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Matthew 9:20-22
Jesus and His disciples were on their way to the synagogue ruler’s house when they are interrupted by a woman who has touched Jesus as she believed that in simply touching His clothing would heal her of a twelve year “flow of blood” (Matthew 9:20, NKJV). As this woman touched Jesus, this too would have made Him ceremonially unclean as is stated in the regulations of the Law in Leviticus 15:25-30. But once again, there is no talk of Jesus being made ceremonially unclean but in reverse, the woman is healed from touching Jesus. But we must also note that in physically touching Jesus would be a wonderful thing to have done, it is not simply touching Him that healed this woman. The Bible teaches us that it was her faith in Him that has healed her (Matthew 9:22). This healing did not come from a medicine that Jesus prescribed for her, it came immediately (Matthew 9:22).
This is the power of Jesus in action being not under the Law but over and above the Law.
The story of “doubting Thomas” is recorded in John 20:24-29 and as Jesus proves to Thomas that He is alive and well, He tells Thomas in John 20:29 (NIV), “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” It is our faith in Jesus that is necessary for His blessings to be poured out on us through His Holy Spirit that ministers and guides us. The woman in Matthew 9:20-22 was healed because of her faith in Jesus. It is also believed that her salvation was included in her healing as Jesus refers to her as “daughter” in Matthew 9:22 (NKJV). In John 4:23-24 (HCSB) Jesus states, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” We too need to open our hearts to God’s Holy Spirit and allow Him to fill our hearts, minds, and strength with spiritual healing. We too need to worship God in spirit through our faith in Him.
Dear LORD,
We learn from the Bible that Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith in You. We learn that it is the faith of the woman in Matthew 9:20-22 that healed her. Please help us to realize that the faith that is healing is faith that is grounded in You and Your One and only Son Jesus whom You sent to save us from sin and give us everlasting life if we will put our faith in Him and seek Your will for our lives each day. Please let it be so LORD. In Jesus name I pray, amen.