“This is just the way it is. Things will never change. It’s complete.”
Have you ever found yourself repeating these words to yourself – in your head and heart. You’ve struggled and struggled and struggled. Nothing’s changed. It could be your finances or a relationship. Maybe you have a habit you just can’t seem to break. In your heart, you’ve simply resigned to the fact, this is just the way it is.
Does it have to be this way forever?
Jesus’ ‘magical’ power.
There is a fascinating story in the book of Mark about Jesus healing a pair of women (one older and the other younger) who from all points of view should have been repeating those words themselves. This is just the way it is.
Jesus had crossed the Lake of Galilee, and as soon as he stepped out of the boat, he is approached by a local religious leader. The man’s twelve year old daughter is dying. No medicine has helped. No doctor has been able to intervene. Could Jesus come and speak his ‘magic’ words of power?
Jesus agreed to go with the man (Jairus), but on the way to the man’s home, Jesus is interrupted by a woman who has struggled with internal bleeding for twelve years. No medicine has helped. No doctor has been able to intervene. This womna wondered if simply touching the robe of Jesus could transfer his ‘magical’ power to her dying body?
The power of numbers
We don’t typically give the credit numbers in scripture deserve. Three of the most important numbers to pay attention to in the Bible are 3, 7 and 12.
The number twelve symbolizes two different but connected things in scripture – completion and God’s power and authority. There were twelve sons (who became tribes) of Jacob, the founding family of Israel. There were twelve disciples of Jesus. Within this completion of nation and community comes the power and authority of God.
Did you notice the connection between the two women in this story? One was twelve years old (a young, pre-teen woman), and the other a woman, who probably looked older than she was, has suffered from her affliction for twelve years. When one woman was born, the other woman began dealing with her physical ailment.
Now they both appear to be at the end of their lives.
Completion
In the case of the older woman, most people saw the illness as complete within her. It had been twelve years. I’m sure statements like, “This is just the way it is. Things will never change.” dominated her thinking. There was no real hope of healing – definitely not through the power of medicine. The woman was grasping at the last possible hope in front of her.
Jairus thought his daughter’s life, only twelve years old, was complete…over. On the path home with Jesus, a servant ran to them, giving the unfortunate news that the daughter was dead. “This is just the way it is. Nothing now can change.” invaded Jairus’ heart and mind. He was crushed.
Power + Authority
But the number twelve doesn’t just symbolize completion. Twelve also reflects God’s power and authority. The twelve tribes of Israel escaped the bondage of slavery in Egypt through the display of God’s power. The twelve disciples were given God’s authority to perform the same miracles Jesus did.
Jairus thought his daughter’s life was over. The woman considered her sickness a way of life…leading to her own death. But Jesus has the power to destroy the way things have always been. Jesus has the authority to make things different.
Because of the crowds surrounding Jesus, the woman could only get close enough to touch Jesus’ robe. Power leapt from Jesus, flowing into the woman. After twelve years, it wasn’t her sickness, but the woman’s healing that was complete.
Moving from his encounter with the woman to the home of Jairus, a crowd of mourners laughed at Jesus’ mention of the girl only being asleep. But with authority, Jesus entered her room. The girl’s life (and Jairus’) was not over. Her death wasn’t the way it was to be. Again with authority, Jesus spoke:
“Little girl, get up!”
Holding her hand, power flowed through Jesus. Her healing was complete.
Did these two women ever meet? I don’t know. But their stories are forever connected through the power and authority of God to complete the healing and change no one believed would come.
Your story isn’t complete.
Things don’t have to be the way they are. Things can change. The power and authority of Jesus is available to you. The story of both these women began with someone reaching out in faith…just a smidge of belief that God could change the way things are.
So, if it’s a financial hurdle or a broken relationship. Maybe you have a physical need or a habit that seems unbreakable. Reach out in faith, even the slightest bit of belief. God wants to complete a miracle in you through his power.
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