Mt.9:18-26, Jesus Encountered Between Two Despairs. 26-2-15 주일

Mt.9:18-26, Jesus Encountered Between Two Despairs

9:18-26, 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."
19.Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
20.Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.
21.She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."
22.Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed at that moment.
23.When Jesus entered the synagogue leader's house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes,
24.he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him.
25.After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand,&she got up.
26.News of this spread through all that region.

At moments when life feels like it's over, let us encounter Jesus, who offers amazing healing and restoration, through Jesus, who stands between two despairs.
1. First, there's the woman with the issue of hemorrhage who had endured it for 12 years.
For twelve years, she was bleeding and unclean, avoiding people and falling into despair. Yet, she believed that just touching the hem of Jesus' cloak would heal her. This is the last resort of a desperate person. Jesus never lets go of that hand.

2. Jesus stops and says, "Daughter(restoring the identity of the desperate woman), take heart. Your faith has saved you."
The synagogue leader's daughter is on the verge of death, but Jesus stops and heals the woman. Even now, the Lord sees us before our wounds. Does your prayer seem to have stalled? The Lord is developing you into someone capable of even greater miracles.

3. The Lord arrived late, and the girl was already dead.
But the Lord says, "The girl is not dead, but sleeping." The people laughed. The Lord said, "Talitha koum," "Little girl, arise." The dead girl rose. For Jesus, death is not a period, but a comma. He conquered death and rose again. In the Lord, absolute despair is transformed into absolute hope. *Pastor George W. Truett's Story for the Despairing - Checkmate. When you think it's over, the Lord says, "Don't give up. There's still one more step to take." Jesus, the King of kings, says, "There is still one more step to go," where we say we are "finished."

4. The Heart of the Message - Jesus Works "Even in Between"
The Lord does not lose another for the sake of one person. Where we say we are finished, the Lord is still beginning. While healing a woman with an issue of blood, He arrived late at the synagogue leader's house, and his daughter died. However, Jesus healed them both and brought them back to life. For Jesus, death is not the end. He is the only life and the only resurrection(John 11:25).

5. Application - Where do I stand now? The woman with the issue of blood? The dead girl? Jesus is heading toward both. What am I holding onto? Like the woman, hold on to even the hem of the Lord's cloak. Trust that Jesus will stop. It's not an obstacle, it's providence.
6. Decision/Even if the current situation feels too late, I won't give up. Even if it's not perfect, I will hold on to the hem of Your cloak. Lord, I will trust in the "time in between" where You work. You tell us, "Do not be afraid, just believe."

7. Prayer/Loving God, thank You for coming back to the place we gave up on. Even amidst twelve years of suffering, may our hands reach for the hem of Your garment. Even in places where hope has already been lost, like the synagogue leader, we hold on to You. Grant us humble faith. Let us believe that You are still working even in times of pause, even in situations that seem like death, let us hear the Lord's voice saying, "You're 'not dead, but sleeping." We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who works today. Amen.