Expecting A Miracle

What I wouldn’t give to have a day with Jesus as he walked this earth. They were amazing times! Amazing teachings! The great thing is that we can take ourselves to those days by simply picking up a Bible reading it and imagining that day as if it were today. I want to take you back to one of those days depicted in the Gospel of Matthew 9:18-30.

Here we are given a glimpse of a day in the life of Jesus. And during this day we hear about three amazing and miraculous healings – a girl, a woman, and two men. Each is healed from a different illness, and each is healed in a different way. But with all three, Jesus is directly involved.

The first is a ruler of the synagogue from Capernaum – a leader in the community. He is grief stricken that his twelve year old daughter has died. According to Luke his name was Jairus and he of course has heard Jesus teach – possibly knows him since Jesus had taught many times in Capernaum and certainly in the synagogue. Jairus had also witnessed many miracles or at least heard of many miracles of Jesus. Most recently a boy from the village of Nain was raised from the dead.

So he seeks Jesus out – he’s desperate. He says something revealing his incredible faith: "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." Later Jesus arrives at the home where all the neighbors and relatives are grieving. They laugh when Jesus says that she is just sleeping. They know she is dead and that’s the end. There is no faith in their hearts. So Jesus sends them out, takes her by the hand and calls her to arise.

The second healing involves a very different person – a woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve long years. That was not just irritating but it separated her from society. She was unclean meaning that she was not allowed near the temple or the synagogue. She must touch no one and no one can touch her. While Jairus was experiencing the joy of his daughter and life in his home for twelve years, we have all those years that this woman was grieving alone. No husband, no children, no connection with the fellowship of believers. It was a very lonely life.

In a moment she sees Jesus passing through the crowd. She has heard him teach and preach. This is her chance. And in faith she reaches out from the ground and grabs the tassel from the corner of his robe. Jesus feels the power released from him to heal her but doesn’t know who it is. Jesus asks who touched him. She confesses her faith that if she touches only his garment she will be well. And Jesus affirms: Your faith HAS made you well!

The third healing is that of two blind men. They too are desperate. They will follow Jesus wherever he will go. They see him along the way and follow him from the home of Jairus all the time crying out “Have mercy Son of David!” This was the special title they give to Jesus of Messiah. He’s not just a teacher but the Savior of the nation.

They follow and follow all the way to the home where Jesus is staying and finally when inside the house, Jesus confronts their faith: "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Hearing their faith, they are healed by his touch.

These are three amazing and wonderful and different stories of healing but what binds them together? Faith. Each is an example of the power of faith and teaches us the great treasure that is right in front of us every day. Do you realize how much faith changes our lives and the world around us? What do we learn about this great treasure of faith?

1. The first lesson about faith is this: faith is the key that releases the power of God. The opposite is true as well: a lack of faith limits the power of God.

Notice first of all what Jesus tells this woman who has been healed of her flow of blood in verse 22: “Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well."” And also notice what he says to the blind men in verse 29-30: “Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened.”

It was clearly their FAITH that healed them both. It was also faith that the synagogue official had. All of them had absolute confidence that Jesus not only could but would heal. From their statements there was no doubt.