Jesus Helps Us Where We Are
Keith W. Kress
People are different, and we all react to events in our lives in different ways. Jesus surely knows this, and I believe the scriptures clearly reveal His personalized care of individuals. We would do well also to learn to help others in an individual manner. As we consider Jesus’ compassion, let us notice His care for three individuals.
In Mark 5, we read of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, whose daughter was very ill. “And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly saying ‘My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.’ So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.” Mark 5:22-23 Jairus had great faith in the Lord, but his faith required Jesus to physically come to his house and touch his daughter to heal her. Jesus understood his faith and complied with Jairus’ desires. We find later in the chapter in verses 41-43 that his daughter was healed by the Lord.
Also in Mark 5, as Jesus was on His way to the house of Jairus, He encountered a woman who had had an issue of bleeding for several years. “Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, ‘If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”’ Mark 5:25-28 This woman had great faith, but her faith required only that she touch the clothing of Jesus to be healed of her bleeding. In verse 29, we see that she was healed, and, in verse 34, Jesus indicated that her healing was the result of her faith.
Then, in Matthew 8, we read of a Roman centurion who had a sick servant. “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” Matthew 8:5-8 This Roman’s faith was commended highly by Jesus. (10) He had great faith, but his faith only required Jesus to speak a word to heal his servant. In verse 13, we are told that the centurion’s servant was healed when Jesus spoke the word.
We have three individuals with varying degrees of faith: one needing Jesus’ presence and touch, another needing only to touch His clothing, and the third only needing Jesus to speak the words from afar. However, the needs of all three individuals were accommodated by the Lord. Jesus said to the centurion, “... Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” Matthew 8:13
No matter the degree of our faith, if we believe, the Lord will meet our needs, and we can fully trust in Him. -130 Chapel Hill Rd., Zanesville, OH 43701.