relationships (Matthew 9:18-26) The Touch of Love

(Matthew 9:18-26)

18 While He was saying these things to them, behold, 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 become alive again.” 19 Jesus got up from the table and began to accompany him, along with His disciples.

20 And behold, a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Him, and touched the border of His cloak; 21 for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His cloak, I will get well.” 22 But Jesus, turning and seeing her, said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” And at once the woman was made well.

23 When Jesus came into the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd in noisy disorder, 24 He said, “Leave; for the girl has not died, but is asleep.” And they began laughing at Him. 25 But when the crowd had been sent out, He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26 And this news spread throughout that land.

TODAY'S TAKEAWAY

Not too long ago we read this verse...

(Matthew 5:17)  “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill."

Now, according to anyone like the Pharisees, watching Jesus during His ministry here on earth, they would have accused Him of breaking several of God's Laws, just in this one day alone. By allowing a menstruating woman to touch Him, it would have rendered Him unclean for the rest of the day, according to Leviticus 15:19-33. And by touching a corpse, the most defiling kind of ritual uncleanness, He would have been considered impure for seven days, according to Numbers 19:11-22.

What we have to remember is that Jesus is God!  Not only is He sinless, He was able to remain sinless in touching these people to heal and give them life.  In the same way, because He is sinless, He was able to die on the cross in our place, taking onto Himself all sin, of all time, and paying the price, so that He could offer forgiveness, heal and give us eternal life when we put our faith in Him.    

The Lord God desires that all come to know Him, personally, and so, makes Himself available to us everywhere, all of the time, in any circumstance!  It is up to us to set aside our pride, and humbly go to Him, in faith, knowing that He alone is able.  

Just like this woman who acted with such great faith, was willing to be scorned by society, because she had been suffering a disease that deemed her continually unclean, which therefore kept her isolated, and most likely unable to have children, therefore kept her unmarried.  In that state, she should not have even been out among people, never mind touching someone.  Many teachers avoided touching women altogether, just in case they would become accidentally contaminated.  But,  knowing and having faith that Jesus loved and cared, and would understand, and would be able to supernaturally heal her, she reached out to Jesus! 

Just like this synagogue official, who humbled himself before the Lord by bowing before Him, with an onlooking crowd!  A man of this status would never have bowed to anyone, except before a king.  And man with that kind of knowledge of scripture, would have known that it was okay to prostrate oneself before God.  As well, he would have known that to touch a corpse was asking a lot, but he did it anyway.  Therefore, we know that this man recognized Jesus' power in a serious way, and that he knew just who Jesus was - the King of kings, and Lord of lords!

As for the people at the official's house, typically when someone passed away, families were expected to hire flute players and professional female mourners, to lead the people in cathartic release, with shrieking and the beating of breasts.  And, the richer you were, the more you would hire.  So when Jesus said that the girl was not dead, but was asleep, the laughter would have been mostly from those professional people who had no personal attachments to the girl, and would have known exactly what dead people look like!  Yet still, this official knew that Jesus is able to resurrect people from the dead!

These miracles that Jesus performed were physical, but even more amazing is that Jesus is able and desires to:  forgive us and wash us clean;  spiritually heal us and make us a new creation in Him;  give us purpose and a much better way;  supply us and equip us with everything we need;  AND give us eternal life!  This is because He is love, and desires that all come to have a personal relationship with Him!  Then, once we become a child of God, in faith, we are to run to Him, to be touched by Him, for His healing, comfort, peace, joy, strength and help... because we should know that He is more than willing and able to do the impossible!