As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.” So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment. When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside. After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” “Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about this.” But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region. When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus. So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed. But the Pharisees said, “He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons.” Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
Matthew 9:18-38 NLT
Jesus does incredible things when we have faith. In each of these stories of healing, there was incredible faith. The father asked Jesus to bring his daughter back from death; he trusted that Jesus could do it. The woman reached out in faith and touched the hem of His robe. And Jesus specifically asked the blind men if they believed, and they said yes! True faith is not just “knowing” Jesus is capable; it is active trust. The woman had to reach out, the father had to travel, the men had to speak their trust. So often our “faith” is dead—nothing more than mental assent—and we wonder why we don’t see the wonders of God. Real faith is a living trust in Jesus.
This chapter ends with Jesus being moved to compassion for the crowds. He did not despise them. Jesus didn’t tell His followers to do all the work but pray for workers. Pray and work—all with Jesus. It is still about faith, active trust. As we trust Him, He changes us from observers to workers, to make a difference in the world.
In what specific ways could you say your faith is “active trust” in Jesus—not just mental assent or religious routines? How can you make sure your faith includes social connections? How can you make sure your faith is more than just social connections?
