October 10, 2012 … Two Women Healed

Chronological Bible Reading Plan - Day 284  

Blogger’s Comment: Before reading thru the Chronological assignment today from Youversion.com, please take a moment and go to this You Tube segment and listen to Nicole C Mullen sing a most touching rendition of her song, One Touch, which depicts in song one of the scenes from today’s reading about Jesus’ healing and saving ministry while He walked the hillsides near Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee in His day. Here is the link - 

Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Matthew, Chapter 9 To study these chapters, go to this link - 
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Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Luke, Chapter 2 To study these chapters, go to this link - 
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Highlight Passage: Matthew 9: 18-26 : [NLT] … {In this chapter we read of Jesus walking about near Capernaum, a lakeside town on the Sea of Galilee, which Jesus called his home base. And as He walked from village to village in that area, He shared His Kingdom message and healed people, even bringing one young girl back from the dead. And the people were amazed; and the religious leaders where threatened.} … 18 As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt down before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand upon her.” 19 As Jesus and the disciples were going to the official’s home, 20 a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Him. She touched the fringe of His robe, 21 for she thought, “If I can just touch His robe, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned around and said to her, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment. 23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, He noticed the noisy crowds and heard the funeral music. 24 He said, “Go away, for the girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at Him. 25 When the crowd was finally outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside. 
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Highlight Passage: Luke 7: 36-39; 46-50 : [NLT] … {Here is another scenario bringing out Jesus’ compassion and attitude toward “untouchable women” in His day/world. Jesus was the first big-time women’s liberationist; and besides the story of the bleeding, “untouchable” woman being healed by Jesus’ compassion in Matthew 7, we see this story of Jesus saving and lifting up the prostitute who came to worship Jesus at the Pharisee’s dinner party.} … 36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to come to his home for a meal, so Jesus accepted the invitation and sat down to eat. 37 A certain immoral woman heard he was there and brought a beautiful jar£ filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who was the host saw what was happening and who the woman was, he said to himself, “This proves that Jesus is no prophet. If God had really sent him, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” … {Jesus’ priority was compassion for the woman who recognized Him as Messiah and worshipped at His feet, just as His mercy and love is available to any sinner who comes seeking healing from their sins in repentance.} … [Jesus, referring to the Pharisees hosting the party] 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint My head [which was the custom for receiving a special guest at a dinner gathering], but she has anointed My feet with rare perfume. 47 I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown Me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who does this man think he is, going around forgiving sins?” 50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

 My Journal for Today: Again, in these two chapters I was led to study this morning from Matthew 9 and Luke 7, there is so much about which I could reflect and/or journal; but the two stories about two women, about which I’ve copied the texts above, seemed to catch my heart today. And as I was meditating on these stories, one of which was about the bleeding (therefore, untouchable) woman who crawled up behind Jesus and touched His garment, I remembered a poignant/touching song by Nicole C Mullen about such a woman [who really could be any of us]; and I’ve linked any reader there to a YouTube segment so that you can hear the song, as well as to read the story copied above. Hopefully it will remind you of just how counter-culture Jesus’ compassion and caring was in reaching out to women in that day … a day when women were treated by men as possessions or slaves. And Jesus even reached out to heal and save these women, even those who would have been considered “untouchable” by Jewish men, especially by the haughty/proud Pharisees or religious leaders of that day.

The woman, for example, who had the bleeding condition for 12 years, would have been treated like a leper by the Pharisees and Rabbis; but Jesus healed her immediately when this woman crawled to Him and touched His garment; and with the other woman highlighted above, a prostitute who barged in at the Pharisee’s dinner honoring Jesus, the Lord recognized that this woman, a chronic sinner, had come to Jesus, recognizing that He was Messiah; and so He did what Messiah would do for all mankind later, … He forgave the woman of her sins, saving her soul, much to the chagrin of the Pharisees, who didn’t recognize that Jesus was in fact, God in the flesh.

This type of scene was seen over and over in the Gospel accounts, like the time when Jesus would not allow the religious leaders and the people to stone another prostitute; and Jesus compassionately saved her and told her to “… go and sin no more.” And there was the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4, whom Jesus also reached out to in spite of her lowly status among Jews, especially men, who thought of Samaritans as “pigs” and Samaritan women as even lower than pigs. But Jesus looked only into the heart of these women who desired healing and repentant restoration; and that’s what Jesus gave them … just as He can – and will – for any repentant sinner who comes to our Lord, in faith, seeking healing and salvation and sanctification.

If you’re reading this and you desire God’s healing touch, reach out for His garment and be healed. If you’re seeking His salvation as a sinner, pour your tears and prayers on His feet and be saved. If you desire a changed life, believe on Jesus as your Messiah; and you can and will be changed by Your Bridegroom who will soon come for His Bride.

My Prayer Today: … Lord, I reached out for Your garment years ago; and You are still healing me. Amen