March 21st, 2022
by Mike DePope
by Mike DePope

Monday, March 21
HEALING POWER by Madi Denton
Mark 5:24b-34
A swarm of people were following Jesus, crowding in on him. A woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a lot under the care of many doctors, and had spent everything she had without getting any better. In fact, she had gotten worse. Because she had heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes. She was thinking, If I can just touch his clothes, I’ll be healed. Her bleeding stopped immediately, and she sensed in her body that her illness had been healed.
At that very moment, Jesus recognized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?”
His disciples said to him, “Don’t you see the crowd pressing against you? Yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” But Jesus looked around carefully to see who had done it.
The woman, full of fear and trembling, came forward. Knowing what had happened to her, she fell down in front of Jesus and told him the whole truth. He responded, “Daughter, your faith has healed you; go in peace, healed from your disease.”
Reflection
My favorite line in this story is the last one. Jesus, after taking the time to find the woman who had touched him, takes a moment to stop and hear her story. She shares “the whole truth” with him, and then he sends her off in peace, healed.
The woman was suffering from a chronic illness that seems to have no cure. Instead, it was progressively getting worse. And so, in an act of courageous, brave, and desperately hopeful faith, she ventured into the crowd to seek healing through Jesus.
We know her physical ailments, but we can only guess the inner turmoil she endured. The anxiety, fear, frustration, anger, or resentment of not knowing what tomorrow would bring. That feeling of unsettled free fall into the unknown.
And after Jesus sends her out, we lose touch. We have no idea what happened to her. Did she encounter a full, healthy life beyond this encounter? That’s something we’ll never know.
But, we do know that Jesus didn’t just physically address what was happening to her. He also extended to her a sense of healing, hope, comfort and peace in her spirit. And, I believe that kind of healing is extended to us each and every day. Jesus wants to offer us a peace that surpasses all sense of understanding, especially when we’re confronted with situations or moments that leave our souls feeling broken and alone.
I chose to remain open to the possibility of the physical healing power of Jesus. I do believe this woman was healed. And yet, I know that this isn’t always the reality for the things we endure. I do, however, also believe the peace that Jesus offers is always healing to the internal hurt we carry so that we might experience joy and the fullness of life in every moment.
There’s healing that can come from vulnerably sharing our story with trusted others, especially when we feel seen and heard. Just like Jesus heard and healed this woman, I believe he wants to hear your story and grant you healing peace, also.
Questions for Contemplation
What does the knowledge of Jesus’ healing power mean to you? Have you experienced this healing before? What did that experience feel like?
Prayer
God,
We’re all in need of healing, in one form or another. We bring those things to you, with the hope that you’ll extend your peace that surpasses all understanding. Thank you for your willingness to listen as we honestly share what we’re going through, and for your eagerness to mend what’s going on inside of us. Amen.
A swarm of people were following Jesus, crowding in on him. A woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a lot under the care of many doctors, and had spent everything she had without getting any better. In fact, she had gotten worse. Because she had heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes. She was thinking, If I can just touch his clothes, I’ll be healed. Her bleeding stopped immediately, and she sensed in her body that her illness had been healed.
At that very moment, Jesus recognized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?”
His disciples said to him, “Don’t you see the crowd pressing against you? Yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” But Jesus looked around carefully to see who had done it.
The woman, full of fear and trembling, came forward. Knowing what had happened to her, she fell down in front of Jesus and told him the whole truth. He responded, “Daughter, your faith has healed you; go in peace, healed from your disease.”
Reflection
My favorite line in this story is the last one. Jesus, after taking the time to find the woman who had touched him, takes a moment to stop and hear her story. She shares “the whole truth” with him, and then he sends her off in peace, healed.
The woman was suffering from a chronic illness that seems to have no cure. Instead, it was progressively getting worse. And so, in an act of courageous, brave, and desperately hopeful faith, she ventured into the crowd to seek healing through Jesus.
We know her physical ailments, but we can only guess the inner turmoil she endured. The anxiety, fear, frustration, anger, or resentment of not knowing what tomorrow would bring. That feeling of unsettled free fall into the unknown.
And after Jesus sends her out, we lose touch. We have no idea what happened to her. Did she encounter a full, healthy life beyond this encounter? That’s something we’ll never know.
But, we do know that Jesus didn’t just physically address what was happening to her. He also extended to her a sense of healing, hope, comfort and peace in her spirit. And, I believe that kind of healing is extended to us each and every day. Jesus wants to offer us a peace that surpasses all sense of understanding, especially when we’re confronted with situations or moments that leave our souls feeling broken and alone.
I chose to remain open to the possibility of the physical healing power of Jesus. I do believe this woman was healed. And yet, I know that this isn’t always the reality for the things we endure. I do, however, also believe the peace that Jesus offers is always healing to the internal hurt we carry so that we might experience joy and the fullness of life in every moment.
There’s healing that can come from vulnerably sharing our story with trusted others, especially when we feel seen and heard. Just like Jesus heard and healed this woman, I believe he wants to hear your story and grant you healing peace, also.
Questions for Contemplation
What does the knowledge of Jesus’ healing power mean to you? Have you experienced this healing before? What did that experience feel like?
Prayer
God,
We’re all in need of healing, in one form or another. We bring those things to you, with the hope that you’ll extend your peace that surpasses all understanding. Thank you for your willingness to listen as we honestly share what we’re going through, and for your eagerness to mend what’s going on inside of us. Amen.
Posted in Lent Devotional 2022
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2025
January
Happy New Year // M-Note 1.4.2025Cancel the Noise // M-Note 1.11.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 1The Beloved Community // M-Note 01.18.2025Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 2What A Coincidence // M-Note 1.25.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 3Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 4The Original Influencer // M-Note 2.1.25
February
The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 1Exploring New Sites…And You’re Invited // M-Note 2.8.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 2Uncovering Implicit Bias // M-Note 2.15.2025A "Flurry" of Activity // M-Note 2.22.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 3The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 4
March
Beloved Community Action Steps // M-Note 3.1.25Vulnerability & Wilderness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 1Trusting the Spirit's Lead | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 2Courageous Connection | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 3What's Your Emotional IQ? // M-Note 3.8.25The Spaces Between Us | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 4Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 1Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9The Void of Grief | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 10Sending Forth // M-Note 3.15.25Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 2Journey Not Alone | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 11Friends Along the Way | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 12The Loneliness of Fear | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 13Not Through With You Yet | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 14Clinging to Hope | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 15Bring It To The King | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 16Pray When Unsteady | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 17Courage to Stand for Faith | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 18Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 3A Holy Rage | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 19Focus on What is Holy | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 20Fast for Justice and Kindness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 21The World is Harsh and Beautiful | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 22I Feel Sorry for Jesus | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 23i flipped a table once | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 24Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 4Ain’t Got Nothin’ | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 25
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
June
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