Highlighted New Testament Bible

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Friday, February 18, 2011

St Matthew, Chapter 9, verse:22, The tassel of his cloak.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The woman with a hemorrhage) Part 2.  

The woman with the issue of blood has just touched the tassel of Jesus' cloak.  She is fearful.  She is doubtful.  She is afraid.  She believes that she will be healed but she is unsure.  She has taken a bold step to come forward and touch his garment.  Now that the act is completed Christ turns and looks at her.  He says to her, " Take courage, daughter; thy faith has saved thee."   

She looks in his eyes and knows that she is healed.  She looks at Christ and immediately her heart is filled with joy.  She looks at Jesus and she is at peace from the fear that gripped her from her actions.  St Matthew tells us that, from that moment she was restored to health.   From that moment she was healed.  From that moment she was made whole again.  From that moment her flow of blood stopped.

Like the paralytic, Christ told the women to take courage.  He told her to not open the door to fear but to open the door to courage.  It was her belief that moved her to take action.  It was her faith that led her to believe that she could be healed.  Her was the news of Christ coming to her village that gave her hope.  It was the good news of his miracles that gave birth to the possibility that her time had come to be healed.  Having believed, she took action.  Having believed, she dressed herself and went out to seek the one who could complete her healing.  Having believed, she boldly walked among the crowd, not discerning who she touched, or who touched her, because she knew that this was her time to be healed.  She took action.  She acted upon her faith.  She trusted in the word that came to her about Christ and what he could do for her.

The people who carried the paralytic to Christ did the same thing.  They heard the good news.  They heard that Christ was coming to their town. They heard that he was in their village.  They heard that he was staying at the house where they took the paralytic.  They knew that somehow they had to get him to Christ.  Despite all of the crowds they persevered.  Despite all the people they found a way.  Despite all the obstacles that climbed the rooftops.  Despite all the challenges they tore away the roof of the house.  Despite all the cost they lowered the paralytic to Christ for him to be cured.  And there the paralytic lay, looking at Christ wondering if he would be cured.  And there the paralytic lay, looking up at Christ with doubt and fear in his heart, not knowing if his friends had done something wrong to get him to Christ.  And there the paralytic lay, looking at Christ wondering if he would be forgiven of his sins that led him to become paralyzed.    And Christ said, " Take courage son; thy sins are forgiven thee."  

St Matthew has given us a model of faith to follow.  Christ has told us to take courage when we are in despair.  Christ has told us to take courage when we are in doubt.  Christ has told us to take courage when we come to him for forgiveness.  He has told us to take courage when we come to him believing that we will be healed.  Why do we doubt?  Why do we fear?  We do not know that we will be healed.  We do not know that we will be forgiven.  We do not know what Christ will do for us when we seek his help.  But here, in these verses, he tells the paralytic and the woman with the hemorrhage to take courage.  He tells us today to take courage.  Do not be afraid.  Do not fear.  For he is a loving God and wants to heal us.  He is a loving God and wants to make us whole.  He is a loving God and wants to help us in our hour of need.  So come, to the throne f grace with courage, knowing that he will provide for us in our needs.  Can you take courage today and stand up for Christ?  Can you take courage today and walk in the knowledge that Christ will heal you?  Can you take courage today and not let fear come into your heart no matter what situation you face today?