Two Stories
Tuesday, 16 December, 2025
9:01 AM
There
are two stories that have been on my mind and my heart recently. One is in John 4: 46-53 about the Nobelman's
dying son and Jesus. The other is the
Woman who had been bleeding for 12 years spoken of in Luke 8:43-48 and in
Matthew 9:20-22.
The
Nobleman was considered some kind of royalty while the bleeding woman was a
total outcast of society. The Nobleman
had everything and every kind of luxury affordable to those of that high
status. The Woman had nothing and was
not allow to even touch or be touched since she was deemed unclean by the blood
that flowed from her. Not one single Jew
could come anywhere near her as that would make them unclean also. The Nobleman had slaves and servants while
the Woman had no one and was alone. The
Nobleman had all the money he needed and more.
The Woman had nothing left of her money and lived in poverty. She had spent it all trying to find a cure
for her ailment.
When
Jesus shows up on the scene for each of these encounters He is not thinking
about the royal status of the Nobleman and He is not thinking about the unclean
status of the bleeding Woman. He is
looking into their hearts for faith and He finds it in both of them.
The
Nobleman is seeking a healing for his dying son whom he loves with all his
heart. He knows there is a death
sentence on his son but he hears about a man who is healing others and he goes
to find this man. At this time he could
care less about his royal status, his wealth or what the Jewish society says
about some false Messiah and healer who is a madman and a liar. All he knows is that his only hope lies in
this man who has healed others. He
believes in his heart that this man can heal his son. When he finds Jesus and speaks with him he
knows that the healing pronounced by Jesus is the truth and he instantly
believes and has faith. And so it is
that the son who is not even touched by the hands of the Healer is healed while
lying in a bed far away. The Nobleman
knows this and when he finds out the details He and all of his household are
saved and believe in Jesus the Messiah,
the Savior. This royal household could
be hundreds of people. They all now
believe, have faith and are saved.
The
Woman had lived with her bleeding for twelve years we are told. That is a very long time to be an outcast
from society. She was not allowed near
any of the people so she had to do her grocery shopping when no one was
around. The merchants did not want to
have any contact with her. She was not
allowed near any of the water sites so that also had to be done in quiet when
no one else was at the well or the riverside.
She was not allowed into the synagogue's to pray or listen to the
scripture. She once had money and was
not an outcast but then the bleeding began and she used all of her money to
find a cure. There was no cure for
twelve years. But she heard about a
healer. He was in town and was headed
through the street to heal a little girl who was dying. The street was crowded and she crept down
among the people hiding and just trying to get close enough to touch him and
hope for a healing. It was the only
chance she had left. She believed in
what she had heard about him. He had
healed others just by a touch. She
reached out and touched the hem of his robe and was instantly healed. She felt it and knew it but Jesus also knew
it and He said out loud while standing in the crowd, "Who touched
me?" He had felt the power leave
him and enter into the woman who was now healed. She knew and He knew. She had reached out in faith and He had
provided the healing. Nothing was ever
the same for this woman who was no longer an outcast and was one of those whom
Jesus had healed and changed their lives forever.
Both
of these stories talk about a person changed by their faith in Jesus
Christ. Neither one of them expected
something like this to happen in their lives.
None of us today expect a miraculous change in our lives. Many of us
have followed Jesus for decades and have not had anything overtly miraculous
happen to us. We know we are blessed and
that the Lord is with us. We know that
His love for us is eternal and wonderful.
We have faith that we will see him one day when we are no longer on this
earth. We believe in what the scriptures
say about him and we seek more wisdom and knowledge of him. But the days and the pages of the calendar
keep passing by. Sometimes a miracle comes
in a grand fashion with bells and whistles and standing ovations. Sometimes a miracle comes in a crowd of
people who are seeking something special and life changing. Sometimes a miracle come in the quiet times
of life when nothing is seen or heard and only by faith do we know that
something supernatural did happen.
Jesus does not see us as a Nobleman or
royalty. He does not see us as unclean
and unworthy to be loved and healed. He
sees us as the children he created before time began on earth. He sees us as the chosen ones whom he placed
on earth to love and learn. He sees us
as his people whom he will continue to bless and keep in his care until the
time comes we are standing next to him at his throne. Then we will all be royalty and all be
perfectly clean.
