Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

The spectacular display of sunlight, blue sky, and green cedars helps to minimize the fact that every square inch of the area in view needs attention. Whew!

I want to take on a jog as soon as I send this off. Then I’ll attempt to launch some strategies for dealing with the big list.

Have a great day within the boundaries of PEACE.

Love, Dad/Ray.

“Daughter?” Was that just a social formality? She was probably older than Jesus in the flesh. But then in reality He, as the “Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13), was infinitely older.

Is it possible that the status of daughter-hood that Jesus ascribes to this woman is related to the equation of John 1:12?—“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” I have reason to think so.

Where did this woman get this idea?—“If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Did she just hear some of the local reports of Jesus’ ministry and become hyper-optimistic with hope? Was she just running on some ignorant magic-like fantasy similar to, “When you wish upon a star your dreams come true?—or you win the lottery?” I’m inclined to believe that there was a divinely-inspired origin to that notion—a gift of faith imparted by the Holy Spirit. That’s why Jesus could say, “Your faith has healed you.” In other words, “Your embracing and acting upon the gift of faith imparted to you is the basis for your gift of healing.”

It’s again apparent to me that God kind of enjoys scaring the starch out of people. (After all, since He’s the One Who put the starch into people in the first place, He has every right!) Jesus said, “Who touched my clothes?”—as though He didn’t know exactly who, when, where, and why. The woman displays a wild ride on an emotional roller-coaster—and Jesus just let it happen. Here she was thrilled out of her mind to sense that she was finally healed—but a few seconds later “fell at his feet, trembling with fear” (v. 33). It seems to me like Jesus knew that this woman needed something more than just a healing—she also needed to articulate a statement of heart-level faith and tell Him “the whole truth” (v. 33)—not because He needed to hear, but because she, along with those around her, needed to hear and be impacted by her verbal confession of faith. (Romans 10:9-10)

“Go in peace and be freed from your suffering” (v. 34). Can you imagine a better way to live? Can you imagine any form of suffering more intense than that which is void of peace?