March 7 | Matthew 9:27-31
- Todd Marti
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Some Dynamics of Healing
By Todd Marti
This week’s readings mostly focused on Jesus’ healings. Today’s reading continues that. Read together, they highlight three important dynamics.
First, faith is essential. In today’s reading Jesus asked the men seeking healing if they “believe[d] that I am able to do this,” and said that their healing would “be done . . . according to [their] faith.” Matthew 9:28, 29 (NASB). We saw that component earlier this week; Jesus either spoke of the importance of faith or the folks seeking healing showed their faith in Jesus’s ability to heal. Mark 5:36; John 4:50-53; Matthew 8:2.
Does that mean that God withholds His favor from those who sometimes doubt? No. He understands that we are all plagued by doubt at times and still accepts us if we bring our doubts to Him. We see that in the lives of Abraham and John the Baptist; both had bouts of doubt, both brought them to God, but rather than ending His relationship with them, God doubled down on them. Genesis 15; Luke 7:18-30. We also see that in Jesus’ interaction with the father of a boy the Disciples were unable to heal. Mark 9:21-28. See also Fear does not equal Failure and Doubt does not equal Disqualification. God is eager to bring us back from doubt.
Second, action is usually essential too. For the most part, Jesus’ healings came after folks took action to obtain them. In Matthew 9:27-28, the blind men had to follow Jesus as he moved from one spot to another, call out to Him, and take the bold step of going into the building He entered. In Matthew 8:1-3 the lepers defied social conventions to get to Jesus. In John 4:46-54; Luke 4:38-39 and Mark 5:21-24 folks took specific actions to get Jesus to heal others.
What does that look like today, now that Jesus has ascended into heaven? Two things come to mind. One is serious prayer; we can bring our and others’ maladies to Jesus that way. Another is diligently pursuing the diets, therapies, exercises, and other remedies God uses to heal through medical professionals.
Third, persistence is often necessary. In today’s reading the blind men had to keep after Jesus; they were not healed the first time they called out to Him. Matthew 9:27-29. The healings Jairus and the royal official sought for their children came only after what must have been excruciating delays. Mark 5:21-43; John 4:46-53. We must accept that God moves on His own, ultimately better, schedule and keep focusing on Him while we wait for it to unfold. See generally, What We Can Learn From Jairus: Healing Can Be Hard (scroll to the blue text).
Does that mean that healing is guaranteed if those dynamics are present? No. Most of us have diligently and persistently made faith filled prayers for healings that did not come. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 tells us that St. Paul was not healed of an affliction despite his diligent, persistent, and no doubt faithful prayers. Sometimes God has reasons for denying healing that we will not understand in this life. See generally, What We Can Learn From Jairus: Some Who, Whys, and Responses to Hardship (scroll to the blue text). We simply must accept that and keep praying for help with the situation.
PRAYER
Jesus, please draw us to you when we or those we care about are hurting. Help us to recall the many times you healed us and others, so we believe that you are able to heal. Help us to see and do our parts in bringing about the healings we seek. Direct your Holy Spirit to help us to keep at it and not lose heart. Amen.
Additional Resources
For more on this topic check out the meditations collected at What We Can Learn from Jairus: Collected (scroll down to the blue text)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TODD MARTI
I have been connected to UALC since 2000 in various small groups and as a co-manager of the UALC Community Garden. I’m married to Kelly Marti, and the proud father of Sarah Marti. I am happy to be writing these devotions.