Uncomfortable (S1) - Day 18
Matthew 9:20-26
20 Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, 21 for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.”And the woman was healed at that moment. 23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. 24 “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. 25 After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside
20 Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, 21 for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.”And the woman was healed at that moment. 23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. 24 “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. 25 After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside
This is what happens when we come into contact with true holiness that is enabled by love. We all know these stories, we have read them many times. But when looked at in the context of holiness, we begin to realize that things like healing, and compassion, and mercy, are all outcomes of that love and holiness.
With Jesus, they were palpable. He was so set aside for this work and so full of the presence of love that he was able to heal and resurrect without even thinking about it. The woman simply touched his robe and she was healed, and he understood some of this power of love to have been transferred to her.
As well, when Jesus came into contact with death he was simply not having it. He was incensed that they would assume that she was dead when in his mind she was just sleeping. This is the power of love and holiness that rested in Jesus.
And love begets this holiness in Jesus, and this holiness in you as well. The power of love is more than we can even know. We have a tendency to underplay what love can do in our lives. And the truth is, we don’t seek to be holy because we have confused holiness and perfection. Those are not the same thing. If they were, then we would be in a pretty difficult situation. Even after our salvation is gifted to us by God through the grace of Jesus Christ, we still struggle with being perfect. We just can’t get there.
In fact, some would argue that if we were perfect, that is, without sin, then we would not need the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us. If we were to “make it” and live perfect lives, we still may not have love, that is what God considers perfection. To think that perfection is just the absence of sin is to vastly misunderstand what sin really is, and to greatly diminish the role that love plays in our lives.
With Jesus, they were palpable. He was so set aside for this work and so full of the presence of love that he was able to heal and resurrect without even thinking about it. The woman simply touched his robe and she was healed, and he understood some of this power of love to have been transferred to her.
As well, when Jesus came into contact with death he was simply not having it. He was incensed that they would assume that she was dead when in his mind she was just sleeping. This is the power of love and holiness that rested in Jesus.
And love begets this holiness in Jesus, and this holiness in you as well. The power of love is more than we can even know. We have a tendency to underplay what love can do in our lives. And the truth is, we don’t seek to be holy because we have confused holiness and perfection. Those are not the same thing. If they were, then we would be in a pretty difficult situation. Even after our salvation is gifted to us by God through the grace of Jesus Christ, we still struggle with being perfect. We just can’t get there.
In fact, some would argue that if we were perfect, that is, without sin, then we would not need the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us. If we were to “make it” and live perfect lives, we still may not have love, that is what God considers perfection. To think that perfection is just the absence of sin is to vastly misunderstand what sin really is, and to greatly diminish the role that love plays in our lives.
Questions:
- Have you ever conflated love and perfection?
- Do you think being perfect means to simply not sin?
- What can you do to move closer to the love and power that comes from Jesus’ holiness?
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2 Comments
Really appreciate this today! Thank you. Bringing more clarity. Praise God.
One of the coolest statements to me in the Bible is when someone says Here I am. Openness, revelation, commitment deepens love. I am here because He is near.