Dear Friend, 

I have read the story in Mark 5:21-43 many times, but today Friend, God helped me to see something new.

A man named Jairus saw Jesus and fell at his feet saying, “My little daughter is dying.  Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”  So Jesus went with him.

Along the way to Jairus’ house, a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years decided that if she could just touch Jesus, she would be healed.  Her condition was bad…and she had suffered a lot and her condition was only getting worse.  Hope was not on her side… or was it.  Can you imagine being that woman and seeing a crowd with Jesus somewhere in the middle coming toward you.  “Now is my chance!” I’m sure she thought.

Mark 5:27 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.”

So she did it!  She reached her hand out to him, trembling I’m sure and touched him.   (verse 29 – Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.)  Jesus realizing that power had come out of him, began to ask who touched him and looking around.  The disciples were saying – How do we know who touched you?  Everyone is touching you – it is crowded here.  But no, this was different; Jesus felt power come out of him and into someone else.  He knew.  Someone had sought him, but not only that, they sought him with the intent of receiving.  So what did Jesus do next?  He sought her.

(vs 32  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.”

Wow!  I can just imagine this whole scene of this amazing healing taking place and no sooner was that done, but then here come Jairus’ friends saying to Jairus,  “Your daughter is dead.  Why bother the teacher any more?”

Why bother?!!  I think they were saying – hope was dead.  Just like in the case of the woman, hope was looking farther and farther away – and when hope dwindles all the way to death…we may think, “Why bother?  Why bother Jesus?”  (May I just take this time to say – YOU ARE NEVER BOTHERING GOD OR JESUS!  He wants you to come to him!)

Then I love this part, (verse 36)  Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler (Jairus), “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”   Maybe today you need to dismiss negative comments that your friends or family have made to you that cause you to feel hopeless.  Instead, allow the fiestiness and boldness inside of your spirit to come out and say, “No!  I will not be afraid.  I will believe!  I will believe that Jesus can heal me.  I will believe that even in my darkest days, Jesus can turn things around for me – my hope is in Jesus and He loves me!”

And Friends, don’t act like you are a gentle purring kitten all the time, I know that we can all be feisty at times.  It is time to allow that fiestieness to spur your heart onward toward Jesus.

I want you to see in these two stories that one person asked Jesus to come and lay hands on someone for healing.  The other person reached out and touched him.  Both actions are appropriate and there will be days when you will say Jesus, “Come and touch me,” and other days where you will know that Jesus is near and you simply reach out and touch Him with expectancy of something good happening. Because He lives in you – You have constant access to him!!  What people would pay for that if they realized it.  No payment required, just faith and believing in Him and His goodness.  Can you do that?  I know you can.

Prayer over You:  Lord, I bless your hand to reach out and touch all those that are reading this.  Lord, please heal their hurts and release in them new hope.  And as they reach out to you, whether physically on the floor or with their hands, or in their hearts, I pray that you will deliver them out of their suffering and heal every area, giving them a release from the pain.  Wash over them in your love and mercy and I speak a new blessing of JOY to be their “normal.”  In Jesus mighty name I pray.  Amen!