18. While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 21. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
We discussed differences in status yesterday between the woman with bleeding and the father with his dying daughter. Today we see needs expressed in different ways. They had similar needs. Both wanted healing, but had different personalities. Jarius came to Jesus boldly before the crowd, certainly desperate. Even though he was a ruler and a leader, the pain of losing his daughter caused him to fall on his knees and put aside prejudice. He pleaded with the savior to come to his house quickly. He was face to face with the miracle worker and willing to been seen begging for her life. This was indeed humbling.
The woman however also had a need. She did not want to be noticed. She did not want to actually talk with Jesus. She was shy and afraid and scared. She thought to herself, “If I just could get close enough, I’ll touch the hem of his garment.” She didn’t even want to touch him. I’m sure partly because of the ceremonial uncleanness and partly because of her being a woman. She felt unworthy.
We certainly do have different personalities. There are extroverts, leaders who freely voice their opinions, able to speak in public and there are shy people, timid and introverted. Some would never say a public word because they don’t want attention on themselves.
We did a survey in one class regarding personality differences when it comes to boldness and shyness. The majority felt they were shy. How does that make a difference in how we worship and come to the altar? It makes a difference in how God uses you and works through you. It’s ok to be different so long as we don’t let our difference fall into pride, selfishness, self-consciousness or prejudice, preventing us from obeying the Lord.
Even the shyest and most introverted come out of their shell when they are desperate. The woman and Jarius were both desperate.
One of the greatest needs we all have is the need to hope. That need may be expressed in different ways and different circumstances. That hope drives people to greater challenges and persistence. When they heard that Jesus was a miracle worker, hope was given. They would let their need be known to Jesus and come begging for a solution to the only one who could give it.
The problem in our society is that many people do not realize the extent of their need and have not come to understand how desperate they are when they are lost and without hope. Jesus shows us and gives far more than relief from temporary medical and physical problems. He comes to heal us completely inside out. He came to seek and to save that which was lost and uses healing as one way for people to put their faith in Him for far more.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for those times that you have driven me to my knees and brought me to the end of myself so that I could put aside prejudices. I want to see others as You see them
