Matthew 9:18-26, Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman

 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.

 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region.

So…would the woman have been healed if she had not touched Jesus’ garment?

The relationship between faith and works has always been thorny. After all, the great theologian, Benjamin Franklin, reminds us “the Lord helps those who help themselves.”  And so goes American Christianity… 

Had this miracle not occurred at the same time Jesus raised the leader’s daughter I’d probably be conflicted. In truth, what did the girl do to receive a miracle?

Exactly…

Jesus told the woman “your faith has healed you”. Sometimes our faith leads us to act while other times we are not capable of acting. Neither case seems to have affected Jesus’ willingness…and ability…to heal.

Each of us needs something from Jesus today. Some of us know what it is and can pursue it. Others of us do not…and cannot. Either way, Christ is sufficient for our need.

Live boldly out there today…