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21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat. (Mark 5;21-43 NIV BIBLE)
Dear friends, please lift up these in your prayers. These friends are from our church First Methodist of Gonzales, Texas:
Please pray for Bill and Cheryl Meadows. Bill is in the hospital in Victoria. They have found a cancerous mass. He has more tests today. Please pray for them and the decisions to come.
Please pray for Pastor Matt’s family. His grandmother Eva Pennington passed away last week. They will be traveling to McComb, Mississippi on Wednesday for her funeral on Thursday. Services will be at Hartman-Jones Funeral Home at 11am on Thursday.
Please pray for Trey Moonie (45), friend of Connie Davis’ niece who has same type of leukemia as her niece’s husband. His Stem cell replacement did not work. After many weeks of different failed procedures, he is leaving MD Anderson to go home to New Braunfels. Please pray for his wife, 2 children, and family.
James Knox, Opra Knox’s husband, is in the hospital and needs our prayers.
It was believed that in ancient cultures, such as the Jewish one, that women did not rate as important, but tell that to the loving father or mother of a daughter in any culture! He or she will inform you otherwise. Case in point is this is a story about an important leader in the Jewish culture by the name of Jairus, whose name coincidentally means "he shines" or "God enlightened," As the leader of his synagogue, he knew who Jesus was and what He represented; but when word of his daughter's illness hit his heart, he knows he must see this man named Jesus. The news of her illness was not good and it was believed Jairus' daughter was dying. Jairus falls at the feet of Jesus and pleads earnestly for his daughter's life. We note his faith as he says, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live." This move was potentially a politically costly one, for a religious leader to humble himself before this unknown itinerant rabbi. But this story gets interrupted with yet another ill person; this one a woman suffering a blood hemorrhage of twelve years.
Imagine the desperation of the woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years. She had exhausted every medical option and spent all her resources, yet her condition only worsened. When she heard about Jesus, hope sparked within her. She believed that if she could just touch the hem of his garment, she would be healed. With faith as small as a mustard seed but as strong as her longing for healing, she reached out and touched Jesus' cloak. Immediately, she felt the healing power of Jesus flow through her body, freeing her from her suffering.
Jesus acknowledged her faith and declared, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." This woman's story teaches us that no matter how long we have struggled or how hopeless our situation may seem, Jesus is able and willing to heal us. Our faith in Him activates His power to bring about miraculous transformations in our lives.
Back to the first story: Despite the urgency, Jesus agreed to go with Jairus. On the way, they received news that the girl had died. Yet Jesus encouraged Jairus, saying, "Don’t be afraid; just believe." Arriving at Jairus' home, Jesus demonstrated His authority over death itself. He took the girl by the hand and spoke life into her: "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" Immediately, she rose from her deathbed, restored to life and health. This miraculous event shows us that Jesus is the Lord over life and death. His words bring life and His touch brings restoration.
Jesus has touched me so many times and in many different ways. Be honest and tell me He hasn't touched you! Jesus has come through and brought us life when we expected death; a yes when it should have been no; and a no when it should have been yes; Jesus is alive and still in control now as ever.
PRAYER: Awesome God, we thank You for the stories of healing and restoration we find in Your Word. We are encouraged by the faith of the woman with the issue of blood and the trust of Jairus in seeking Your healing touch for his daughter. Lord, we bring our own needs before You today, believing that You are able to heal, restore, and transform our lives. Increase our faith, Lord, and help us to trust in Your perfect timing and unfailing love. In Jesus' strong name, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: We learn that Faith Activates God's Power; like the woman with the issue with blood, step out in faith believing that Jesus can and will heal you. Secondly, Trust in His Timing; like Jairus, even when circumstance seem dire, trust that Jesus has the power to bring life and restoration at the right moment. And lastly, Share His Miracles; Just as Jesus instructed those who witnessed His miracle, let us share the good news of His healing. power with others, that they too may find hope and faith in Him!
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
