Giving God The Glory

Luke 8:40-56

The Gadarenes asked Jesus to leave, and he did so. God respects human wishes. Later, he instructed the Apostles, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city,” in Mark 6:11. They were not to try to force their opinion on the people, nor are we. Jesus has set the example already, and when he returned, apparently to Capernaum, where he had done much of his ministry, the people were glad to have him come again.

"And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying.” (Luke 8:40-42)**

Jairus was a member of the group most likely to reject Jesus, and even he recognized Jesus power and welcomed his return. What a contrast to the Gadarenes. Everyone was clamoring to get close enough to hear what he would say and see what he would do. There was probably quit a bit of jostling and touching one another.

“But as he went the people thronged him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.” (Luke 8:43-44)

For twelve years one woman had lived with constant slow blood loss, and the resulting anemia. Nothing the doctors had tried had made a significant change, although they had charged her everything she had to live on. Hoping for a miracle, and probably embarrassed about the problem, she secretly reached out and deliberately touched his clothing. Healing was instantaneous, but she wasn’t able to stay hidden.

“And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.” (Luke 8:45-46)

Many people who come to the Lord are like this woman, believing he can and will heal them, but afraid or ashamed to draw public attention. They accept the Lord secretly, and like the woman are healed instantly. I suspect that the majority of people who respond to an invitation to be saved have already been saved before they start down the aisle.

Jesus insisted that she reveal what had happened however. God wants us to acknowledge what he has done and give him the glory. In the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17: 17, it is clear that he was concerned that most were not appreciative of what God had done. “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” Their giving him glory was not required for healing, but appreciation should have produced at least an acknowledgement. For the new Christian, being baptized is a way of acknowledging that God has saved us and giving him glory.

“And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” (Luke 8:47-48)

Acknowledging what God had done would have minimal effect on others, but it makes us aware of what has happened to us. Obedience also allows God to reassure us of the benefit. Jesus reassured the woman of the reality of her healing when she acknowledged it. The Holy Spirit uses Baptism to make our salvation more real to us, and blesses us because of our obedience. Refusal to obey implies we don’t appreciate what he has done.

“While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.” (Luke 8:49-53)

It is amazing how inconsistent our view of God is. We believe he created the world, and that he can heal some diseases, but think raising someone from the dead is impossible. Mary thought it terrible Jesus didn’t get there in time to prevent Lazarus’ death. The people believed Jesus could heal Jairus’ daughter, but once she expired, they gave up hope. People do not distinguish the difference between the first and second death. The physical death is just a time of sleep for the body. For God, raising her from physical death was nothing more than waking someone from a nap.

“And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.” (Luke 8:54-56)

There was no special ritual observed, Jesus simply woke her up. She arose, healed of the disease, but her body functioned normally. She was hungry and needed to be fed. It was no big deal to him, but her parents thought it was. The people knew she had died, and the fact of her being alive would speak for itself. To make a big deal of it could have a serious emotional impact on the girl. Jesus minimized that effect by the way he dealt with the situation. God's concern for us is unbelievable. The people who knew would give God the glory.

** When the verse divisions were put in they frequently ignored both punctuation and paragraphs divisions. Verse 42 is a combination of the last sentence of the previous paragraph with first sentence of the following paragraph. Properly dividing the statements enhances the meaning. The verse divisions are man’s addition, and sometimes hamper understanding.