“He who believes in the Son has eternal life…” John 3:36
Throughout the Gospels we learn about many who were rewarded because they believed. In faith they approached Jesus believing He would respond accordingly, and He did.
In Luke 8, my personal favorite, we hear about a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years. I can’t even begin to fathom what her life must have been like. She would have been considered ‘unclean’ and would have suffered in her relationships with others as a result. In her misery she felt drawn to Jesus, and dared to reach through the crowd just to touch the fringe of His cloak. She believed enough to reach out, and when found out, when exposed, she crumpled in a heap before Him. In the instant of that believing touch she had been healed. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Luke 8:48)
In Luke 18, we hear about a blind beggar along the roadside, who believed enough to cry out loudly to Jesus. People around him tried to silence him, but he would not be silenced. Hearing the blind beggar, Jesus asked to have him brought before Him. When the beggar explained that what he wanted was to see again, Jesus responded, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 18:42)
In Matthew 15, there is a mother who has a demon-possessed daughter. As a mother, I can imagine how utterly distraught she had become. She, too, began to call out loudly to Jesus. Even His own disciples found her shouting out so annoying that they asked Him to send her away. She persisted, and dared argue with Jesus, stating that even dogs were allowed the crumbs which fall from their master’s table. Jesus conceded to her saying, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” (Matthew 15:28) Then, He immediately healed the woman’s demon-possessed daughter.
In one more example, from Mark 9, there is a father with a demon-possessed son. He believes enough to ask Jesus’ disciples to drive out the demon. When they fail, he turns to Jesus asking Him to please help him, if He can. A little amazed, Jesus responds, “If you can? All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” (Matthew 9:23-24) And yes, here too, Jesus drove the demon out of the man’s son.
These are just a few of the Biblical examples. There are many more times where Jesus responded to someone who’s faith, who’s belief, was strong enough to approach Him and ask for what they needed, what they wanted. When He spoke after healing them, after driving out the demons, it was always to let them know that He had done so because they believed. Their faith had made it possible.
We must take to heart the words of Jesus, that “All things are possible to him who believes.” (Mk 9:23) And, if we struggle with truly accepting Him, truly believing Him, then let us at least reach out through the crowd to touch His cloak. Let us at least shout out to Him from afar. And in our doubt, let us be like the man with the demon-possessed son. Let us pray, Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief!
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