JANUARY 29, 2024

Matthew 9:18-26 (HCSB)
A Girl Restored and a Woman Healed
18 As He was telling them these things,  suddenly one of the leaders  came and knelt down before Him, saying, “My daughter is near death,  but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.”  19 So Jesus and His disciples got up and followed  him. 20 Just then, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for 12 years approached from behind and touched the tassel on His robe,  21 for she said to herself, “If I can just touch His robe, I’ll be made well!”  22 But Jesus turned and saw her. “Have courage, daughter,” He said. “Your faith has made you well.”   And the woman was made well from that moment. 23 When Jesus came to the leader’s house, He saw the flute players and a crowd lamenting loudly.  24 “Leave,” He said, “because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.”  And they started laughing at Him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.  26 And this news spread throughout that whole area.

Pastor HD Jones
While I fully believe that God only created two genders and while I know that there are roles within each gender, I love how Jesus used many opportunities to raise the position of women in His time when women were mistreated. Here, we see that Jesus allowed a woman to touch the edge of His robe.  Had this been one of the religious leaders this woman would have been chastised and perhaps beaten because an unclean woman touched a man.  Do you see the compassion in Jesus’ eyes when He says “have courage my daughter”?  She was probably expecting a rebuke and yet she got encouragement.  Then Jesus was willing to travel to see this young girl and restore her life to her.  It would have been real easy for a man to dismiss the value of this little girl but Jesus cleared the room and took her by the hand.  I have a daughter and 3 granddaughters that have a special place in my heart.  I’m so glad my Savior loves them more than I do and lifts them up and encourages them. Ladies know you’re created by Him, for Him, with a  purpose that only you can fulfill.  Men… treat the ladies in your life well or you will be held accountable.