A Life-Changing Healing Through Faith
Jesus turned and saw her.
“Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.”
And the woman was healed at that moment.
(Matthew 09: 22)
Once upon a time, a dead girl's father believed that if Jesus touches his daughter she will live. A woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years believed that if she could touch the edge of Jesus's cloak she will be healed. The two blind men who followed Jesus and cried “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” believed that Jesus was able to restore their sight. And those were the heights of their faith, and these giant steps of faith were the reason for the life-changing healing that they received as they believed.
Faith shapes our perspectives. Faith modifies the way we do things. Faith decides the level of hope that we have in the grace of the Lord. Faith is life-changing! The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 09, Verses 18 - 31 describes four important incidents of healing where Jesus wanted to know the levels of faith. Jesus did not use a questionnaire to know this, but He carefully read the expressions of faith.
The synagogue leader, whose daughter had died, came to Jesus and expressed his faith through his words. He knelt before Jesus and declared that his daughter had just then died. He said, “my daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live” (Matthew 09: 18). That was the expression of his faith. The man expressed his faith verbally - in words. Jesus saw the innocent and the strong faith in this man and went with him to his house to see his daughter. The result of this innocent and little expression of faith was a great result. "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" (Matthew 09: 23-25). Wasn't that life-changing? The dead daughter was living again with a simple touch of Jesus. And for all this big miracle to happen, what did the father of this daughter do? He expressed his little faith in the most expressive way, and Jesus saw that faith in him.
On the way to the synagogue leader's house, Jesus encounters a woman. And this woman was subject to continuous bleeding for the last twelve years. This sick woman, with all her uncomfortable conditions and difficulties, was racing behind Jesus who was already hurrying on his way to put his hands on the dead girl. This sick woman does her best follow him closely and taking the most advantage of the close proximity she touched the edge of Jesus's cloak. This was her expression of faith. She did not loudly declare in words what she believed. but she made that giant leap of faith in action. She touched the edge of the cloak that Jesus wore, while she silently said to herself “if I only touch his cloak, I will be healed” (Matthew 09: 21).
This expression of her faith was the life-changing moment for her. Jesus saw this little expression of faith and he said something that would speak to us so powerfully as we read this. The Bible says, "Jesus turned and saw her. 'Take heart, daughter,' he said, 'your faith has healed you. And the woman was healed at that moment" (Matthew 09: 22). Yes! Her faith healed her. Her little expression of her faith paved the way for her to be healed from this disease that was tormenting her for the last twelve years. Probably a lot of times others thought that this was the end. They would have ensured that this woman would live her whole life bleeding and die the same way. But, that one moment, when her faith was seen by Jesus changed her whole life. Her faith gave her the life-changing healing.
Later, as Jesus moved from these incidents, we find the two blind men, who were literally not only following Jesus but were also calling out loudly “have mercy on us, Son of David!” (Matthew 09: 27). Just look at these men. Can we ponder for a moment on what they were doing? These men who were blind to the visual world that others knew were openly declaring something that people with clear vision did not know! They were proclaiming that Jesus was the Son of God and were indirectly telling to everyone that He had the power to forgive sins! Didn't they? This was their way of expressing their faith. Instead of saying what Jesus could do, they were focused on telling who Jesus was. And Jesus notices this faith in them. We remember how many times Jesus tried hard to teach his own disciples who he was. And here we find two blind men who were proclaiming clearly enough to the world of their faith of who Jesus was. They cried out "have mercy on us!" When Jesus had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. It was life-changing healing that they received because of their faith.
Finally, within this same series of life-changing healing through faith, we also read about an incident where While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” Here we understand that it was not this man's demon-possed man's faith. But did you get to notice the phrase "was brought to Jesus?" Yes. We must know that this was the little faith of those who carried and brought him all the way to Jesus. Indeed, Jesus was powerful enough to cast away the demon from this man and this person who was mute was able to speak. But what I find fascinating is that Jesus found that little faith in those who brought this man to him worthy to be appreciated and he heals this man and gives him life-changing healing through others' faith.
What about you and me? Are we seeking a life-changing healing from God? Are we in a condition where everything else that we tried has been a failure and we know that God will surely give us healing? Even if it is a life-changing healing, are we ready to believe that the power of the Lord Jesus Christ is miraculous enough to bring in that healing in our lives today? Then let us become one of the above people. Let us express our faith. Not necessarily in words, not only in action. Bring your whole self to the belief that the touch of Jesus in your life is enough to change your conditions and circumstances forever. Trust in Him. Express it. With all necessary shields, guard that little faith that is in you. You will see God doing wonders in your life. The Lord Jesus will bless you with a life-changing healing through your faith and surely it would change your life forever.
Let me remind you of these two lines. Jesus said to the woman 'Take heart, daughter,' he said, 'your faith has healed you" and he told those blind men, "according to your faith let it be done to you." Even today, things will happen in our lives according to our faith! I pray that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit be with us and strengthen us in in faith so that we would receive this life-changing healing from God.
May God bless you.
Yours in Christ,
Finally, within this same series of life-changing healing through faith, we also read about an incident where While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” Here we understand that it was not this man's demon-possed man's faith. But did you get to notice the phrase "was brought to Jesus?" Yes. We must know that this was the little faith of those who carried and brought him all the way to Jesus. Indeed, Jesus was powerful enough to cast away the demon from this man and this person who was mute was able to speak. But what I find fascinating is that Jesus found that little faith in those who brought this man to him worthy to be appreciated and he heals this man and gives him life-changing healing through others' faith.
What about you and me? Are we seeking a life-changing healing from God? Are we in a condition where everything else that we tried has been a failure and we know that God will surely give us healing? Even if it is a life-changing healing, are we ready to believe that the power of the Lord Jesus Christ is miraculous enough to bring in that healing in our lives today? Then let us become one of the above people. Let us express our faith. Not necessarily in words, not only in action. Bring your whole self to the belief that the touch of Jesus in your life is enough to change your conditions and circumstances forever. Trust in Him. Express it. With all necessary shields, guard that little faith that is in you. You will see God doing wonders in your life. The Lord Jesus will bless you with a life-changing healing through your faith and surely it would change your life forever.
Let me remind you of these two lines. Jesus said to the woman 'Take heart, daughter,' he said, 'your faith has healed you" and he told those blind men, "according to your faith let it be done to you." Even today, things will happen in our lives according to our faith! I pray that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit be with us and strengthen us in in faith so that we would receive this life-changing healing from God.
May God bless you.
Yours in Christ,
