Matthew 9:18-22: a reflection

18While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19Jesus got up and followed him, as did his disciples. 20Behold, a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; 21for she said within herself, “If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, “Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

When a ruler comes to Jesus in the depths of grief, his daughter having just died, he brings even this seemingly hopeless situation to Jesus with faith, believing Jesus can restore her. My daughter has just died, he says, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live. His daughter was already dead; by every human reckoning, the situation was beyond hope. And yet he came to Jesus, believing that even now Jesus could do what no one else could, could bring life where there was death; and Jesus rose and followed him. This shows that we can bring even the seemingly hopeless situation to Jesus with faith. Bring even the hopeless situation to Jesus with faith. The ruler brought his dead daughter to Jesus, believing. Even where hope seems gone, we can bring it to Jesus. Jesus can act even in situations that seem beyond hope.

Notice the faith of this grieving father. His daughter was not merely sick, but had already died; the situation was, by every human measure, hopeless, beyond any remedy. And yet he came to Jesus, and asked him to come and lay his hand on her, believing that even in the face of death, Jesus could restore her to life. This is a striking faith: not merely that Jesus could heal a sickness, but that he could act even where hope seemed entirely gone, even against death itself. And Jesus honored this faith, rising and following him. This encourages us to bring even our seemingly hopeless situations to Jesus. There are times when a situation seems beyond all hope, past any remedy, as dead as this man's daughter; and we can be tempted to think there is no point in bringing it to Jesus, that it is too far gone. But the ruler brought even his dead daughter to Jesus in faith, and Jesus is Lord even over what seems most hopeless, even over death. We can bring even our most hopeless situations to him, trusting that he is able to act where all other hope is gone. We can bring even the seemingly hopeless situation to Jesus, who is Lord over all. Do not think any situation too far gone to bring to Jesus. Jesus is able to act even where all other hope is gone. Bring your most hopeless situations to Jesus in faith.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can bring even our most seemingly hopeless situations to Jesus in faith, trusting that he is able to act where all other hope is gone, as the ruler brought his dead daughter to Jesus and Jesus followed him. We can think a situation too far gone to bring to Jesus, past any remedy, as hopeless as death; but the ruler brought even his dead daughter to Jesus, believing, and Jesus honored his faith. Jesus is Lord even over what seems most hopeless. When a situation seems beyond all hope, do not think it too far gone; bring it to Jesus in faith, who is able to act even there. Bring even your most seemingly hopeless situations to Jesus in faith, trusting that he is able to act where all other hope is gone, as the ruler, whose daughter had just died so that by every human reckoning the situation was beyond hope, came to Jesus and said, come and lay your hand on her, and she will live, and Jesus rose and followed him; for there are times when a situation seems past any remedy, as dead as this man's daughter, and we can be tempted to think there is no point in bringing it to Jesus, that it is too far gone, but this grieving father brought even his dead daughter to Jesus in faith, believing that even against death Jesus could act, and Jesus honored that faith, so that Jesus is Lord even over what seems most hopeless, even over death itself, and we can bring even our most hopeless situations to him, trusting that he is able to act where all other hope is gone.

Lord Jesus, when a ruler comes to you in the depths of grief, his daughter having just died, he brings even this seemingly hopeless situation to you with faith, believing you can restore her. My daughter has just died, he says, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live. His daughter was already dead; by every human reckoning, the situation was beyond hope. And yet he came to you, believing that even now you could do what no one else could, could bring life where there was death; and you rose and followed him. This shows that I can bring even the seemingly hopeless situation to you with faith. Show me the faith of this grieving father. His daughter had already died; the situation was, by every human measure, hopeless, beyond any remedy. And yet he came to you, believing that even in the face of death, you could restore her to life. This is a striking faith: not merely that you could heal a sickness, but that you could act even where hope seemed entirely gone, even against death itself. And you honored this faith, rising and following him. This encourages me to bring even my seemingly hopeless situations to you. There are times when a situation seems beyond all hope, past any remedy; and I can be tempted to think there is no point in bringing it to you, that it is too far gone. But the ruler brought even his dead daughter to you in faith, and you are Lord even over what seems most hopeless, even over death. Take that to my heart, for I can bring even my most seemingly hopeless situations to you in faith. When a situation seems beyond all hope, keep me from thinking it too far gone; help me bring it to you, Lord, in faith, trusting that you are able to act even where all other hope is gone, as the ruler brought his dead daughter to you.