Matthew 9:18-33 (NLT)
18 As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.” 19 So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. 20 Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, 21 for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be en- couraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment. 23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. 24 “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. 25 After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside. 27 After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” 28 They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” “Yes, Lord,” they told him,“we do.” 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” 30 Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about this.” 31 But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region. 32 When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus. 33 So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed.
What a powerful story! I read this and couldn’t help but get excited. The title of the first passage is "Jesus Heals in Response to Faith" and I wanted to shout out, Yes He does! He didn't heal one person, He healed five people! As I began to really think about everything that was happening here, I began to see how one man’s act of faith started a chain reaction. His faith in Christ brought life not only to his daughter, but he also brought the healing power of Jesus to others. The woman who had been suffering for twelve years encountered Jesus as He walked in response to this father's faithful call upon Christ to raise his daughter from her “sleep”. When the sick woman saw Jesus, she decided that she too would reach out in faith and touch His robe. I love His response. “Daughter, be encour- aged!” There is nothing like our Father’s love! And at that moment, she was healed! Twelve years of suffering and afflictions instantly broken in the all-powerful presence of our Savior!
This wasn't the end of the story though; it was just getting started. After the woman was healed of her sickness, the father’s daughter was raised from the dead. Then, two blind men started following Jesus. Talk about literally believing in what you can’t see! They too walked by faith and were healed at a single touch of His hand. They start shouting and telling others. I can almost
imagine them running down city streets that they are seeing for the first time. In an instant, they went from a life of being led to a life of being able to lead! They “…spread His fame all over the region.” Not the city, but THE REGION! That’s a serious increase of influence and territory! They went from counting their steps to know their location to actively running and speaking across cities and states (the region)!
I imagine a city getting turned upside-down as the impossible became possible. The sick were being healed, the dead were being raised, and the blind are now able to see. The power of His presence is forever changing this city. As the town began to come to life, the crowd that previously “laughed” at His power now “were amazed” by it.
Everything up to this point that was laid before Him submitted itself to the authority of the King. All infirmities, including death, released their grip, but what about the demons? The demon possessed man “was brought to Jesus". He didn’t get there on his own; someone led him. Perhaps it was the two blind men that led him down the narrow road to meet the Savior they previously couldn’t see. This demon was no different than any of the other demon that stands before Jesus Christ. It had to flee! In an instant, this man went from a life where he couldn’t speak to being able to speak “LIFE”. It was in the presence of Jesus that the chains of bondage were broken and, like any person who has experienced the goodness of Jesus, he "…began to speak".
Father,
You are so incredibly amazing! We stand in awe of Your presence and thank You for Your tenderness, kindness, and unfailing love! Thank You for breaking every chain that we submit before You. Thank You for healing us, renewing us, and bringing us to life through Your son Jesus! We love You, Lord! Amen.
18 As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.” 19 So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. 20 Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, 21 for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be en- couraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment. 23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. 24 “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. 25 After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside. 27 After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” 28 They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” “Yes, Lord,” they told him,“we do.” 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” 30 Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about this.” 31 But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region. 32 When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus. 33 So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed.
What a powerful story! I read this and couldn’t help but get excited. The title of the first passage is "Jesus Heals in Response to Faith" and I wanted to shout out, Yes He does! He didn't heal one person, He healed five people! As I began to really think about everything that was happening here, I began to see how one man’s act of faith started a chain reaction. His faith in Christ brought life not only to his daughter, but he also brought the healing power of Jesus to others. The woman who had been suffering for twelve years encountered Jesus as He walked in response to this father's faithful call upon Christ to raise his daughter from her “sleep”. When the sick woman saw Jesus, she decided that she too would reach out in faith and touch His robe. I love His response. “Daughter, be encour- aged!” There is nothing like our Father’s love! And at that moment, she was healed! Twelve years of suffering and afflictions instantly broken in the all-powerful presence of our Savior!
This wasn't the end of the story though; it was just getting started. After the woman was healed of her sickness, the father’s daughter was raised from the dead. Then, two blind men started following Jesus. Talk about literally believing in what you can’t see! They too walked by faith and were healed at a single touch of His hand. They start shouting and telling others. I can almost
imagine them running down city streets that they are seeing for the first time. In an instant, they went from a life of being led to a life of being able to lead! They “…spread His fame all over the region.” Not the city, but THE REGION! That’s a serious increase of influence and territory! They went from counting their steps to know their location to actively running and speaking across cities and states (the region)!
I imagine a city getting turned upside-down as the impossible became possible. The sick were being healed, the dead were being raised, and the blind are now able to see. The power of His presence is forever changing this city. As the town began to come to life, the crowd that previously “laughed” at His power now “were amazed” by it.
Everything up to this point that was laid before Him submitted itself to the authority of the King. All infirmities, including death, released their grip, but what about the demons? The demon possessed man “was brought to Jesus". He didn’t get there on his own; someone led him. Perhaps it was the two blind men that led him down the narrow road to meet the Savior they previously couldn’t see. This demon was no different than any of the other demon that stands before Jesus Christ. It had to flee! In an instant, this man went from a life where he couldn’t speak to being able to speak “LIFE”. It was in the presence of Jesus that the chains of bondage were broken and, like any person who has experienced the goodness of Jesus, he "…began to speak".
Father,
You are so incredibly amazing! We stand in awe of Your presence and thank You for Your tenderness, kindness, and unfailing love! Thank You for breaking every chain that we submit before You. Thank You for healing us, renewing us, and bringing us to life through Your son Jesus! We love You, Lord! Amen.