Joel M Bradshaw

18While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. 23And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,24he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26And the report of this went through all that district.–Matthew 9

Two bold faith moments. The father boldly approached Jesus even after the daughter was dead. This wasn’t almost dead, but dead. The crowd laughed at Jesus for a reason. The father had already hired funeral arrangements and yet still approached Jesus in faith. And the woman had been ceremonially unclean for 12 years. She was a social outcast who boldly risked the crowd just for the hope of Jesus. It didn’t matter that she was operating by superstition regarding Jesus’ garment having power.

The same crowd got to witness the healing of two daughters. One daughter dearly loved by man. One daughter dearly loved by God. One daughter fought for by man. One daughter never forgotten by God. One daughter restored to life. One daughter restored to society.

Two impossible situations. Two ‘instantlys.’ I have been that father who has had a daughter die. I have also endured a disease for two decades. This story hits me twice. Faith recognizes that Jesus CAN and trusts that he in fact WILL. Faith trusts Jesus in the hope that only he can provide. Both the father and the woman showed that kind of trust and had that kind of hope. My faith today is that Jesus will give me the strength to endure with the perspective that he uses my story for his glory.

A story of two daughters. A story of two loving fathers. One daughter needed her daddy to fight for her. One daughter needed to be reminded that she was not too broken or forgotten by her Heavenly Father. She still had a father, too. She was still a daughter of the King.–JMB