Greek word sozo meaning “to save.”

This passage could read, “Immediately the woman was saved.”

The miracle here was just as much spiritual as it was physical. Her faith made her medically healed but it also eternally set her apart. Yesterday, Danny pointed us to the phrase “Daughter.” When Jesus called her His daughter, it gave her belonging. She became a daughter of the King through her faith. She suffered in isolation for 12 years, but now she belongs for eternity. Saved by grace through faith.

Jesus calls us all out of our isolation and suffering and into His family. He calls us into healing. Sometimes it is physical, but always it is spiritual. He calls us to step out in faith and trust Him. He calls us sons and daughters. He saves us by grace through faith.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 9:20-22(day six)

Truth is, she had no intention of being noticed. For all the reasons already offered (Scott and Aaron), the last thing she wanted was for Jesus, much less the crowd, to become aware of her presence. She needed to stop dying, to stop the bleeding, and be made clean. What she didn’t want were glares thrown like stones reminding her of her disconnectedness.

If I could only touch the hem of his prayer shawl, then I would be healed. No one has to know.

But Jesus did take notice.

“Daughter, take courage; your faith has saved you.”

He called me… daughter. 

She had hope for healing, and He healed her. She had hoped to be unnoticed,  but he noticed her. But something else happened that day she did not expect.

Belonging.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 9:20-22(day five) 

“for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.” Matthew‬ ‭9:21‬  This woman’s needs were many. Physical. Personal. Social. Spiritual. She had been cutoff, removed, and isolated for so long. To give you perspective, twelve years ago from today, George W Bush was president. Can you imagine how long she had suffered? But there was still a glimmer of hope in her heart.

She had decided that touching Jesus was worth the risk of certain persecution.  She had determined that the very thing she was not “allowed” to do according to society (be in public, interact with a rabbi, touch someone) was what would bring healing and wholeness.  Imagine the reaction when Jesus didn’t rebuke her, but rather encouraged her and in fact healed her. What are you willing to risk (socially, religiously, and personally) in order to be near the presence and power of God?  Is there still hope in your heart?

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 9:20-22 (day four)

There is not one instance in Scripture when Jesus said for something to happen and it didn’t happen.  Whether it was calming a storm, sending out a demon, or healing a sick person, whatever Jesus commanded…happened!  His sovereignty and His power were evident over the physical world and the spiritual world.  The disciples were constantly amazed at His demonstrated authority.  Now, in our passage this week, we see that power flows out of Jesus in response to faith on the part of this woman.  The world had never seen someone like Jesus.

Throughout Scripture we have promises where God (aka Jesus) tells us that He will do something, or heal something, or make something to happen.  Often, the requirement for us is to only believe.  If we have this full and complete message of Scripture that tells us that God will work in our lives, can we believe Him?  Can we believe that He has the power to do it and that He will do it when He says so?  The character qualities of faithfulness, truthfulness, immutability, compassion, and authority find their source in the character of God.  They are some of our greatest gifts!

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 9:20-22 (day three)

“Daughter, take courage.”

It turns out that strength isn’t just for the warriors, or the wealthy, or the kings or the commanders, or celebrated, or the storied. Jesus indicates that the hidden and the humble and the marginalized and the minority and the invisible and insignificant may lay claim to the very steadfastness the world has said belongs only to the powerful. That a person who is by society’s reckoning a common peasant of unremarkable lineage is called to courage as a daughter of Abraham – this is new. On that day, Jesus restored this poor woman to a place of strength greater than that of Imperial Rome. One is faced with either relearning how to live in the presence of people or ignoring what has just happened to the human race. May we with Christ call the weak to strength.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 9:20-22 (day two)

And 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.”  But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.

You are not going to sneak up on Jesus. This woman, who was ceremonially unclean, had many reasons to not be seen. Her presence likely caused a commotion, but amid the bustle of the crowd she saw her opportunity and she took it. If only she could get near him and touch the hem of his cloak. But Jesus doesn’t work like that. You are not going to surprise Jesus. He knows you and your afflictions far better than you do, so come to him openly and receive what this woman found: freedom from her condition, and a new-found faith that healed her soul. Come into His light, and receive the healing that only he can offer. Let the promise of the new year lived by His Spirit bring the healing.

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 9:18-19; 23-26 (day seven) 

“a synagogue official came and bowed down before Him”

Outsiders, gentiles, and the neglected are the type of stories we are used to hearing when Jesus is healing people. This story is different. Here we find an insider, a jew, and a highly respected individual coming to Jesus. He doesn’t lack faith. He doesn’t hide his belief that Jesus can heal his daughter. He bows before Jesus and asks Him to lay hands on his dying daughter knowing that she would be healed. Even this man’s family and friends laughed at Jesus when He told them the girl was sleeping. This man didn’t care what people thought. I imagine the people laughed at him when he left to go get Jesus. I imagine he probably lost some clout in the synagogue. He didn’t care about these things. He knew there was only One who could change this outcome. This man put his faith in Jesus. Where is your faith?

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 9:18-19; 23-26 (day six) 

Matthew 8:24, “And they laughed at him.”

I suppose they didn’t know any better at the time, but they were laughing at the Son of Man who had calmed the storm. Regardless, this miracle, in particular,  points to the coming Kingdom of God, reminding us that its coming will not be pleasant for all.

Every miracle is a call to repentance and surrender, but for those who delay or refuse will only face judgment when Jesus comes into His Kingdom.

With the resurrection of this little girl, I imagine many of Jesus’ scoffers were silenced. Many of them likely believed, but for some their laughter was a sign of judgment to come.

God is not to be mocked.-Paul, Galatians 6:7

Seek the Lord while he may be found. –Isaiah the Prophet, Isaiah 55:6

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 9:18-19; 23-26 (day five)

 But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.

Jesus teaches an amazing lesson in this text.  Faith overcomes fear. Fear is still there, it just doesn’t have the priority and influence over her heart and desire to “get near and touch Jesus”.  It’s all through scripture.  God constantly reminds His faith-filled followers to be brave, be strong, have courage, do not fear.  When fear overtakes faith, to God it looks like we don’t trust Him.

“To turn from him out of fear… is to discount all that God promises to be for those who fear him. It is a great insult. And in such an insult God can take no pleasure. On the other hand, when we hear God’s promises and trust him with courage… then he is greatly honored. And in that he has much pleasure. – John Piper

When we look and think of the present and future through the lens of the gospel, we are reminded of God’s love, power, and faithfulness. Then faith rightly  overcomes fear and God is pleased.  Strengthen your faith today-  Look, listen, and think through the lens of the Gospel- God’s promises and power.