Not Just Proximity, But Also Relationship
More than we might imagine.
Luke 8:40-56 | Acts 14:8-23
It really is a powerful two stories intermingled. First, this courageous, unnamed woman who hoped and believed that even being proximate to Jesus would bring healing. She had no plans to bother him, to speak to him, to presume that he would want to speak to her. She just knew her life and the dozen years of suffering (that’s a long time). So maybe…just maybe if she could be near him enough to touch him.
Jairus, also with great concern but for his young daughter, forewent any dignity he was supposed to maintain as a synagogue leader. Most anyone might to save their child. Maybe. But he did.
Jesus healed them both (one from death!). And the unnamed woman found out that of course he would speak with her. Jesus doesn’t just offer proximity, but relationship.
And then Paul’s story is quite the roller coaster. One minute a whole city wants to treat him as a god and the next he’s being stoned. All along, he knows the Lord is with him. Think about it.
Luke 8:40-56
When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they had been waiting for him. A man named Jairus, who was a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He pleaded with Jesus to come to his house because his only daughter, a twelve-year-old, was dying.
As Jesus moved forward, he faced smothering crowds. A woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had spent her entire livelihood on doctors, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the hem of his clothes, and at once her bleeding stopped.
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When everyone denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing in on you!”
But Jesus said, “Someone touched me. I know that power has gone out from me.”
When the woman saw that she couldn’t escape notice, she came trembling and fell before Jesus. In front of everyone, she explained why she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed.
“Daughter, your faith has healed you,” Jesus said. “Go in peace.”
While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader’s house, saying to Jairus, “Your daughter has died. Don’t bother the teacher any longer.”
When Jesus heard this, he responded, “Don’t be afraid; just keep trusting, and she will be healed.”
When he came to the house, he didn’t allow anyone to enter with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. They were all crying and mourning for her, but Jesus said, “Don’t cry. She isn’t dead. She’s only sleeping.”
They laughed at him because they knew she was dead.
Taking her hand, Jesus called out, “Child, get up.” Her life returned and she got up at once. He directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were beside themselves with joy, but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.
Acts 14:8-23
In Lystra there was a certain man who lacked strength in his legs. He had been crippled since birth and had never walked. Sitting there, he heard Paul speaking. Paul stared at him and saw that he believed he could be healed.
Raising his voice, Paul said, “Stand up straight on your feet!” He jumped up and began to walk.
Seeing what Paul had done, the crowd shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have taken human form and come down to visit us!” They referred to Barnabas as Zeus and to Paul as Hermes, since Paul was the main speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was located just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates. Along with the crowds, he wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
When the Lord’s messengers Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes in protest and rushed out into the crowd. They shouted, “People, what are you doing? We are humans too, just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you: turn to the living God and away from such worthless things. He made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. In the past, he permitted every nation to go its own way. Nevertheless, he hasn’t left himself without a witness. He has blessed you by giving you rain from above as well as seasonal harvests, and satisfying you with food and happiness.” Even with these words, they barely kept the crowds from sacrificing to them.
Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won the crowds over. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead. When the disciples surrounded him, he got up and entered the city again. The following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
Paul and Barnabas proclaimed the good news to the people in Derbe and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, where they strengthened the disciples and urged them to remain firm in the faith. They told them, “If we are to enter God’s kingdom, we must pass through many troubles.” They appointed elders for each church. With prayer and fasting, they committed these elders to the Lord, in whom they had placed their trust.
Prayer
God,
Thank you for yet another new day. I don’t expect that anything today will be much more exciting than anything yesterday, but I do look forward to walking in the hope you give. There’s enough negativity and pessimism to go around, Lord, so help me against the flow. Give me vision for hope and hands to act in its wake.
Ultimately, I know we want the same thing, God. Peace. We talk a lot about the means (mercy, grace, love, etc.). But let me not forget the end - your peace.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.