Focus:
kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
(
FaithOfJesus thread begun by r
RandyP )
Today's Verse:
kjv@Matthew:9:18-26
kjv@Matthew:9:18 @ While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead; but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
kjv@Matthew:9:19 @ And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
kjv@Matthew:9:20 @ And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
kjv@Matthew:9:21 @ For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
kjv@Matthew:9:22 @ But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
kjv@Matthew:9:23 @ And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
kjv@Matthew:9:24 @ He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
kjv@Matthew:9:25 @ But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
kjv@Matthew:9:26 @ And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
Today's notes: She Shall Live
Context:
- Before - New wine in old bag
- After - Believe ye that I am able...? Be it according to your faith!
What is man believing/doing?:
- Ruler - that Jesus can raise the dead (remarkable)
- Woman - hem of Jesus can heal issue of blood (admirable)
- Minstrels/Mourners - laughing Jesus to scorn (predictable)
- All - spreading the fame of this incident
What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:
- Ruler - first known account requesting this. Something he had either seen in scripture or had been divinely prepared for?
- Woman - not to bother master or make her problem into a scene
- On lookers - many professionals having observed stages of death many times, either the impossibility by any known means or a defense against the awkwardness/outlandishness of Jesus' behavior
- To allow Jesus to (possibly prevent from) making a fool out of himself or causing further pain to the family?
Notes:
Repeatedly we are told all that either came to Jesus or were brought to Jesus Jesus healed, little or no mention of their faith. Rare then is the mention of "thy faith" and it is typically tied as here to the making of one's soul whole/saved (present continuous tense). Once in the case of a gentile mom asking for crumbs from the elects' table for her daughter is faith tied to the receiving of what one wills; it was not a demand but a notion that Jesus came for more than just the Jews. Twice recorded were there raising of the dead, this one stands out having been believed and asked for, also Lazarath who was near unto to death when others requested Jesus come but because of delay had died and was buried. It should be obvious that faith is connected to the coming of ones soul to Jesus first and foremost not the boldness/determination to make demands of a magical wish master.
I suggest: In the case of the woman now being whole, she may not yet know of the Lord's death and resurrection components required into our saving faith, but Jesus has seen in her that she has gotten past any obstacle future of her receiving that into her heart.
Key Messages:
What does this say about our present condition?
- In most every other situation the doubtful would be exactly right; if it were by any other man. But, because they neither know who He is nor Whom He was sent by they see not the possibility/capability of the dead being raised. One might academically suggest the possibility and the doubt be one less harmful thing, however when one (an outsider) actually acts upon the belief (or rather the leading) doubt turns to scorn. Scorn in this case almost becomes a defense mechanism against what we do not wish yet to see.
- We read a passage such as this and take from it that it is these individuals' faith at work here performing the healing/miracle almost as if Jesus can be taken out of the equation (and often He is removed). Thus Jesus only stands as an encouragement to others to use the power that is available in all of us. The language written actually reads that the individuals came to Jesus because they had neither the faith nor the power to perform this, believing that He though did. Thus it is their stepping out into vastness of His Faith/Obedience to His Father that is the conduit of the Fathers' Power/Authority/Mercy sent back through Jesus that heals/raises them. Literally it is the Fathers' acknowledgement and glorification of the surrendered/obedient Jesus whom HE sent.
- By our own definition of faith, healing befits faith and the lack of healing befits doubt. Neither are logically true. Faith befits salvation and salvation wholeness. Healing befits the times when the Father desires to further glorify His Son that others will come to know the saving faith we know to be in Jesus. Doubt befits the calloused corrupt hardness of heart and one's objecting outlook toward our eternity in Christ and God's perfect will as revealed.
Further Resources:
Comment Board:Matthew:9:18-26
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:9:18-26 rwp@Matthew:9:18-26 mhcc@Matthew:9:18-26
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index
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