Jesus Never Too Busy for Anyone
Daily Scripture
Matthew 9:18-22
18 While Jesus was speaking to them, a ruler came and knelt in front of him, saying, “My daughter has just died. But come and place your hand on her, and she’ll live.” 19 So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. 20 Then a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the hem of his clothes. 21 She thought, If I only touch his robe I’ll be healed.
22 When Jesus turned and saw her, he said, “Be encouraged, daughter. Your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that time on.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Jesus was never too busy to stop and help someone. In today’s story, he was answering an appeal from a synagogue leader, “nearly always a person of status and usually wealth.” * On his way there, a woman who had suffered for 12 years with a condition that under Levitical law made her and anyone who came in contact with her “unclean” (cf. Leviticus 15:25-27) stealthily touched his clothing. In a smothering crowd, he stopped, sought out the woman, and sent her away healed and in peace.
- Jesus was, literally, “a man on a mission.” He worked tirelessly to restore human lives to physical, emotional and spiritual wholeness. He found satisfaction and strength, not in self-seeking idleness, but in faithfully carrying out his compassionate, restoring mission. In what ways can his example guide you in choosing priorities in a world which often tries to tell you that you are “too busy” to take time to serve and bless others?
- Many ceremonial laws shaped first-century Israelite society. The woman’s bleeding condition was as isolating as the better-known “leprosy” law (cf. Leviticus 13:45-46). But Jesus didn’t fear contact with “unclean” people, as we also see when he met skin disease sufferers (cf. Luke 5:12-13). Was that unique to him because of his physical healing power, or do you believe it also shows how he wants you to be his hands in a hurting world?
Prayer
Dear God, when I’m hurting, I love to read about how willing you were to stop and care. I count on your presence. Teach me how to reach out to hurting people as you did. Amen.
GPS Insights
Valerie Nagel
Valerie Nagel, who serves as a Connection and Care Pastor at Resurrection Leawood, wrote today's Insights. A Californian by birth, her Master of Divinity degree is from Duke Divinity School. She served in the Rio Texas Conference from 2011 in the Austin area and San Antonio. From congregational care and welcoming guests to leading in worship, Valerie loves the local church's ministry. She juggles ministry with being a mom to Caleb (born 2012) and Jacob (born 2015), friend, avid reader, lover of the outdoors, beginner in CrossFit, and foodie.
In the passage we read today Jesus is our guide in showing how to live a life of compassion. Jesus knew what it meant to the father to have lost his child. Where a synagogue leader might have opposed Jesus, his love as a father instead led him to Jesus. Jesus knew that the daughter’s life mattered. And when a woman who was separated from others, isolated in her health condition, emotionally exhausted, physically tired, lonely, and desperate, reached out to touch him, he gave her healing and life. In these two stories Jesus brought life. Those whom society would not have cared much about got his full attention and care. Those who needed life received it.
As Pastor Scott shared yesterday in our current three-week sermon series, “we’re going to be asking questions about our priorities, our focus, our life, and our faith… and together we’re going to be exploring new rhythms, new ways to live our lives with greater intentionality and focus, with the hopes of finding new life, peace and purpose now, as opposed to later. As we do, we’ll be looking to Jesus as our guide as the way to the place where we ultimately want to go.”
One thing that has been important to me as a mom is to answer my kids’ questions truthfully. I have tried to honor each age and stage of life they have been in and give them the facts as I think they can comprehend them. I have spoken openly and honestly about my body and theirs. I encourage them to ask their pediatrician any questions they have and to read books that speak positively about how amazing our bodies are–veins, arteries, nervous system, heart, lungs, etc. Our bodies are amazing and capable of doing so many beautiful things-–singing, playing an instrument, solving complex math problems, writing novels, building skyscrapers, and holding the hand of a loved one. We have been blessed with the gift of life, and we get to use our lives to live out our deepest values.
I want my kids to know about periods and pregnancy as much as I want them to understand why casts are an important part of healing a broken bone. All bodies, what they can and cannot do, how they do and don’t move, what they need, are important. Every single life matters. And when I remember I matter, when my boys know they matter, and when they understand that whoever a person is, all deserve to be cared for as Jesus cares, then I and they, like the disciples, can be a part of the incredible things God is doing here on earth. When I trust the Holy Spirit to help me be brave, when my kids remember God’s love is for them and others, then we can live each day with intentionality. We can focus our hearts, minds, and hands on compassion for all our neighbors. Jesus took care of two women, two marginalized individuals. Who, I wonder, is God calling us to care for today? Are we willing to go when someone asks us to come and help? Are we willing to be interrupted so that we can see and care for someone who needs what we can give? Are we willing to follow Jesus in loving others as he loved?
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Craig Keener, study note on Luke 8:41 in NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (p. 9431). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
