February 13, 2008
Passage:Matthew 9:18-26
“While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.’ And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’ Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute-players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, ‘Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.”
I am amazed by the faith of the leader of the synagogue and the woman who touched Jesus’ cloak. The leader of the synagogue had just lost his daughter. She was as dead as one can be, there was no hope whatsoever. And yet he comes to Jesus and believes that Jesus will revive his little girl. The woman with the “issue of blood” as it is called in some texts, thought that if she only touched his clothing, not touch him, but his garments, she would be healed. She did that and was healed of her illness. And the little girl came back to life.
Faith is a powerful thing and sometimes we tend to ignore the power it has, because we tend to ignore God. The mourners in the house laughed at Jesus pronouncement that the little girl was only sleeping, they ignored the power of God in their lives. This little girl was a dead as dead can be. There was no way, no way she could live again. What a preposterous thought.
But the father of that little girl believed. So did the woman. It’s interesting that in many cases, people were healed by Jesus because of their great faith. They had placed their trust in Jesus.
What would happen if we really placed our trust in God and not bank accounts or large memberships? What would happen if we had faith even if the world tells us it is silly to believe in the impossible?
The late gospel and soul singer Sam Cooke sung a song called “Touch the Hem of His Garment,” which puts this story of the woman and Jesus into song. It speaks of this woman’s great faith in Jesus and reminds us of what can happen if we actually believe Jesus can make a difference. ” if I could just touch the hem of his garment
I know I’ll be made whole soon.” What faith in God!
Here is the Sam Cooke song, “Touch the Hem of His Garment.”
God of the Impossible, forgive for our lack of faith in You. Help us to believe that even if we have the faith of a mustard seed, mighty things can be done in your name.Amen.
Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Categories:
