“Hope for the Hopeless”
“While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, ‘My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.’”
Rev. Bhatia writes:
Faith in the face of death- It was a great moment when the Roman army officer asked Jesus to his servant.it was even more remarkable that a Jewish religious leader should come to Him and believe that Jesus could raise his daughter to life again;and should actually kneel down to ask His help.
The professional mourners could only laugh at the idea of raising thr dead,but their mocking laughter was quickly silenced because her father believed and was humble enough to sink his pride and ask for Christ’s help.
Faith in the face incureable of illness-
The woman who interrupted Jesus on His way to the ruler’s house had no one to plead for her;her illness made her something of an outcast.Moreover,.twelve long years of suffering must have left her with no hope at all of getting better.But she had watched Jesus at work and listened
to His words and was ready to put her trust in Him.She did not dare ask Him openely-but a touch was enough.She was cured because she believed in the impossible.
THINK-What do these two stories suggest about faith?
PRAY-for stronger,simpler faith.
Please note that the views expressed in this story are not necessarily the views of the American Bible Society. Story posted on October 14th, 2008 and filed under God's Love, Hope, Bible, Your Stories, Verses, Grace.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Dear Rev. Bhatia:
“PRAY-for stronger,simpler faith.”
What a refreshing and powerful reminder!
I have just finished my work with a client, Mr. A., now.
Two days ago, Mr. A. had to cancel his scheduled session with me, because he had to be at the hospital with his dying 91-year old Grandmother.
The doctor alerted him that the Grandmother’s kidneys were failing rapidly, and that she “might go any second” that day.
Mr. A. was hopelessly waiting for that dreadful “second.”
All I could respond to Mr. A. then was to pray for his Grandmother so she would not suffer. What I could not utter, however, was “so she would rest in peace.”
Mr. A. had just left here. He repeated to me elatedly: “While Grandma was kissing and hugging me yesterday, she ate and drank unlike the day before, when she slipped in and out of consciousness.
Towards the end of my visit last night, she was getting really angry and said she wanted to get out of there (the hospital). She’s hilarious!”
Mr. A. ‘bragged’ that his faithful prayers to Almighty God and Christ Jesus must have been the best medicine for his Grandmother.
His Grandmother being a devout Roman Catholic herself, Mr. A. expressed similar sentiment as yours, that his Grandmother, too, “…was cured because she believed in the impossible”:
“Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well” (Matthew 9:22).
Thank you.
“Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love” (2 John 1:3);
GODSPEED with your ministry, always and forever!
Mary Sun.