Day 2: Made Whole by Jesus
Bible passage: Luke 8:42–48
An Interruption on the Way
Today is Sunday 2nd of January 2022. Welcome to Day 2 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Yesterday we saw that shalom begins with forgiveness. Today we see that God’s peace also restores what has been broken.
In Luke 8, Jesus is hurrying to the home of Jairus, a synagogue leader whose young daughter is dying. The crowd is pressing in on every side. And in that crowd is a woman nobody has noticed.
Twelve Years of Waiting
More Than a Medical Problem
Luke tells us she had been bleeding for twelve years and that nobody had been able to cure her. That was only part of her pain. Under the Law of Moses her condition made her ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 15:25–27), so for twelve years she had been kept from the temple and from ordinary human touch. Mark adds that she had spent everything she had on doctors.
She was unwell, alone, poor and shut out of worship. She did not just need a symptom to stop. She needed her whole life back.
A Risky Reach
So she takes a risk. She pushes through the crowd, comes up behind Jesus and touches the edge of His robe. At once the bleeding stops.
She would have been happy to slip away unnoticed. But Jesus stops and asks who touched Him. Trembling, she falls at His feet and tells the whole story in front of everyone.
Jesus Stops for You
From Hidden to Known
Why did Jesus make her speak? Because He wanted to give her more than healing. He looks at her and says, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Luke 8:48 (NLT)
With one word, a woman who had been pushed to the edges for twelve years is named as family, in public. Her body is healed, her dignity is restored and her place among God’s people is given back. That is shalom.
Notice too that Jesus stopped. An important man was waiting and a child was dying, yet He was not too busy for her. He is not too busy for you either.
Bring Him Your Longest Prayer
Name it. What have you been praying about for the longest time? Bring it to Jesus again today, however tired your faith feels.
Reach again. Her faith was desperate, and Jesus honoured it. You do not need perfect faith. You need faith that reaches for Him.
Stand with someone. Think of a person living with long-term illness or pain. Pray for their healing and their wholeness today.
The psalmist admits that his health and spirit may fail, yet he declares that God is the strength of his heart for ever (Psalm 73:26). And Paul prays that the God of hope will fill us with joy and peace as we trust in Him (Romans 15:13). Trust Him with your need today.
Prayer for Today:
Lord Jesus, thank You that You stop for me. I bring You the need I have carried for so long. I reach out to You again in faith. Heal what is sick, restore what has been lost and make me whole. I also lift to You those who are suffering today. Touch them and give them Your peace. In Your name, Amen.
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