Encounters With Jesus: Two Hurting Women

·36 min·3 clips

A woman who has been bleeding for 12 years, ostracized and broke, risks everything to secretly touch the fringe of Jesus's garment.

The episode begins with Jeremy Stevens giving a brief update on the Union Gospel Mission's building project in Lewiston, mentioning that permits are expected and construction will start soon. He then transitions to the main topic, continuing the 'Encounters With Jesus' series by focusing on Matthew 9:18-26. Stevens reads the passage, which describes Jairus, a synagogue ruler, asking Jesus to heal his daughter who has just died, and a woman with a 12-year issue of blood who touches Jesus's garment and is healed. He provides backstory, explaining that Jesus had just calmed a storm and healed a demon-possessed man before returning to crowds. Stevens sets the scene for Jairus, noting his high social status and the risk he takes by humbling himself before Jesus, whom the synagogue leaders typically opposed. He describes Jairus's desperation as a parent, coming to Jesus not out of deep faith but out of need. The episode then shifts to the woman, detailing her 12 years of suffering, which made her ceremonially unclean and ostracized from society. Stevens cites the Talmud, listing absurd ancient cures for her condition, to highlight her despair and the lengths she went to for healing. He explains her act of touching Jesus's garment as a superstitious but genuine expression of faith. Stevens emphasizes that Jesus feels power leave him and calls her out, not to condemn her but to publicly affirm her healing and call her 'daughter,' restoring her to community. He compares her faith to a mustard seed, small and uninformed but honored by Jesus. The episode contrasts Jairus's situation, as messengers arrive to say his daughter has died, and Jesus encourages him to have faith. Stevens describes Jesus gently raising the girl by saying 'Little lamb, arise.' He reflects on how both characters represent humanity's need for healing and how Jesus meets people where they are with kindness and power. Stevens shares a personal anecdote about his first encounter with Jesus during worship, where he moved from resisting emotional expression to surrendering in tears. The episode concludes with an invitation for listeners to seek their own encounter through worship and prayer, led by the prayer and worship teams.

As heard by us

A sermon where a desperate reach toward Jesus makes messy faith tangible.

Jeremy Stevens continues the Encounter series with a sermon centered on the woman who has spent all she has seeking relief from an issue of blood.

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Why you'd press play

Hear desperation become faith as a woman reaches for Jesus' garment after spending all she had and suffering under many physicians.

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