711 Not Too Late

Have you been waiting? Waiting for things to get better? Waiting for a breakthrough? Waiting for a change? Waiting for an answer to your prayers? Have you been waiting so long you’re beginning to question if God is really for you? Are you being punished for something in this delay? What is God doing in your delay? How is he working in your frustration? In Luke chapter 9 we read the story of a desperate father seeking Jesus to save his little girl. There are many stories of healing in the Bible, but something interesting happens in the middle of this particular story which is so applicable to our own stories. As I read from Luke 9: 41-55, notice the interruption. Look for the delay and the frustration in the seemingly worst timing. “A man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come home with him. His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. (Okay, so this desperate man has gotten the attention of Jesus and he must have felt great relief because now Jesus is going with him. They’re heading in the right direction.) Then it says: A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.” (Imagine the disciples are like, yo Jesus, we’re on a mission here. We’re on our way to save this dying little girl, you don’t have time to worry about who in this huge crowd touched you. Hundreds of people have brushed up against you. Let’s go. We don’t have time for this delay!) But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” (Oh snap, Jesus knew! You see there’s a difference between bumping into Jesus and intentionally reaching out to him. That difference is life changing. I have to wonder, have you just been bumping into Jesus by listening to these devotionals and occasionally throwing up a obligatory prayer, or are you intentionally reaching for him? Are you here seeking him today? Because if you are, power is going out from him! Life changing power. Chain breaking power. Healing power. Restoring power. Renewing power. All these people in the crowd were bumping into Jesus, but his power was only released when someone deliberately touched him. Girl, reach out!) It goes on to say: When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. (Okay understand this woman is telling Jesus her life story. ‘Well Jesus you see 12 years ago I got sick. I went to the local doctor and he said take this pill, and I did for like 5 days and nothing happened. So I went back and he put me on another pill. Then Jesus, I broke out in the hives. Oh it was itchy and I was miserable ya know. So I saved up all my money and went to the doctor across town that my neighbor recommended. And let me tell you what he said … Her whole life story was being told here and remember who is waiting on Jesus still? Jairus, the father who is desperately trying to lead Jesus to his little girl. His need is urgent. His family is in crisis. He had Jesus going in his direction, now he’s delayed because Jesus in all his patience is standing there listening to this woman’s life story. Imagine how he must have felt standing there, waiting. Then Jesus said to the woman who had been sick for 12 years “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus. He told him,