We are continuing our 30 Days of Gratitude! If you missed the scoop about why we’re celebrating, be sure to check out Episode One. Yesterday, we talked about what to do when you feel like you’re being suffocated by life. Today, we’re going to be discussing Day Sixteen’s topic: Too Late?
For the past few days, I have really been being blessed by the passages from my book. Like… really blessed. So today, I’m going to tell you why we all need to be grateful that it’s not too late. Here we go.
“Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, ‘Who was it that touched me?’ When all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.’ And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’ While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.’ But Jesus on hearing this answered him, ‘Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.’ And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, ‘Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, ‘Child, arise.’ And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.”
Luke 8:40-56 (ESV)
~ Today’s Declaration ~
I know that God is not finished.
I've told you a lot about myself over the last few days. Now, I'm going to tell you a little bit about two things that were happening at the same time in this passage of scripture.
Enter Jairus. He's upset because his daughter was dying. This was his only daughter, and you know how men can be about their daughters. He's begging Jesus to come and make everything alright with his princess. I can only imagine his distress as he approached Jesus. He had to be very sad, anxious, and maybe even a little angry.
Jesus is still walking, and there are people EVERYWHERE. The paparazzi had NOTHING on this. People were EVERYWHERE. Among the crowd, there was a woman who had been suffering with "female problems" for twelve years. She had spent everything she had. She had gone from doctor to doctor to doctor, and no one could help her. There she was, actively bleeding, walking in the crowd, trying to get to Jesus. I can imagine her saying that if she could just touch the hem of His clothes, she would be okay. She had just that much faith.
So she pressed through the crowd. I'm sure that people were laughing at her. They may have even told her that she was stinking. They may have spit on her… They could have even pushed her out of the way. She kept pressing. She kept pressing. Through all of the noise, the people, the sways of the crowd going back and forth through the streets… She pressed.
She made it. She touched His clothes.
