Stolen Power?

Imagine suffering with an illness for a dozen years.

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. As he went, the crowds pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her.  She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.  Then Jesus asked, ‘ who touched me?’ When all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.’ When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.  He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’ While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader’s house to say, ‘your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.’ When Jesus heard this, he replied, ‘Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.’ When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother.  They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, ‘Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and called out, ‘Child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened. - Luke 8:40-56

The only thing the young girl and the woman had in common was that all the time one was alive the other was suffering.

Jesus restored them both to life.  

There is a twist in this story, however.  The woman who was made well came up to Jesus and touched his cloak, pulling the power from him.  Was that the power he had reserved for the young girl?

When Jesus notices the power is gone, we find out the young girl has died.  It is as if the life had gone out of her and entered to the woman.

But Jesus does not get angry.  Instead he tells the woman her faith has made her well, and then he goes to restore the girl to life.

We may not see any way we could do as Jesus has done, because we believe we have no power to heal, but consider this.

A man is on his way to pay the debt of a friend in need when he encounters a beggar who tugs at him and dislodges his wallet, causing the money to fall at his feet, unnoticed by the man.

The beggar grabs the wallet and the money just as the man notices his wallet is gone.  He asks the crowd who took his money and the beggar steps up to return it.

The man shows him mercy and gives him the money and then goes on to the bank to get more money for his friend.

Now, is that something we could do?

Jesus taught in parables because they were easier to understand how we could do as he did.  Now it is up to us.

More to come...