Matthew 9:18–26
18While He was saying these things to them, a synagogue official came and bowed down before Him, and said, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.” 19Jesus got up and began to follow him, and so did His disciples.
20And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak; 21for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.” 22But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.
23When Jesus came into the official’s house, and saw the flute-players and the crowd in noisy disorder, 24He said, “Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him. 25But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26This news spread throughout all that land.
Focused Thinking:
What does God want us to learn from these healings?
The Synagogue Official’s Daughter
“A synagogue official came and bowed down before Him and said,”
This was not the typical response of a synagogue official.
It is amazing how much of opinion of healing changes when we need to be healed or when one of our loved ones needs to be healed.
“My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.”
If others have been healed, then I have nothing to lose by asking.
If others have been healed and I didn’t ask then I’d always wonder.
We must have faith in Christ; but God also uses circumstances to generate faith.
God uses circumstances to cause us to SEE things we couldn’t SEE before.
God uses circumstances to cause us to HEAR things we couldn’t HEAR before.
God uses circumstances to cause us to BELIEVE things we couldn’t BELIEVE before.
God uses circumstances to cause us to DO things we couldn’t DO before.
“Jesus got up and began to follow him, and so did His disciples.”
Jesus responded to the Synagogue Official’s Faith.
Can you imagine what stirred in the Synagogue Official’s heart when Jesus rose up and followed Him?
His anticipation had to be beyond description.
Matthew pauses in the story to record another healing.
20And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak; 21for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.” 22But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.
What kind of faith has to be stirred in your heart to believe that “If I only touch His garment, I will get well”?
Maybe she knew someone who had been healed?
Maybe she knew someone who knew someone who had been healed?
Maybe she had simply heard about Him healing people?
Maybe she had seen Him heal people before?
Personal Application:
What would it take for me to have that kind of faith?
What do I need to see that I don’t already see?
Why don’t I have that kind of faith?
I need to quit over intellectualizing God’s choice to heal or not heal.
I need to believe that God can heal and trust His choice to heal or not heal.
I need to approach God from the foundation of faith instead of doubt.
Focused Thinking:
22But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.
When I read these types of accounts I think Jesus loved seeing people express such courageous faith. I sense that Jesus was proud of her and was honored to heal her.
What is the equation between Jesus’ ability to heal, Jesus’ will to heal, and the woman’s faith for healing?
I don’t know but it appears here that He commended the woman’s faith.
We know Jesus can heal.
We don’t know what Jesus’ specific will is for each opportunity to heal?
We know Jesus tells us to have faith in these situations.
Focused Thinking:
Back to the Synagogue Official’s Daughter:
23When Jesus came into the official’s house, and saw the flute-players and the crowd in noisy disorder, 24He said, “Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him. 25But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26This news spread throughout all that land.
What did Jesus see when He entered the house?
The flute-players
The crowd in noisy disorder.
What did Jesus say and do?
24He said, “Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.”
He spoke authoritatively.
He said, “Leave.”
He said, “…the girl has not died, but is asleep.”
How did the noisy crowd respond?
“And they began laughing at Him.”
They laughed because the girl was obviously dead.
They laughed because his statement sounded crazy.
What did Jesus do next?
“But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.”
The obviously dead girl became the obviously alive girl.
He raised the girl from the dead.
What would you do if you witnessed this?
“This news spread throughout all that land.”
You would tell someone.
You would want to know more about Jesus.
You would want to follow Jesus.
Personal Application:
What do we want to tell others about today?
What can we not keep silent about?
What are the works of God that make us want to know more today?
What are the works of God that make us want to follow more today?
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