"Daughter, your faith has made you well." Mark 5:34 "Don't be afraid, just have faith." Mark 5:36
In chapter 5 of Mark, we Jesus multi-tasking. He healed one person while on the way to heal another. He has a short and similar conversation with two main characters. He is talking with them about their faith. His actions to their very different situations is in response to their faith. Though the conversations seem to have the same message, "Just have faith," Jesus was saying something different to each of them. The woman was desperate to believe she could be healed by this Healer called Jesus. She thought if she could just touch the hem of his garment she would be healed. (Can you see her leaning and stretching through the crowd? It gives me chills!) She was healed. Then Jesus responds to her. The word faith Jesus used when speaking to the woman is the Greek word pistis. I am including the entire definition so you do not miss a thing:
- a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it
- the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ
This woman was healed physically but she was also healed spiritually. She was under conviction and believed that God existed and was the bestower of eternal life. This woman had a salvation experience right there in the middle of the road. Wow! The faith of Jarius was different. His daughter was dying, physically. He ran to Jesus, fell at his feet and begged him to come lay hands on her. But Jesus got side-tracked. He was delayed in getting to the little girl and she died. The messengers tell Jarius in the presence of Jesus.(There is no better place to be when receiving such news.) of the little girl's death. Jesus responded by saying "Just have faith." The Greek word here is pisteou. It means
No matter where we are in our faith: confessing it for the first time or in a crisis, determining whether or not to believe God to do what He says He can do, He never disappointments us.
- of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul
- to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in, of the thing believed
No matter where we are in our faith: confessing it for the first time or in a crisis, determining whether or not to believe God to do what He says He can do, He never disappointments us.
11 Comments:
"Just have faith". Makes it sound so simple, yet at times it's hard to believe.
Wendy, I wrote about the exact same thing today. Two separate needs. Strangers to one another, but not to pain. They share an invisible bond. Heartache ties them together. Brokenness brought them here. Hope is keeping them here. Desperation pushes us in directions that others might not go. Sometimes it takes desperate moments in our life before we are prepared to fall on our knees and our face before God and seek His help.
Christ always notices a person of faith. Whether a father's frantic request or a nameless woman touching the fringe of a robe, no-one goes unnoticed.
The need of a little girl of twelve years intersects with a woman with a chronic condition for twelve years. A request is interrupted. Sometimes we might perceive that Jesus is on His way to someone else. We have erroneously decided that the other person has the greater need. Our misconception silences are pleas. We feel unworthy. Don’t be afraid to reach out and touch the fringe of His garment. In a crowd of thousands, Jesus was concerned about one person. He is concerned about you. Come out of the shadows and touch Him.
Interesting how she had courage to touch Him, yet came trembling before Him as she admitted what she had done. The faithful come trembling, as reverence is an integral part of their faith.
But, don’t be mistaken. Healing was given, not stolen.
Christ’s power is limitless. Jairus was not forgotten. Jesus didn’t dispense all power on one at the expense of the other. After healing a woman of her bleeding problem, He still had enough power to raise Jairus’s daughter from the dead.
“Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” (vs.35) Death does not bind Jesus. The messenger is implying that Jesus is only a teacher and can’t overcome death. He has resigned himself to what is seen.
Jesus responds, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”
Don’t stop believing too soon. His hand is not shortened.
Am I just curious about Christ like the crowds, or will I reach out in faith with longing, knowing His mercy brings healing to body, soul and spirit?
Today I am reaching out. Needing to touch Him. Needing a touch from Him.
Long seasons of illness or hardship call for long seasons of trust. Without God the situation is terminal, but he brings hope and we cling to Him for life.
Lord, tomorrow my dad is scheduled for an invasive physical exam. A biopsy will be taken through his back. Lord, he has already endured so much. He has come so far. The last few weeks he has made such progress. The timing of this procedure seems so unfair. Why must he be subjected to this test at this time?
I am grabbing for Your fringe. Fingertips straining. Reaching. Not for me Lord. On behalf of my dad.
Thanks in advance for your prayers,
Joy
Today, I was drawn to, the healing of a demon-possessed Man. This man was a misfit to society-unclean & unholy, living in a graveyard, no less! We see what happens to him as he encounters Jesus: he went from messed up to blessed up! His life changed! Jesus seemed to go to those that most of us would be afraid to go near. What happens?
The people were amazed. They saw this man's transformation done by Jesus. And, what did Jesus request of this man? "go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been...he began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them," (Mark 5:19,20). He shared God's Glory!
Thank you, Wendy for your post today! Believing God and putting our faith in Him is the only way to experience pure peace. When we have faith, God is always pleased. Through faith, we see His power and His Glory.
Enjoy His presence today, dear ladies! Lori - AZ
ps keeping your father in my prayers, Joy.
Yes Joy you are in my prayers!
A little more of a nugget to ponder on the woman with the issue of blood. In those days you were not to be around others in public when you were having blood issues. You were "Unclean" until it was over. Coming into the crowd could have gotten her stoned, ah but her faith in Jesus healing power was greater than her fear of what could happen to her.
Have a Blessed day everyone.
Lynn
Also, I want to mention a class that I took that allowed me to experience a fresh explosion of my faith:
Beth Moore's, Believing God, Study. If you all ever get the opportunity, don't pass this class up! Your belief and faith in God will be increased beyond your wildest dreams!
Lori
Between Joy & Lori I am double-blessed today! Both spoke to my heart, and circumstances.
Joy, I'm reaching for the fringe too... I cling to the faith that Jesus sees my brokeness, hears my cries, feels my touch. "Be encouraged, daughter..."
Lori, your words struck a chord as well. The man was transformed, and God was glorified. That is my desire, "Oh Lord, don't let me waste my cancer... but use it for Your glory."
Wendy,
Do you have any scripture recommendations for someone who's had a miscarriage?
Thanks for this post awesome word!
Blessings
I've been pondering the fear the people had after they saw the demon possessed man healed....trying to imagine witnessing it myself....yes it would be scary to see a "madman" suddenly healed and pigs running off of a cliff.... Did the people believe Jesus was demon possessed himself? Did they fear loosing their livelihoods if all the pigs were to die? They obviously were not able to believe that Jesus was of God.....I'm going to keep pondering their fear....and relate it to my fear areas....
pondering in MN
Morgen
Boy, I am also doubly and triply (is that a word?? :->) blessed today! What wonderful posts!
I admired the woman who fervently believed that Jesus would heal her. She did not just believe in Jesus, she BELIEVED Jesus. Father, please mold me into the woman you created me to be.
My heart also broke reading about the demon-possessed man. How lonely and isolated he must have felt, but Jesus saved him, and He continues to do that to this day....if we have faith.
It is so good to be back reading His Word with all of you. I got terribly sidetracked for the last few months, and I kept kicking myself and giving myself a hard time. Oh, how Satan must have been dancing a jig over that. But I am picking back up with all of you, and I am so very glad!
Blessings to you all! Thanks for your ministry, Wendy!
Lara
www.godsperfectimageministries.blogspot.com
Hi ladies,
What a great post today...it was a health issue with my back that finally brought me back to the Lord. The scriptures mentioned today are ones that I have received several times over. As someone mentioned, sometimes we need to be brought to the low point to learn dependence on Him. I esp relate to the woman who had a bleeding problem for 12 years since my health issues have also been longstanding.
Today I am reflecting on the comments about Jarius. On how we can know Jesus and yet have a crisis of belief about His almighty power. Lord - help me stand strong in your promises of complete restoration. Let me not be sidetracked by lingering symptoms and have the courage to reach out in faith towards You and receive Your healing touch.
On a positive note, my MIL is recovering from her mastectomy at home with minimal pain so thank you for your prayers!
Have a wonderful day.
Jodie
Joy - praying for your dad
Elliot update - we are now at 10 lbs 1 oz...He's getting big so fast! Had to put his newborn sleepers away. Still working on breastfeeding, but its improving slowly!
Ladies the thoughts are just awesome today! I have been under the weather so I am not going to post much today, but I agree with all you have said. Lori is so right about Believing God! I just finished it yesterday and there are just no words to explain what God did in my heart through that study. To "present active participle" believe Him everyday. I read this story of the women with the issue of blood a lot over the past few months as I fasted and sought God about my own health. Yes, I have also touched Jesus' hem and am being healed! Although not instantaneous, I am being healed. The process to believe Him for the outcome is just as grand. I walk with Him every single day through this.
The verse from the story of the demon-possessed man being healed was one I used when I did my testimony at MOPS. Jesus says, "Go and tell all that God has done for you!" That is my aim everyday sisters. To live out my full restoration so others will know God's awesome power and glory. My story is alot like Beth Moore's and I lived in defeat from what was done to me and from the choices of sin I made on top of that. I praise Him that He has taken all that Satan used to destroy and has worked it all out for good, even the ugliest of sins.
Prayers coming all your way sisters.
In Him,
Brandee, TN
Lynn Brooke, I just read your post on Mon. night. The fact that you are trying to follow the Lord is a great testimony of your heart. God knows your heart. Just remember, about your husband, that it isn't how good you are that gets you to heaven, but whether you have accepted the Lord as your Savior...that's where you come in, by trying to follow the Lord and showing your husband the way by your conduct...go to I Peter 3:1-5or6...it will show you how you are to lead him to the Lord. The Lord continually sends me back to those verses. They really convict me. Just continue to follow Him, and keep praying for your husband. Someday your faith will be rewarded!
Jan Hobbs
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