Matthew 9:18-34
In the last paragraph in the link below I talk about my own lack of healing faith; I need to provide two updates. Yes, my brother, Richard went through surgery and on a follow-up visit his doctor told him that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes – which to us was a sign of a spreading, aggressive cancer. Now, however, almost two years later, that cancer has not spread. Richard feels no pain, no side effects – effectively, it’s like the cancer is gone. Still, we continue to pray. The second update is one that someone else pushed me on. I said (in the link below) that I had not seen healing miracles myself beyond “normal” medical intervention. However, on one occasion when I was relating the story of the “miraculous” birth of our first child, someone challenged me and said “You told us that you have never seen healing miracles. How is this incident not a healing miracle?” So I was corrected – I have seen a healing miracle!
While He was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” (v. 18) Mark and Luke refer to this “ruler” as a synagogue official. I find it strange that a synagogue official would come to Jesus, given that He has had difficulties in the past with synagogue officials. But a thought just now occurred to me. This synagogue official came to Jesus; they were not in the synagogue at the time. This official might have felt peer pressure from other officials or attendees if he had asked for Jesus’ intervention while they were in the synagogue. But here, on the road outside the synagogue the official was released from that pressure and could ask for Jesus’ help. In addition, this incident is a high tension moment for this synagogue official. His daughter has just died!! He cares not what others may think, his concern is for his daughter’s welfare. And if Jesus can help, so be it! Forget the peer group and public pressure. Go to the source of all healing!!
There was an occasion when I was eighteen years old and in my first year of college when I let peer pressure affect my behavior in an Honors class. I remember going home from that class ashamed of myself, so much so that I dropped the class the next day. I somehow resolved through that incident that I would not let others’ differences of opinion hinder me from speaking my own opinion if I felt strongly enough about the topic at hand. And there have been a number of occasions when I found myself alone on a topic, but satisfied that I was correct in speaking out as I did. Frankly, one such occasion was a direct forerunner to our joining St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. But even as I type this thought, I wonder if I haven’t let my fears of what others might think keep me on occasion from speaking out about Jesus. I have learned to be more bold in speaking of Him, but I do wonder how many lost occasions there have been in my past. Lord, help my unbelief!!
See also: April 26 / Matt. 9:18-34