When Senses Fail
Luke 8
Jesus works through our senses. He speaks God's word to people and they have an opportunity to respond to it. This is the basic meaning of the story of the seeds. Whatever kind of soil we are, that is what dictates the kind of harvest that we will get. Similarly, when we hear God's word we should share it with others. If we are stingy we impoverish ourselves and others that could benefit from the word. If we are generous, though, then more generosity comes our way.
Jesus also works through touch. As Jesus is told of a sick little girl whose death is imminent, he heads toward the father's house. On the way a woman, who had hemorrhages of blood that couldn't be controlled, touched Jesus' robe. Just this one simple touch was enough to have a discharge of energy come out of Jesus and heal this woman. Sometimes a person's healing comes through choices we make about life, but sometimes we are healed through our senses - by hearing and touching God. Perhaps the most amazing healing touch occurs just after this woman confesses to touching Jesus' robe and is healed. Jesus continues to the little girls home with the father. He says to the family, "don't be upset. Just trust me and everything will be all right." He spoke to the little girl in her room and she awoke! The family was estatic that their daughter had returned from the dead.
Years ago my pet dog, Teddy, died. I held him in my arms as he took his last breath and I kept my hand on his body until his heart finally stopped beating. In that moment I wondered why my touch did not heal my dog. What is it that we are to believe about Jesus when bad things happen and healing doesn't come? Though the pain of my loss was very raw, I see in this scripture Jesus making an even bigger promise than having physical life for a little while on this earth. The healings of Jesus that took place two-thousand years ago are a sign of the promise of life that goes on through all of eternity. If Jesus can heal a dead little girl, and if he himself can be raised to life after three days in a tomb, then we really can put hope in him. Like he said to the little girl's family, "Just trust me and everything will be all right." Let God work through your senses, but when senses fail know that there is something even beyond that which God promises for us.
Jesus works through our senses. He speaks God's word to people and they have an opportunity to respond to it. This is the basic meaning of the story of the seeds. Whatever kind of soil we are, that is what dictates the kind of harvest that we will get. Similarly, when we hear God's word we should share it with others. If we are stingy we impoverish ourselves and others that could benefit from the word. If we are generous, though, then more generosity comes our way.
Jesus also works through touch. As Jesus is told of a sick little girl whose death is imminent, he heads toward the father's house. On the way a woman, who had hemorrhages of blood that couldn't be controlled, touched Jesus' robe. Just this one simple touch was enough to have a discharge of energy come out of Jesus and heal this woman. Sometimes a person's healing comes through choices we make about life, but sometimes we are healed through our senses - by hearing and touching God. Perhaps the most amazing healing touch occurs just after this woman confesses to touching Jesus' robe and is healed. Jesus continues to the little girls home with the father. He says to the family, "don't be upset. Just trust me and everything will be all right." He spoke to the little girl in her room and she awoke! The family was estatic that their daughter had returned from the dead.
