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Overcoming Peace-Takers
Brian Mashburn
May 7, 2006
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Killing The Peace-Takers
The woman in Mark 12 had been suffering for 12 years. Her particular suffering was caused (only in part, we'll see shortly) by a physical infirmity. She had tried everything. All the doctors, all the medicines, to the point that she had spent all that she had looking for peace in her body. She heard about Jesus, and decided that if she merely touched His clothes she would be healed. She managed her way through the crowd enough to do so. Sure enough, she was healed.
But her suffering hadn't stopped. Physically it did, but emotionally, she was still suffering. Jesus, feeling power flowing out of Him, asked out loud, "Who touched my clothes?" (vs. 30) But she was afraid to show herself.
Why was she afraid? That she had taken liberties that she shouldn't have? That some payment might be required that she couldn't afford? I don't know. And I don't need to. All I know is that she was still suffering and still needed Jesus to finish the job. The story continues and finishes happy...
"Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at His feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.'"
(vs. 33-34)
This particular woman had at least two "peace takers" in her life... her bodily ailment and her emotional one. Interesting to me is that in both cases it is the truth that set her free and flooded her, body and soul, with peace. Jesus, the Truth, and her telling "Him the whole truth" combined for a mighty one-two punch against the peace-takers in her life and left her "in peace" and "freed from her suffering".
What about you? What are your peace-takers? Tell the truth and find your chance at freedom from them. Go to the Truth and touch the Power that will allow you the "peace that passes understanding" that is available to disciples of Jesus.