Matthew 9.18-26

Here we come to the first story after two sets of three-miracle-series in this section on Jesus' ministry. Let me explain what I said so it will make more sense.

In Matthew 8-9, there are two sets of three miracle stories in a row. The first set was the man with Leprosy (8.1-4), the Centurion's servant (8.5-13) and Simon's mother-in-law/the whole town (8.14-17). Before the next set of three, we have Jesus talk about discipleship and then we move on to the second set of three: The calming of the storm (8.23-27), The demon possessed men (8.28-34) and the paralytic (9.1-8). What happens after these headings? Jesus then talks about discipleship, he calls Matthew, the tax collector, to follow him (9.9-17). This entire section is now being concluded, and the first part of his conclusion is telling two stories where two people get healed, and then he talks about discipleship one more time (9.35-38).

Here is our story for today:

¹⁸ 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.” 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 from that moment.
 ²³ When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, 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, and she got up. ²⁶ News of this spread through all that region.


Jesus is carrying on a theme that he started in the very first miracle in this entire section. This was the story of the healing of the man with Leprosy, and remember what Jesus did? He touched him, someone who was unclean, and instead of Jesus becoming unclean, the leper became clean. This theme was picked up again in the story of the demon possessed guys. They would have been unclean as well, yet Jesus makes them clean. Now we come to a dead girl and a woman that was suffering from perpetual bleeding (awkward). They were both considered unclean as well. 


So what does Jesus do when he comes face to face with someone who is socially an outcast? What does he do when he is interrupted by someone who is literally filthy and probably smells because of her bleeding? 


He stops, focuses all of his attention on those people, and meets their needs. 


This story is concluding this entire section on Jesus' ministry, and it is showing us first and foremost that Jesus meets the needs of the social outcasts. And each one of these headings are interruptions that occur to Jesus in his day to day life. The key is, he doesn't see them as interruptions but divine opportunities. 


And all of these miracles occur in the midst of three passages about Discipleship, about following Jesus. 


Are you getting the hint? 


If not, think about it today, and we will try to develop it more Monday.