From Matthew 9:18-26 – Part 2 / Prayer of Faith – As noted before, Matthew arranges this small section so that the account of the woman with the issue of blood, and that of raising the Ruler’s daughter form the dead are interwoven. Matthew’s account is briefer than both Mark’s and Luke’s, but all tell us much about faith.

Note first then in Matthew’s brevity how he carefully he removes any foundation for any sort of magical notion that Jesus’ garment was the means by which she was healed. There is nothing here that could carry over into a theology of holy relics or objects. The woman was healed, when Jesus pronounced it so in vs. 22. “Take heart daughter; your faith has made you well. And instantly the woman was made well.” His robe wasn’t the means. Nor was it faith in the abstract. It was faith in Him. Otherwise, seeking Him out would have been superfluous. If faith can do something on its own, she didn’t need to go to Him. But faith, genuine faith, always brings us to Christ – to set our hopes on Him.

Like the woman, this man’s faith did not come about in a vacuum.

The other Gospels tell us his name was Jairus, his daughter was only about 12 years old, and that he was a ruler – a man of standing and influence in the local synagogue. Remember, all of these things are taking place in Jesus’ home town of Capernaum. Jairus would have been present when Jesus attended, taught and healed in that synagogue. He had already delivered a demonized man in that very same synagogue, and taught there many times. Jairus’ faith was predicated upon the works and words of Christ already. And once again, he did not just have some form of un-directed, generic belief. He came to Jesus. Faith always leads to Christ, not to just have faith in faith.

Note then how even when Jairus’ says his daughter was already dead, he still believed Jesus was able even to reverse death itself. Genuine faith in Christ assumes that nothing is impossible to Him. Jairus is convinced that if Jesus acted, even his dead daughter would live.

Note how Jesus responded. No hesitation, no discussion – He just rises to go. And how we must trust Him to act with the same alacrity every time we as His redeemed ones pray. We may not always have the answer we seek in the manner we seek it. His wisdom and love may override our concept of what ought to be done – as it did with the raising of Lazarus. But we must never doubt that our earnest pleas are met with an immediate response. When you cry out Believer, Christ Jesus rises.

The short delay in stopping to deal with the woman with the issue of blood must have seemed excruciating and unnecessary to Jairus. He may well meet the needs of others on the way to meet ours, but we need not worry. His grace is sufficient for all.

Note lastly how undaunted Jesus is by the great unbelief and even scorn of others. So the unbelievers laughed at Him? So what? His grace is not dependent on others. Though all the world reject and scorn Him, He cannot be stopped. Though Heaven and earth pass away, His Word will never pass away. Our confidence in Him ought to be entirely unshaken by the way we hear unbelievers ridicule, laugh, scorn or otherwise reject Him. Jesus Christ is Lord. Of all. And we can trust with all, in all. Praise His name forever!