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JESUS’ AUTHORITY OVER ILLNESS (MARK 5:21-43) LENT DAY 34

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Jesus’ authority over illness”. Jesus has authority over illness means that He has power or dominion over infirmities.Jesus was on His way to heal the daughter of Jairus, one of the rulers of the synagogue. A woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years without any remedy came through the crowd that followed Jesus to touch the garment of Jesus and was healed. Jesus confirmed that her faith had healed her and told her to go in peace. Similarly, Jesus resurrected the daughter of Jairus when she died. We shall reflect on the fact that we must us have faith in Jesus because He has authority over sickness.

The woman who had the issue of the blood we are told “had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.” (Mark 5:26). In other words, her condition could be described as a state of hopelessness. It is at this time that most doctors who are considerate would put her on medication that will manage the flow of the blood but not to cure her. The twelve years might have been the most challenging years in the life of the woman. Her medical condition brought her loneliness, total discomfort, and financial hardship. These conditions are the very reason many of us give up in life and eventually find ourselves in a state of despair.

The woman with issue of the blood, may have been physically, emotionally and financially drained but there was one thing left in her which kept her fighting for a cure, and that is her faith. The woman was a faith fighter. “She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.” (Mark 5:27-29). The crowd was her obstacle but considering the many challenges she had gone through already, the crowd will not stop her, she fought her way through and reached out to the garment of Jesus in faith and was healed free of charge. After many years of spending money to seek cure without success, her healing came through faith in Jesus because He is the only one who has authority over illness.

Dear friend in the Lord, Have you given up searching for a job because your job applications have been turned down on a number of occasions? Have you given up on the search for a life partner because of the disappointments you have had in your past relationships? Have you given up on your business because of the challenges you are facing in it? Have you given up on your education because of the exams you failed and have to rewrite? What is your current challenge and situation of hopelessness? Remember, for twelve (12) agonising years, the woman with the issue of the blood, suffered and had to go through the condition of continues flow of blood and financial hardship but what set her apart from those who may have been following Jesus with other life’s challenges is that she was a faith fighter. Jesus indeed confirmed it when He said to her “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mark 5:34).

Don’t sit down in sorrow, cry and complain to people all day long about your predicament. Faith and praying without ceasing in hope yields results. Where there is life, there is hope. Be hopeful and be encouraged that “they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31). What is causing you to lose faith and to constantly live in fear, frustration and despair? Jairus might have felt hopeless and frustrated when he was informed, ” Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” (Mark 5:35) But Jesus assured him, “Do not fear, only believe…Taking her by the hand he said to her “Talitha cum” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking…” (Mark 5:36,41-42). Dear friend in the Lord, is there anything too hard for Jesus to do in our lives? He has demonstrated that He has authority over illness and death, therefore, anyone who accepts Him as Lord and Saviour will share in His authority to overcome the storms in his or her life.

In summary, we have reflected on theme “Jesus’ authority over illness” We have been greatly encouraged to have faith in Jesus because He has authority over sickness. Shalom.

PRAYER

Our Lord and Master Jesus, make our faith strong to always depend on you even in the most challenging conditions of our lives. Amen.