Contrasting Faith

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Opening Prayer

Father, Your Word is a storehouse of treasure. Help me to store up the wealth of Your Kingdom.

Read LUKE 8:40-56

^[40] Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. ^[41] Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house ^[42] because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. ^[43] And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. ^[44] She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. ^[45] “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” ^[46] But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” ^[47] 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. ^[48] Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” ^[49] 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.” ^[50] Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” ^[51] 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. ^[52] Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” ^[53] They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. ^[54] But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” ^[55] Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. ^[56] Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Meditate

It is easy for a church to have an in-crowd, so others feel excluded. Read James 2:1-9 to see what James has to say about that.

Think Further

On his return from Gentile territory Jesus is met by a crowd buzzing with expectation. Again Luke shows Jesus’ concern for women, describing two very different social situations and approaches to him. In both there is a pressing need for supernatural intervention. This is a story of stark contrasts. Two people in the crowd are singled out. The first is a man of prestige, a pillar of the establishment, as a Pharisee ritually pure, someone for whom the crowd would part to let through. We are told his name. The other is an anonymous woman, a social outcast due to having menorrhagia which had rendered her ritually unclean for the whole 12 years of Jairus’s daughter’s lifetime. Jairus unhesitatingly approached Jesus, fell at his feet and pleaded for help (41). The woman, camouflaged by the crowd, only dared to touch his cloak’s edge (44). For her, healing was instantaneous, whereas Jairus’ situation deteriorated, seemingly beyond all hope, until Jesus’ dramatic intervention (54).

Faith played an important role. This man of considerable influence “knelt before” Jesus (Matt. 9:18). The verb used suggests deep courtesy, paying homage before someone in a position to grant a favor. Maybe his faith plea was a last resort, and perhaps the woman who touched his cloak had only a tentative superstitious faith. Did Jesus expect more faith from this man with religious responsibilities and a comfortable life? Still, however inadequate their faith, Jesus was moved to action. Whatever our need, his invitation to us today is to reach out to him.

Jesus risked his reputation for the sake of these people. By singling out the ritually unclean woman and touching a dead body he became doubly ritually impure.

Apply

How do we respond to those people whom others reject? Does your church have an in-crowd? How could you help make your church a community of belonging for all?

Closing prayer

Heavenly Father, only the Holy Spirit can break down the barriers I have in my heart. I need special grace to love as You love.

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