Matthew 9 includes one of my favorite passages in the bible —
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed. That’s the sub-title in my ESV translation – a girl restored and a woman healed. (Matthew 9:18-26)
“ For God so loved the world . . .”
No one wanted a girl. In that culture, it was all about the boy. A boy baby was celebrated, a girl baby, well, try again for a boy. But here we see two men willing to do whatever it took to bring this daughter, this girl back to life. The father, Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, was a very important Jew in this city. But desperate times mean desperate measures so he came to Jesus and “knelt before Him,” begging Him to come to his house. Just like the leper in 8:2 who came to Jesus and knelt before Him, Jairus was desperate.
Desperation knows no boundaries – political, social, racial, economic. So this important, powerful Jewish man knelt in anguish before Jesus. He loved his little girl so much he was willing to sacrifice his reputation, his status in the community to beseech this Healer for help. For his girl.
My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.
– Matthew 9:18
What faith. No doubting. If you do this, Jesus, she will live.
“And Jesus rose and followed him.”
No questions. No asking about his faith. Jesus silently got up and began walking to this despairing father’s home.
“ For God so loved the world . . .”
Even girls.
But, as they went along, there was a bleeding woman in the crowd. A unclean, barren, poor woman who had tried everything, but no one could heal her. “If only I touch his garment, she thought, I will be made well.”
What faith. No doubting. She touched the fringe of his garment, “and instantly the woman was made well.” (9:22)
Jesus stopped, much to the consternation of his disciples. “Who touched me?” He asked. He had to know. He had to speak value and love to the one who had been bleeding for as long as Jairus’ daughter had been alive. Jairus loved his daughter, and Jesus loved this unnamed, unloved, untouched woman. He would not let her leave with only a physical healing. As she fell at his feet (a lot of that going on), He spoke love and peace to this Daughter of the Star Breather. You see, she too was a daughter.
“ For God so loved the world . . .”
But there is still a preteen girl who needs to be brought back to life. When they arrive at at Jairus’ home, the crowds again are in the way (those darn crowds!) and had to be put outside. Then someone trying to be helpful, says to Jairus,
Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.
– Luke 8:49
Trouble the teacher?! Trouble the teacher?! Impossible!
Jesus “went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.” (9:25)
“ For God so loved the world . . .”
An important ruler, a dead girl, a bleeding woman –
“ For God so loved the world . . .”
Who are you? What do you need from Jesus today? Are you willing to come and fall at His feet and ask? To reach out and touch even the fringe of His garment? To beg him to heal someone or something that no one else cares about? To put the crowds of criticism and common sense outside and let Him in?
“ For God so loved the world . . .”
For God so loves . . . you . . .
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