The End of Labels

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. - Matthew 9:22

A woman who’s been labelled as ‘unclean’ for over a decade sneaks up to Jesus. She has ingested the label that others have given her. She sees herself as ‘unclean’ now - she has had to. It would be safe for her to do otherwise, or else she would have been stoned.

And yet.

She actually believes enough in herself, her own worth, her own value, to take that label off at a crucial moment. She realizes she’s worth fighting for. So she stared down her own fears and faces those accusing voices in her own head. She braved the crowd. She was worth it, after all.

And so she got to Jesus and healing. And what did he do? He saw her. Really saw her. Read over the verse at the top again… “Jesus turned and saw her…”. He saw her worth. He knew her courage. He valued her story. And he immediately knew she was so much more than the label others had given her - that religion had given her! - and that she had perhaps even given herself at some points.

So he gives her a new label, if you will. “Daughter.” And “Full of faith.” And “I’m-proud-of-how-you-fought-for-yourself.”

How might Jesus be seeing you right now? What labels have stuck to you over the years? Which ones might Jesus want to change out for something new, like ‘beloved’ or ‘full of faith’ or ‘worthy’?