Are you waiting for the extraordinary?

“So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting forHim.” (Luke 8.40)

When the people of that city heard rumours that Jesus of Nazareth would pass by, they were filled with joy. They heard about the amazing things He had done in neighbouring cities and everyone was talking about them. It was so exciting to have Him walk among them. Some people believed that He was the Messiah they had been waiting for and so for them, it was a truly remarkable day.

Crowds quickly gathered and before long there was a multitude of people waiting to greet that Man who would probably do so much for them. I imagine that there were poor widows, orphans, elderly, disabled and sick people, and even those who were just curious, all hanging around expecting to be touched by the Messiah. In the midst of this multitude were a desperate father and a very sick woman.

When Jesus got to the city, the multitude pressed him, they were like a horde of fans fighting for His attention when Jairus, the father of a 12-year-old girl who was about to die, fell on his feet in tears and begged Jesus to go to his house to see his daughter. He was her only hope.

Jesus had compassion on that man and agreed to go to his house. But while they were on their way, something very different happened that caused Him to stop: “And Jesus said, ‘Who touched Me?’ When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, ‘Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” But Jesus said, ‘Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” (Luke 8.45-46)

Who was this person that without even being noticed or spoken to, somehow managed to draw power from Jesus? That person was someone who had done all that she possibly could! She’d been suffering the pain and humiliation of having a constant issue of blood for 12 years. She’d spent all her money on doctors and medicine that did not help. Now, she was endangering her fragile body to fight through the crowds for a chance to experience the impossible. In her faith she determined that if she could only touch just the hem of his garment, she would be made well.

Doing all that you can means doing absolutely everything within your power to achieve what you desire. When there’s nothing else to be done, act your faith, and then the miracle will take place.

But if you are not bold enough, or willing to take the actions that you know you are supposed to take, your faith will be unresponsive and as much as God wants to help, not even He will do it for you. What about Jairus? He was also blessed - but not immediately.

He faced a long journey home, where he had to resist the doubts in order to keep his faith alive. Your faith, expressed by your action will determine if the results you want are coming to pass or not. But are you going to wait for the extraordinary or will you touch Jesus and make it happen?