This week was full of celebrations. 元宵节 on Wednesday marked the end of Chinese New Year, and Friday was Valentine’s Day. On Saturday, our HF gathering was a time of joy and fellowship before God.
That evening, we read Luke 8:40-56, where Jesus heals a sick woman and raises a dead girl. The passage demonstrates Jesus’s power and compassion, but what stood out most was the sick woman's courageous faith.
Two women, two acts of faith:
The woman bleeding for 12 years
This woman suffered continuous bleeding for 12 years, leaving her financially drained after seeking cures in vain. Beyond physical suffering, she was also outcast by society as the law at that time deemed her as ceremonially unclean -- anything or anyone she touched became unclean. Imagine 12 years of loneliness and despair. The ladies in our Chinese group unanimously agreed that her physical and emotional pain was overwhelming, but her faith in Jesus was remarkable.
Hearing that Jesus was near, she pushed through the crowd, believing that simply touching His clothes would heal her. Her simple faith teaches us a profound lesson -- God desires a faith that reaches for Him, no matter the obstacles. God attended to the woman even when he was on his way to heal the little girl. The moment she touched Him, her bleeding stopped, and Jesus declared, 'Your faith has saved you.'
The dying 12-year-old girl
Meanwhile, a desperate father pleaded with Jesus to save his dying daughter. Jesus agreed to go, but as He paused to heal the bleeding woman, news arrived that the girl had already died. We can only imagine the father's agony. Even Jesus’s proclamation that the girl was not dead but only sleeping couldn’t make him believe.
During our group discussion, we asked: How deep is our faith in Jesus? The people of the town doubted Jesus' power to raise the dead. What about our own confidence in Jesus? In the face of giants, do we seek God like the bleeding woman did? Many people believe God only after witnessing answered prayers, but few choose to believe while waiting upon God. Both stories end with Jesus' compassionately and tenderly calling both women 'daughter'. God is not only almighty, but also kind and gracious.
Don't be afraid, just believe (v50). The story of both women has shown us the immense power of faith in Jesus. I pray that as we set out to sail through this new year, may we held on steadfast unto God, trusting that whatever we are going through, we will not go unnoticed, when we seek God with faith, believe that he is going to intervene. Have a blessed week ahead.
Signing off,
中文小组
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