This is how much God loves us!

[MercyChild]

I placed this in the Afrikaans forum as Afrikaans is my mother tongue, but was requested to translate it and place it in the English section as well. So here goes my effort.

From the day I gave my life to Christ, there were this story in Mark 5:22 -43, about Jairus, his daughter and the woman with the issue of blood. This story spoke to me and touched my heart in many ways. Every time I read it, it was like I receiving a different message each time. For weeks I kept on going back to that very same chapter in search to understand exactly what was written. Many nights I thought about what I read and wondered what it is I kept missing? So, I tried to make a study of this chapter and discovered some very valuable information which I would like to share.

I compared this story with my own life at a stage, not wanting to make myself the centre point, but for those who are in similar situations. I came to realize how much people is struggling with more or less the same thing in life(even Christians) that does not understand just how much God loves us. My reason for sharing this information is for those who desperately hungers for Gods love, hoping that they would get to understand how deep His love is for us!

[MercyChild]

According to the scriptures two incidents took place. The one incident is where Jairus came to plead with God to come and heal his daughter who was very ill and about die. The second was the woman that was healed from her issue of blood. The interesting thing is that the number 12 came up in both cases. The daughter was 12 years of age, and the woman was ill for 12 years. When someone is about to die we normally say that that person is within his eleventh hour, which in my opinion means that when you reach the twelve hour, things are over and finished. As we read this chapter we would see that it was actually too late for both cases, but with Jesus nothing is impossible. So, I tried to figure out the reason and the connection why the authors combined these stories and this is what I will be trying to explain.

[MercyChild]

Mar 5:22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name;
and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of
death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall
live.
24 And Jesus went with.

Firstly I want us to have a look at Jairus. He was a ruler of the synagogue, which meant that he was a leader of the church, like many on this forum might be. Because he was an important man, it could have been easy for him to send someone else to go and ask Jesus to come to heal his daughter, but this was his only child and this might be the reason why he felt it importance to go and fall at Jesus’s feet asking Him to heal his child. By the choice of word Jairus used we will note that he had faith and surety that Jesus had the power and authority to heal his child. The scripture reads that Jesus went with. He did not give an answer, but He went. But while on the way to this child, the woman with the issue of blood touched the robe of Jesus.

Mar 5:35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain

which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the

synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother

of James.

38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and

them that wept and wailed greatly.

39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the

damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the

father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in

where the damsel was lying.

41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being

interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years.

And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that

something should be given her to eat.

[MercyChild]

This woman had a very complicated problem, she was ill and perhaps her entire body was in pain. She already waisted all the money she had on docters and medication, but instead of getting better she just got worse. Medically there was nothing more they could do for her. Within the life of a sinner this is more or less the same. We try everything and everyone, go to places we are not suppose to be, and the more we try different things to find healing the more me loose until we are spiritually are so poor that we come to a point where we accept sin as part of our daily living.

According to tradision/law in that era, a woman with an issue with blood was seen us being unpure and weren’t allowed to get in touch with other people, and also not allowed to have intercourse with their husbands, because the believe was that they would made the others unpure/unclean as well. Because of this law this woman was not only ill, but also led a loneley and broken life. She knew that there was a possiblitiy that if she did not receive healing that her illness would eventually lead to death. The giant she was facing was to get throught the crowd that surrounded Jesus. I can just picture how she must have struggled by pushing and shoving to get throught this crowd. She new that she could not depend on anyone to help her and kept on going forward until she made it through. This woman heard about Jesus and told herslf. “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.” She trusted in Jesus and put her faith in Him (1 Joh 3:8, Acts 4:12).
Many times before we come to surrender, we have heard about Jesus and saw what He has done in the life of others, and perhaps we were like this woman, too afraid to touch Him due to our dirty sinful lifes. This woman did not allow the crowd to put her off, but she kept on pushing forward until she could touch the robe of Jesus. This is also what we as sinners have/had to do, we cannot allow ourselves to stop halfway, but we must be determined to follow throug if we want to be healed.

After she touched the robe of Jesus, Jesus felt power had gone out of Him. This woman was now trembling with fear, perhaps afraid that she made Jesus unclean because of her illness. She than told him the whole truth. Than Jesus answered; “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” This is also how it happens in the life of a sinner. We cannot do anything else but be honest and open with God by confessing our sins to Him. (1 Joh 1:9, Pro 28:13), because there is nothing we can hide from Him. It is only by the touch of Jesus that we will and can know that healing took place in our lifes. To be set totally free can only be done through Jesus Christ. The word daughter is a soft spoken word of love and acceptance. So also Jesus accepts us as His children when we come to receive Him. This woman accepted her forgiveness in faith, and so should the sinner also do when Jesus forgives us for our sins.

Mar 5:25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

[MercyChild]

As I already mentioned Jairus was a teacher/leader of the church, with possible knowledge and spiritual insight and authority. In my own opinion each one that accepted Jesus is a leader in His service to lead others in truth. So, how can I compare Jairus with the church? Simple – Jairus could have so easily send someone else to call Jesus to come and heal his child, but decided to go himself. We all know that while you are still a sinner, that we are like this child dying spiritually, if we do not accept Jesus. Many times we get in touch with sinners that needs Jesus so much in their lifes, and don’t make use of the opportunity to share Jesus with them. This is understandable as the time and place is not always suitable to reach them. But what we as Christians can do is to be like Jairus for them, by falling down at the feet of Jesus in prayer and plead by Him to heal them. If these people is so ill due their sinful nature and cannot/does not want go to Him, we must plead that Jesus will go to them. Stand in for them as if they were your only child and ask Jesus to touch them and to heal them from sins that will lead to death. Be like Jairus and belief that He will do the work. As I mentioned Jesus did not say yes or no, but He went. So, when we pray for someone, and we do not get an answer from God, we should lean on the fact that the will of God is for everyone to be saved, and that this means that He will go on His time.

While Jesus was still on the way to the dying child, this woman came and touched His robe. Jesus came to a standstill to firstly help this woman. Can you place yourself in the shoes of Jairus? His only child is busy dying and Jesus found it more important to help this woman. He came to Jesus first, and now He is helping someone else. Perhaps he got upset or had a lot of questions why Jesus found it more important to help her instead. At that time the news came from the synagogue informing Jairus that his child has died. Can you place yourself in his shoes now? His only child that was ill, now is dead, because Jesus wanted to help this woman! How unfair it might have felt, how much frustration, anger and perhaps tears were flowing? But Jesus assured him that he should not be afriad nor fade in his faith, but keep on believing. The work of the churh than is when we pray for someone and Jesus decides to stand still and save someone else first, that we should not become afraid or give up hope, but just keep on believing. At the end Jesus kept by His Word, and healed this child from the dead, and so He wil also reach those for whom we pray.

When Jesus arrived at the synogogue there were people standing outside crying, because according to them little girl has already died. Jesus answered them saying that this child is not dead, but were only sleeping. Many times in our lifes we judge people and say that it is just too late for them to change and that they will never get with the program. Have you ever heard some of the things people say about others like “ there is just no more hope for that person, it is just too late, he/she will never make it, his/her future will be to end up in jail” This is only one of the many things I have heard people say about others. They cry so much that they really come to believe that this person will not ever make eternal life. But for Jesus it is never too late. Just like this people cried and laughed at Jesus, others sometimes laugh when they think that certain people can come to change and accept God. At the end it was Jesus that did the work to raise this child from the dead, and not that of people. And within our Christian life’s we must always remember that we are not the ones to do the work, but Jesus and Jesus only can touch and change life’s.
When this child woke up, Jesus commanded them to give this child something to eat to get strength. So also is it the duty of the Church to help a new born Chrsitian by feeding them the Word and helping them with the Word in order for them to receive their strength.

[MercyChild]

I like the way the KJV reads: “And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood” This word issue is sometimes one of our greatest struggles. We sometimes battle with a lot issues, and do not always know how to deal with them. Sometimes an issue might look like such a small thing, but have a great impact in our lives. I would like to challenge you to take the step of faith and touch the robe of Jesus, because it doesn’t matter what your issue might be, there is nothing too complicated with God. He is only as far away as your knees are from the floor.

I hope by the above information that you may have seen by now, that there is more to get in these stories than just words. By comparing this story to my own life, this is where I found valuable information. So I am asking for you to please not look at my life, but become aware that there are millions of people all over the world in the same or similar situations. Perhaps you can identify with some of these things yourself, and this is aim of my goal. My prayer is that God will give each one his/her own revelation in His unique way and for those who still doubts about God’s love will come to the conclusion and know with certainty just how real His love is for us!

[MercyChild]

This woman’s issues had more in store than just her illness, but touched several parts of her life. Like this woman I found myself to be in her shoes, due to my past. I always thought that drugging use to be my only problem, but the truth was that this was one of the visible things that lead to so many other problems.
This woman must have had a very lonley life, and due to her illness she were not allowed to get in touch with other people. So is the life of an addict, you are totally isolated living a very, very lonesome life due to your addiction. Not only were she not allowed to be in touch with other people, but could not have intercourse with her husband. How many woman has this very same problem? Woman who’s womanhood was stolen from them, who finds it difficult to have intercourse with their own husbands. Sometimes they feel dirty, or even have backflashes of rape or molestation that took place in her life. In incidents where court cases were involved, this woman may have felt like being naked by the way she was stripped from her privacy as others sometimes unknowingly places a label on you. This also happened with the woman with the issue of blood. The community knew about her problem. Some woman cannot even bear children due to horrific things that happened. For such a person it may be very difficult to stand in the presence of God, not that God does not allow it, but because she may feel dirty and ashamed to be in His presence. Place yourself in the shoes of a raped woman’s position for a moment. Your entire life is destroyed by a male figure, and then people speak about God as a male. In this case it is very difficult to trust a male ever again, and I don’t know why, but our natural thinking patterns just operate in this manner.(Sorry if it sounds crust, I am just trying to make a statement. The idea is not to brake down the male, but to try and give you the picture of how woman in that position feels towards men, and even men that was raped towards the opposite sex).

Due to some happenings in life, we sometimes are so desperate to receive healing for the things that is within our hearts that is still so painful. In the case of rape, there is still the shame, the guilty feelings, questions and financial losses. In most cases people turn to things that will give them confidence, or things to make them forget, which sometimes leads to alcohol and drug abuse. They see psyciatrists, social workers, use anti depressants, etc. but find like in the case of this woman with the issue of blood, that nothing is really helping to ease the painful memories of the things that took place in our past.

My family in laws are mostly Christians, and one of them even a minsiter. They are faithful, important people working for God. Every Christian I knew at that stage was faithful, neat, and had faith who leaded a life in example. I felt like this woman with the issue of blood. How could I ever possibly dare to enter the presence of God. My life was no example with only chaos and shame and above all, I was inperfect. I told someone before that a sinful life is like a computer with a virus. When your computer is infected, and you start communicating with others via mails, the chances are pretty good that you will infect the others computer as well. This is how many people sometimes feel, too afraid that your dirty past and lifestyle will affect or infect people in your life. But I knew that for once in my life, I had to follow through until I got to God.

This woman heard about Jesus, and her last hope was placed in Him. Many people come to this point, where we know that there is just nothing out there that can help us. I got to this point in my life the day I accepted Jesus. Like this woman I had no friend, no money, no where to go, and no sollutions. I was nobody, no servant, teacher, giver, or important person. I felt like her, shut out from the community, with my last hope, Jesus. Like this woman I tried to give a step or two in His direction, but was afraid because of my past. Perhaps you sometimes feel the same too afraid to give Him a chance. This woman knew that her illness will eventually lead to death, and so did my sinfull life start killing me from inside out. I tried every thing possible, but Jesus my last hope.
We should know that there a lot people out there that just needs to hear about Jesus, so that they that may not see any outcome, may place their last hope within Him.

I was in a favourable position, because I had so many Jairusses within my life that prayed for me, and still praying. One of the people I can remember since I was little, was my mom. Sometimes I just wished that she could know that her prayers were answered and that I did indeed accept Jesus. This is why I know it is of cardinal importance to step in as a Jairus for other peoples lifes. Even if it may seem if that person has already spiritually died, or if all hope may seem lost. Jesus’s timing is not our timing, but perfect timing, and He does reach every person we pray for. At the end it is this persons choice whether he is to accept God or not. I am grateful that I had Jairusses in my life that stood in for me, when I could not do it. I doubt that I would ever place my hope in Jesus if I never knew about Him, or saw what He has done in the life of others.

I finaly came to a point in my life where I knew that I could no longer wait for someone to help me, but that I had to push trough the crowd despite of what anyone would have to say. I had to reach Him with the hope that He would heal me. I tried everything from legal drugs to illegal drugs, alcohol, medication, rehabilitation, therapists, counselors, clubbing and several suicide attempts, but Jesus were my last hope. How many others out there is in this very same position at this very moment? How many people do you know that tried the very same things? Do we fall at the feet at Jesus, pray for them, and beg for mercy on their souls. Did we take the step of faith to call upon Him to heal those who are spiritually dying?

When this woman with the issue of blood touched the robe of Jesus, He felt the power had gone out of Him, turned around wanting to know who have touched Him. The same happens to us, when we go to Him in search for Him, we are of such importance to Him, that He wants to know who we are.

For a long time I stuck at this part, where I touched Jesus, and like this woman, I kept on sitting at His feet, shivering and bieng afraid, because I did not know what Jesus’s reaction was going to be. Due to my faulty perception of men in my life, I weren’t sure whether He was going to help, reject, hurt, or even send me away.

But Jesus called her daughter. I did not really have a good relationship with my biological father, and always wanted to just be his little girl, but it never seemed possible. Daughter a word of acceptance, a word that you belong to someone and being someones child. For twelve years this woman was in isolation within her community and perhaps their were even people making remaks, shoved her aside, rejecting her and even joked about her……..but here comes Jesus and calls her His daughter!

Jesus also said “thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace” The word whole means being made complete. Sometimes we get so accustomed to having issues in our lifes, that it’s sometimes hard to let go of the emotional baggage that is keeping us from receiving our healing. This woman did not just sit there and kept on shivering but she fell at His feet, and I am of the opinion that when she fell at His feet as the scripture reads, that she must have been praising Him. I took this step and instead of just sitting there started to priase Him and telling Him the truth of the things that was hidden away in my heart. I pleaded to find acceptance. Even when the community, your family or friends desert or reject you, Jesus will invite you into His family by calling you His daughter/son. This woman was told to go in peace and that she was healed by her faith. For her to take her healing, she had to accept that she did receive healing. It was not her illness that was taken away, but she also was given a place in the family of Jesus. Because she received healing and were no longer sick, I am pretty sure that she was accpeted once again by her community, friends and family. So also is Jesus working His plan in you’re an my life.

I know now that since I have touched Jesus, that I received healing in my life. I experience this in every part of my life. His grace, mercy, love and acceptance, although I am far from perfect. He is real, and He knows that it was I, that came and longed for His touch. He is so very intrested in each one of us that came to receive His touch. He already knew my heart the day I came to Him, and today He is filling my life and desires according to His will.
Rape, molestation, drug or alcohol abuse is just some issues, but what about the smaller things in our lifes, like people that hurt you, people that spoke bad about you, those who dissapointed you, or issues such as being neglected as a child by your parents, or even child abuse. Is there issues in your life forcing you to isolate yourself, or keeping you back in your past, or perhaps you may even feel that a part of your life has been stolen from you? Maybe you hid some of this issues away in your heart so deep with the hope that no one will ever know?

This woman had not need to do much to receive her healing. The only thing she had to do is to reach out to Him and touch His robe. He is already there for us, all we need to do is to give the first step, reach out to Him and allow His power to heal us. If you have not received your spiritual healing in any way, or if there is still some things that are keeping you back, I want to challenge you to reach out to Him, fall at His feet, tell Him the truth about what is going on in your heart and in your mind, and accept your healing. He is there and wants to do the work and heal you, do you want Him to?

[miepie]

Beautiful Linda...... you're very wise!

Love you lots,
Mieke

[tt1106]

Beautiful job Mercychild. I think you broke that down beautifully.
There is an appeal, which we must make and then the response from God. God's mercy and love have been offered since the beginning of time, It does however require a response on our part.
Jairus seeks Jesus, even though the daughter is dead. That is the faith that we see in action. Seeking Jesus in the lowest possible hour. Straining to just barely touch his cloak. To be near him. To just barely touch him. The realization that if we stretch out our hands or come to him, he will heal. Glorious!

Blessings.
Thanks again for sharing.
tt1106