The Bible

 

Matthew 9:18-26 : Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman

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18 While He was thus speaking, a Ruler came up and profoundly bowing said, "My daughter is just dead; but come and put your hand upon her and she will return to life."

19 And Jesus rose and followed him, as did also His disciples.

20 But a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with haemorrhage came behind Him and touched the tassel of His cloak;

21 for she said to herself, "If I but touch His cloak, I shall be cured."

22 And Jesus turned and saw her, and said, "Take courage, daughter; your faith has cured you." And the woman was restored to health from that moment.

23 Entering the Ruler's house, Jesus saw the flute-players and the crowd loudly wailing,

24 and He said, "Go out of the room; the little girl is not dead, but asleep." And they laughed at Him.

25 When however the place was cleared of the crowd, Jesus went in, and on His taking the little girl by the hand, she rose up.

26 And the report of this spread throughout all that district.

Commentary

 

Meditate On What God Says About You

By Todd Beiswenger


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Our mind is running all the time, thoughts pouring in for good and for bad. We have a choice as to which thoughts we are going to focus on, and if we can focus on what God says about us we can be happy, grateful and blessed.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 2892; Isaiah 26:3, 60:1-2; Joshua 1:8; Luke 8:49-50; Matthew 9:27-30; Psalms 20:7)

Commentary

 

Touch

  

Imagine having your mother touch your cheek. Then imagine having your spouse or someone you love romantically touch your cheek. Then imagine having a baby touch your cheek. Then imagine having someone you hate and fear touch your cheek. They're very different feelings, aren't they? They all involve the same nerve endings, stimulated in basically the same ways, but with emotional content that varies to every point of the compass. This is because the sense of touch communicates and actually conveys emotion, communicates and conveys love (both good and bad) between people. That's why the Lord so often touched people as a way of healing them; through touch he could convey His love, which is life itself, to the people he touched. It's also why the people of Israel were not to touch the Ark of the Covenant -- their base loves would be conveyed to the holiness represented by the Ark.