Health and Life – Matt 9:18-26
Contemplation
It’s been a long day preaching. There’s a noise and a bustle. Down the street comes a man – worried sick about his daughter. He’s a very important man, but he asks something impossible – he wants Jesus to make her live again! How can anyone do that? What does Jesus say? Here I come! While all this is happening, a woman who is also sick sneaks up behind him through the crowd and touches his clothes. She’s bleeding and desperate.
Throughout the dusty street there’s the sound and smell of crowds, sweating, frightening and sick. Suddenly, she gets up with joy and a pool of calm spreads out, replacing the fear and the sickness. What has happened? She’s better, but Jesus hasn’t said anything yet. Now he turns to her and says her faith, her faith, has made her better.
Now he’s on his way to the official’s home. It’s a beautiful house in the city – lovely, sweet-smelling gardens, cool corridors – but no-one is in a mood to notice it. Everyone in the house is crying – family servants, friends. Jesus doesn’t sound very comforting –“go away, she’s just asleep”. No-one believes him. But what’s this? He goes into the girl’s room and touches her cold hand… and… she gets up! Everyone is amazed!
Talk to Jesus and the people he meets (and doesn’t). Do I need new life and healing?
Do I ask Jesus for healing like the man? Or do I ask without words, like the woman?
Either way, do I find Jesus when things seem impossible?