Devotion: A Matter of Faith

A Matter of Faith

Mark’s gospel is a rich account of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee.  Jesus is followed by a large crowd pressing around him.

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.  She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.  At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him.  He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”  “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘who touched me?’”  But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.  Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.  He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”  Mark 5: 25-34 NIV

This woman was deemed “unclean” in her culture.  She could not touch or be touched.  She could not even touch anyone’s clothing and should not have been in a crowd. Her family could not give her a hug; she could not marry or become close to anyone. She could not form friendships because of her unclean condition.  Picture yourself never being touched in a kind and gentle way.  Can you imagine her suffering?  Being touched is an important part of being human.  A kind, gentle touch can show love, concern, interest, sympathy and many other human emotions.  This woman was in despair.  She was desperate and believed just touching Jesus’ robe would heal her.

Jesus immediately realized someone touched His robe and supernatural healing power left Him. Even with all the people surrounding Him, He knew one individual in the crowd had been healed.  Imagine the power of Jesus which is displayed in this one event.  But then, a surprising thing happens – Jesus attributes her cure to her faith rather than the touch of his clothing.

Time and again in the gospels, healing happens as a result of faith.  When Jesus encountered and healed a blind man, “Your faith has set you free” (Mark 10: 52).  And again, when the man cured of leprosy thanked Jesus, He said, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well” (Luke 17: 19).

Faith, then, gives us access to God’s power and strength.  And it is not the amount of faith that is important for it can be as small as a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20).  This woman did not know Jesus but she had something in her heart which compelled her to take great risk and trust Jesus.

Faith assures all prayer to be answered.  When we pray, do we believe God will answer our prayer or is there no expectation? The woman in the story knew Jesus could heal her, yet it was her faith which healed her.  Faith is a gift that God freely gives, we only need to accept His invitation.   Responding to this invitation every day can result in a mustard seed of faith. And over time it can grow to a deep, abiding love of God.

Heavenly Father — We know it is all a matter of faith. Give us an unshakable faith in You.  Help us to know the power in prayer when we have faith.  Thank You for this gift.  In the Holy and Precious Name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Written by Julie Johnson.