July 25, 2022

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Mark 5: 25-27

Has your testimony about Jesus caused your hearers to have faith in Him? When she heard about Jesus, this woman was inspired with hope. She took decisive action. She had only heard about Jesus, but her new, mustard-seed-size faith had an expectancy about it! In her weakened condition, she pressed through the crowd and touched the hem of His garment (Matthew 9:20).

And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Luke 5:12

The leper had also heard about Jesus. How blessed we are today that someone told this man of Jesus. With great compassion in His heart, Jesus responded, “I am willing; be cleansed.” (v.13)  

Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” Luke 5:18-20

Among those various crowds, surely there were many whose interest was more in the temporal benefits Jesus was providing than the spiritual. But we are shown in all three of these cases priceless lessons about the character of Jesus. We see His great heart of compassion, as He healed these three people. We see Him reclaiming “territory” from the devil by overpowering the devil’s cruel diseases. We see how ready He is to forgive sin, and His desire for restoration.

But this word is also showing us what Jesus could see in the hearts of people. He saw the woman’s expectant hope harbored within her heart. The leper, thought by the crowds to be under a deserved curse, understood that Jesus had the power to cleanse him. The paralytic had faith-filled friends whose trust in Jesus kindled a longing to see their paralyzed friend have this same trust. Oh, beloved, Jesus is powerfully drawn toward those who fervently desire Him! His great heart is moved with compassion at every earnest plea for help; He delights in every expression of trust and praise. Those whose dependance is fixed upon Him are rewarded in their pleas for help, both for themselves and others.

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. He is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. Psalm 34:18, 145:18