Monday, July 9, 2012

Matthew 9:18-26 Miracles need faith to work


While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward,
knelt down before him, and said,
"My daughter has just died.
But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live."
Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.
A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him
and touched the tassel on his cloak.
She said to herself, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured."
Jesus turned around and saw her, and said,
"Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you."
And from that hour the woman was cured.
When Jesus arrived at the official's house
and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,
he said, "Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping."
And they ridiculed him.
When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand,
and the little girl arose.
And news of this spread throughout all that land.


In this passage we see Jesus healing both the hemorrhaging woman and the official daughters. In the first case, the hemorrhaging woman is cured by her faith. She tries her very best to touch his cloak and Jesus recognizes this effort and cures her. It is really important to note it is her faith that saves her. Without faith the miracle would not work. In the second case it is the faith of the official that allows the cure to take place. These stories both show the importance of faith in the working of Jesus' miracles in the synoptic gospels. They also show the historical Jesus was known for healing and that people would regularly approach him for healing.


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