This is part of a year-long series. Learn more about this series here.

Matthew 9:18-19 ESV

While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples.

Reflection

The man tells Jesus that his daughter has died, but he also proclaims he believes she will be brought back to life if Jesus lays His hands on her. We must first see this man’s faith. He was not in denial about his daughter’s death, but he was equally convinced in Jesus’ ability to save her.

From here, Jesus’ actions speak louder than words. Two things about Jesus’ response to this man stood out to me that revealed His pastoral heart in a different way. Matthew does not record a response from Jesus to the man. He just tells us that Jesus “arose and followed him.” The two verbal ideas (“rose” and “followed”) painted a vivid picture in my mind as I read this. A man approached the Messiah for help, and the Messiah’s response was to rise and follow the man. Jesus didn’t postpone His help. He didn’t brush the man off. He wasn’t annoyed. He heard the man’s circumstances and proclamation of faith, and He simply got up from where He was and followed him. This image of the Messiah, the Savior God, rising up from where He sat and following a man He created reveals so much about the heart of God for His creation.