Readings

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27

Psalm 130

2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Mark 5:21-43

Devotion

Peace be with you!

African-Americans in the nineteenth century had a saying: “God may not come when you call, but he’ll be right on time.” We always want to be healed right now, because we live in the instant society. It is the waiting part that we are not good at. With the advancements of computers, we are getting more and more impatient. Individuals can now access the Internet on their phones and look anything up in an instant. We want to fix problems instantly and get answers instantly. However, when it comes to looking at ourselves, we look the other way, because we refused to see our brokenness. If we admit our brokenness, then we have to do something about it. Who wants to do that? Who wants to reach out for help?

Jesus comes back to Jerusalem from the other side of the sea. He is met by Jairus, a leader of the synagogue, who asks him to come heal his dying daughter who. Jesus agree to go to his daughter, because Jairus believes that she will be well again when Jesus lays his hands upon her.

Unfortunately, the crowd distracts Jesus on his way to Jairus’ house. A woman who has been hemorrhaging for twelve years is in the crowd and is determined to touch Jesus’ clothes, which she believes will heal her. After twelve years of going to doctors and spending all of her money trying all of their treatments, the woman is still bleeding uncontrollably. Jesus is her last hope. The woman takes a chance by going into the crowd without a male companion and by going in secret – Jesus is not even aware she is there until after she touches him and is healed. What does she have to lose? The worst that could happen would be that she would keep on hemorrhaging and be kicked out of Jerusalem. Or perhaps the woman is not Jewish at all, yet still she must feel some stigma for violating the mores of the Jewish people. But her life has gotten so unendurable, again, what does she have to lose?

The woman has nothing to lose, but everything to gain. Healing is one of those things that people think is joyous until they are the ones who need the healing. The ending of any healing is happy-ever-after, but what if you need a healing now? You have stage four cancer; you are separated from your husband or wife; you are a veteran coming home with no legs; your relationships with friends are deranged; you feel alone; you have lost touch with God the Father; [whatever “it” is]. Seeking any kind of healing – physical, psychosocial, or spiritual – takes energy, because you have to admit something is broken and you need help – from God. You need a healing, because something just is not right. When you need a physical, psychosocial, or spiritual healing, you have nothing to lose, because [whatever “it” is] makes you not whole. You are at your rock bottom and there is nowhere to go but up. Where do you reach out to be healed? Where do you go when you are ashamed? Who can you trust when even your closest friends do not want to be around you?

The woman is right, because as soon as she touches Jesus’ clothes she healed. After twelve years of going to different doctors and trying different treatments, the woman is healed by a simple touch.

Jesus notices that someone has touched him and asks who it was. The disciples are confused as to how he could have noticed someone touching him, but the woman goes up to Jesus and tells him it was her. The woman tells Jesus the whole truth: how she has been sick for twelve years, how the doctors have tried everything to make her feel better with no success, and how when she touched him she was immediately healed. As the woman braces for him to scold her, Jesus simply says that her faith has healed her and to go in peace. While others were probably ready to yell at the woman, Jesus shows the woman love.

People from Jairus’ house come to tell him it is too late; his daughter has already died. Overhearing the news, Jesus simply says to have faith and goes immediately to Jairus’ house. Jesus tells everyone to go outside while he goes inside with two disciples, Jairus, and his wife. Jesus takes Jairus’ daughter’s hand and says, “Little girl, get up” (Mark 5:43). Her father and her mother are amazed as the little girl walks around. Jesus quickly reminds her parents that she needs to eat.

There is a picture Women of Faith posted and people are sharing on Facebook that simply says, “My child, You worry too much. I’ve got this, remember? Love, God.” Is it really that simple? “I need a healing, God,” you call out and God calls back, “I got it. Do not worry.” Of course, it is that simple – except for waiting part and admitting you are broken. And that may be simple, but it’s not easy.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for coming right on time when we need you the most. Help us to feel your healing touch as we recognize our brokenness. Remind us that you hear us when we call out; we need to wait for your perfect timing. We realize we are not only the broken ones in the world. Give us the courage and the strength to be there for others as they recognize their brokenness and turn to you.  Thank you for blessing us with your healing touch through forgiveness, love, and grace. Amen.

Works Cited

Thanks to the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. Describe a time when you had to wait for a healing.

2. How are you broken? When and where did you realize you were broken?

3. How has the Triune God healed you?