Today I am reminded of two stories found in the Gospel of Mark:

• The story of the woman with the issue of blood. She had both a unique and personal encounter with Jesus that resulted in her healing. Due to her issue of blood, this woman was ceremonially unclean – she was an outcast. She had lost all purpose and identity within society. You can read the entire account in
  Mark 5: 24-34.
• The story of the paralyzed man lowered through the roof of a home by his friends. This man had also lost his identity and purpose within society as his infirmity left him to being a beggar. The entire account can be found in Mark 2: 1-12.

Both of these people had lost their identities due to the restrictions placed upon them by the Law and society. Yet here is an interesting thought:

Along with healing each of these people, Christ also restored their identity and their relationship with Him.

With the woman, Christ says: “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” (Mark 5: 34 NIV).

With the paralytic, Christ says: “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2: 5 NIV).

Christ calls one, “Daughter” and one “Son”. Each title is indicative of an identity. He restores not only health but dignity and purpose to each of them. To each of them, Christ restores relationship as both are familial terms. Both are made whole, not only in their bodies, but their minds and emotions are restored as well, enabling them to reenter society.

God calls each of us into relationship with Him. He desires to free us from those things which would hold us back from being all that He created us to be. He longs to restore identity, dignity, and purpose to each of our lives. May each one of us grab onto this truth today.

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God & co-heirs with Christ.”
( Romans 8: 15-17a NIV)

This is a revised version of an earlier post.

Today I am joining … Testimony Tuesday and Unite and True Story .