Transcript

Matthew 9:18-22 · NOBA @ Noon

Canon Justin Murff: The Gospel of Matthew chapter nine verses eighteen through twenty two. While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live. And Jesus rose and followed him with his disciples. And behold a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment. For she said to herself, If I only touch his garment, I will be made well. Jesus turned and seeing her, he said, Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well. And instantly the woman was made well. The Gospel of the Lord. In chapter 9, Matthew presents these two dramatic yet interwoven stories. A synagogue ruler desperate for his daughter's life, and a suffering woman in the Desperate for healing and restoration. These narratives interrupt each other, and in that divine interruption a profound truth emerges. The synagogue ruler comes to Jesus and he kneels before him, saying, My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her and she will live. The faith displayed here on public for all to see is remarkable. The girl is already dead. He's heard the heartbreaking news no father ever wants to hear. Yet this official, a man of prominent standing in the community, now publicly humbles himself before Jesus, believing that even death cannot resist his authority. He publicly proclaimed what his fellow religious leaders had refused to acknowledge that Jesus has authority over life and victory over death. In response, Jesus rises and he follows the ruler to his home. But while they're on the way, they encounter this interruption. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment. Twelve long years of chronic illness. Twelve years of ritual impurity. Twelve years of social isolation. You know, according to Levitical law, her condition would have made her perpetually unclean. And so anyone she touched would have shared in that impurity. They would have needed to separate themselves and go through a ritual bath or mikvah to purify their body in order to join back in with the community. But like the ruler, she too had also heard about Jesus. For she said to herself, If I only touch his garment, I'll be made well. Her faith, like the ruler's, was audacious. She didn't need Jesus' attention, she didn't need his words, she didn't need to visit with him, no. Just simply a touch of his clothing would be enough. If only she were ever able to get close enough. She approaches Jesus through the crowd, touching the fringe of his robes, and immediately Jesus felt something change. He looks at her and he says, Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well. Notice it's it's pretty profound here. He calls her daughter. It's the same word that is used for the ruler's dying child. This isolated, impure woman cast away is claimed immediately as part of the family of God. Her faith, trembling secret expressed only by a mere touch, is seen and now publicly praised. This compact account highlights the extraordinary faith of both parties. The ruler believed Jesus could raise the dead, and the woman believed simply a touch of his robe could heal her. Both were right and neither were disappointed. Jesus would go on to the home of the ruler, settle down the crowd, and raise the girl from the dead. For Matthew's original readers, these stories spoke powerfully. The ruler represented the elite willing to humble themselves before Jesus and the woman representing the marginalized, those excluded by their conditions from full participation in community life, and yet Jesus received them both equally. The woman's stealthy approach from behind was a sign of her shame and fear. She didn't want to be noticed, but Jesus wouldn't let her remain anonymous. No, he turns and he publicly calls her daughter, and he makes her healing public. The kingdom of God doesn't traffic in shameful secrets. It brings people out of darkness and into the light. Jesus welcomes all who approach him with true faith. Whether you come boldly like the ruler or timidly like this woman, Jesus receives the life. Us all. Thankfully, our social standing doesn't determine our access to Jesus. And thankfully, Jesus refuses to leave us anonymous. He sees you, he knows you, and Jesus loves you. The woman wanted to slip away unnoticed, healed, but still isolated. But Jesus? No, he insists on a personal encounter and he calls her by her true identity daughter. I'm so thankful. That He knows us, He calls us by name, and He claims us as His family. The truth is, in life sometimes interruptions can actually be divine appointments. On his way to help the ruler's daughter, Jesus stopped for a suffering woman. God's agenda isn't as linear as ours. So today, how do you want to approach Jesus? Do you want to come boldly or tentatively? Either way, he receives you. And if you've been trying to stay anonymous, know that, well, that might not quite work out. Jesus sees you. He loves you and he calls you by name, for you are fearfully and wonderfully made by the God who loves you.