Help for the Hopeless
Good Morning Friends,
This morning I woke up late and before I looked at the clock I told Amy the exact time. I do not know how I did this… lucky guess maybe. But how much more extensive is God’s sense of timing. We can read about an example of it in Luke 8 where one of the most amazing days in the Bible is chronicled and several events converge in perfect timing. In it Jesus did some traveling but found time to proclaim the good news, tell the parable of the sower and the seeds, recounts its meaning, turn a phrase about not hiding ones light under a bushel and then with crowds pressing around decided to escape with relatives on a sailing trip from the place near where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount into the territory of the King Herod who cut off John the Baptizers head. On the way things get really busy on the Sea of Galilee and Jesus calms the storm. But that is not all, on the other side of the lake Jesus heals a man possessed by demons and castes them into pigs. But friends, the day is not done yet, there is more time left and to top it off we have the focus of today’s devotion… Jesus heals a woman and brings a young girl back from the dead. It was quite a day when Jesus time after time provided Help for the Hopeless.
Scripture: Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Luke 8: 40-56 (NRSV)
Message: What we have before us this morning is two interwoven stories that combine to teach us some fascinating principles on faith. Today we see that faith is born out of need and demands a response that cannot remain anonymous. Today we see that faith revealed is faith rewarded. Today we embrace the miracle of faith holding on for years and years when reason would lead us to give up. In the story line it was twelve years before that two events took place that would come together to witness to the ministry of Jesus. At that time, Jesus himself was a young man still working in Joseph’s carpenter shop in Nazareth. He had not yet been baptized by John. He had not called any disciples. Few thought of him as anything but Joseph and Mary’s son. Although the plan was not visible to others, the groundwork for his future ministry was being laid. The first event was entirely normal. A baby girl was born to an influential family. They were excited at the birth of the child but had no premonition of that future day. Filled with joy, they only looked forward to filling their daughter’s life with happiness and love as they watched her grow into a woman. The second event was not one of joy. A woman, who had already passed the joys of childhood, began to bleed. Filled with fear, she sought the medical care. Nothing could be done to stop the bleeding. Considered unclean by others because of the flow, she found her social life over. She must have been humiliated and filled with despair. The only thing dry was her bank account drained out. Where could she turn? What happens is the miracle of Jesus and in that power is illustrated two aspects of God’s love with the perfect timing to glorify God. The first was a woman who was alive but knew her need of healing. She came seeking healing and found it. The second was a child who was dead and had no knowledge of her need. She could not seek healing. Instead God sought her and gave her life because of the faith of others. The woman sought Jesus because others told her about him. She already knew she had a need. These two events converge to give us a fuller understanding of love and faith across time.
Pray we sense our true need and come to Jesus for his healing. Pray we seek and touch His love to assure us. Pray we believe that others can be healed with His love. Pray we have the faith that nothing is beyond God’s love. Pray we have the will to keep praying when things seem beyond hope no matter how long it takes. Pray we realize that with God all things are possible. Pray our faith be rewarded. Pray we pray for those who do not know they need Jesus. Pray we touch Jesus in prayer even as we pray for others who have yet to be touched.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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