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Friday
January 22, 2010
Embodying Hope and Celebrating our Unity in Christ Jesus
Introduction
Luke 8:40-56: When Jesus returns, a man named Jarius asks him to heal his
dying daughter. When Jesus is on his way, a sick woman touches him and is
healed by the power he releases. He commends the woman for her faith. Then
he goes to see the girl, who by now is presumed dead. Jesus says she is
simply sleeping and awakens her. He tells the people gathered not to tell
anyone what has happened.
Today's Scripture: Luke 8:48Jesus said to her, "My daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in
peace."
How is this Scripture passage speaking to me today? Today's Reading
40When Jesus returned to the other side of the
lake, the people welcomed him, because they had all been waiting for him.
41Then a man named Jairus arrived; he was an
official in the local synagogue. He threw himself down at Jesus' feet and
begged him to go to his home,
42because his only daughter, who was twelve years
old, was dying.
As Jesus went along, the people were crowding him from every
side.
43Among them was a woman who had suffered from
severe bleeding for twelve years; she had spent all she had on doctors,
but no one had been able to cure her.
44She came up in the crowd behind Jesus and touched
the edge of his cloak, and her bleeding stopped at once.
45Jesus asked,
“Who touched me?”
Everyone denied it, and Peter said,
“Master, the people are all around you and crowding in on
you.”
46But Jesus said,
“Someone touched me, for I knew it when power went out of
me.”
47The woman saw that she had been found out, so she
came trembling and threw herself at Jesus' feet. There in front of
everybody, she told him why she had touched him and how she had been
healed at once.
48Jesus said to her,
“My daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in
peace.”
49While Jesus was saying this, a messenger came
from the official's house.
“Your daughter has died,” he told Jairus;
“don't bother the Teacher any longer.”
50But Jesus heard it and said to Jairus,
“Don't be afraid; only believe, and she will be
well.”
51When he arrived at the house, he would not let
anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child's
father and mother.
52Everyone there was crying and mourning for the
child. Jesus said,
“Don't cry; the child is not dead—she is only
sleeping!”
53They all made fun of him, because they knew that
she was dead.
54But Jesus took her by the hand and called out,
“Get up, child!”
55Her life returned, and she got up at once, and
Jesus ordered them to give her something to eat.
56Her parents were astounded, but Jesus commanded
them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Reflect
In New Testament times, there were physicians who helped people when they
were sick or injured. Though they had many skills, their knowledge of what
caused diseases was limited. They often believed demons caused illnesses
because they didn't understand viruses and bacteria. What do the stories
of Jesus' healing mean to you? Do you know anyone who has had an
experience of healing? How can prayer work with modern medicine?
Pray
Healing God, may all who are suffering and sick know the power of
your healing mercy and grace. Strengthen the spirits of those who are ill,
and bless the hands of those who care for them. Amen.
Prayer Concern
Doctors and nurses
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