John 4:19-26
Jesus Declares Himself the Messiah
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
Matthew 9:18-26
Jesus Raises a Young Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.”But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.
Many thought the Messiah, the One to come from the Old Testament prophecies would be a military man, a strong man, one who would help lead Israel out of any troubled times and any enemy occupation...The Messiah would make their country strong among the world...And Jesus did come when the country of Israel was occupied by Rome and Roman Soldiers...So one might think that He would have freed His country of Israel of this occupation...And He could have...He certainly had the authority and power to free His country...But He came to earth and was not a Man of force or of military...His mission was different than that, and what others thought...Jesus was a Traveling Rabbi, who went teaching from village to village...And if He was opposed, He was probably much more opposed (as well as controversial) among His own people than He was with the Romans, who occupied Israel...In fact, His opposition, seemed to center around those who knew the most about God and religion...This despite Him being sent by God...
Jesus was more interested in something other than force or defeating enemies in one's country...He would teach about God and faith...Jesus came and touches our hearts and our souls...This was important to Him...He surely touched the heart of the Samaritan woman at the well, when she discovered He was the Messiah to come...He spoke with His soft-humble words and was conversational and personal to those He met...And no doubt He touched the hearts of the mother of the deceased daughter, and the bleeding woman of twelve years...He wanted to help the sick woman...Jesus turned and saw her...“Take heart, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.”...And the woman was healed at that moment...
The Samaritan woman at the well, the mother and the sick woman, would no doubt leave Jesus, loving Him...Mostly because He had touched their hearts...He was different and unique...They had felt something in their hearts about Him...Something was felt in their souls...He was not a man of force or brawn in helping others...No, He is a Man who touches the heart and soul...Jesus teachings were not overpowering speeches on strength, but soft humble words of LOVE...As many people expected, the Messiah to come would save Israel, which He did...And He also saved the world...But He did save the world, and more specifically man...He saved us of our own sins...He did not come to save the world of Roman soldiers or save countries who had been invaded by their enemies...No He came to save the sinners' soul...And the method He used to save the world was LOVE...He uses His Divine Wisdom to touch the hearts and souls of those who believe in Him and the force He used was LOVE...
Jesus' Words are from His heart, and He touches our heart...