How does this section (9:18-34) relate to what has come before (9:9-17)?

1. Same core message: Jesus brings something new

In 9:9–17, Jesus:

• Calls Matthew, a tax collector
• Eats with sinners
• Challenges religious expectations (fasting, traditions)
• Uses images like new wine in old wineskins

This shows:

• His mission is not to fit into old religious systems
• He brings grace, restoration, and new life

2. 9:18–34 shows that “new life” in action

The next section gives real examples:

• A dead girl raised to life
• A sick woman healed
• Blind men given sight
• A demon-possessed man freed

These are not random miracles.

They prove:

• Jesus has authority over death, sickness, and evil
• The “doctor” from 9:12 is now actively healing

3. Faith vs resistance becomes clearer

You see two opposite responses:

Faith:

• The ruler believes Jesus can raise his daughter
• The woman believes touching Jesus is enough
• The blind men call him “Son of David”

Resistance:

• Religious leaders (Pharisees) accuse him of evil power

This builds on 9:9–17:

• Sinners respond with openness
• Religious leaders resist and question

4. The “old vs new” conflict is now visible

In 9:9–17:

• Jesus teaches about new vs old

In 9:18–34:

• You see the clash happening

Examples:

• Faith breaks social rules (unclean woman touches Jesus)
• Jesus ignores rigid traditions to restore life
• Leaders cling to control instead of recognising God at work

5. Key takeaway for you

• Do you approach Jesus like the needy and trusting, or like the critical and closed?
• Are you trying to fit him into your expectations, or letting him reshape them?

One simple way to summarise

• 9:9–17 → Jesus explains his mission
• 9:18–34 → Jesus proves his mission through action

What do these three stories teach us about faith and unbelief?

Focus on the three main stories:

• The ruler and his daughter
• The woman with bleeding
• The blind men

What they show about faith

1. Faith acts, not just thinks

• The ruler goes straight to Jesus when his daughter dies
• The woman pushes through the crowd to touch him
• The blind men keep shouting even when ignored

You see movement.
They don’t wait for perfect certainty.

Ask yourself:

• Do you act on what you believe, or just think about it?

2. Faith trusts Jesus’ authority

Each person believes something specific:

• “You can bring my daughter back”
• “If I touch you, I’ll be healed”
• “You can give us sight”

They trust who Jesus is, not just what he can do.

Key point:

• Faith is not vague hope
• It’s confidence directed at Jesus

3. Faith persists under pressure

• The woman risks shame (she’s unclean)
• The blind men keep calling out despite being rebuked
• The ruler keeps trusting even after death

Faith keeps going when:

• It feels risky
• Others push back
• The situation looks worse

Ask yourself:

• What makes you stop trusting?

What they show about unbelief

1. Unbelief dismisses what it doesn’t understand

In the same section:

• People laugh when Jesus says the girl is not beyond hope
• Pharisees say his power comes from evil

They don’t investigate.
They decide quickly and reject.

2. Unbelief focuses on appearances

• “She’s dead” → situation looks final
• “He breaks traditions” → looks wrong
• “This can’t be from God” → doesn’t fit expectations

Unbelief says:

• “This doesn’t make sense to me, so it must be wrong”

3. Unbelief can coexist with proximity

The crowds are there.

They see everything.

Yet many still don’t believe.

Important:

• Being around Jesus doesn’t equal trusting him

One clear contrast

• Faith says: “Jesus can” → and moves toward him
• Unbelief says: “This can’t be” → and pulls away

Challenge for you

• Where do you hesitate to trust Jesus right now?
• What would acting in faith look like in that situation?

While a disciple’s faith may be imperfect, what is the one necessity concerning faith that is required?

From these stories, one thing stands out:

You must place your faith in Jesus

Not perfect faith.
Not strong faith.
Directed faith.

Look at each example

• The ruler doesn’t show deep understanding
  → but he goes to Jesus
• The woman acts quietly, almost unsure
  → but she reaches for Jesus
• The blind men don’t see clearly yet
  → but they call out to Jesus

Their faith has gaps.

But it has the right focus.

What actually matters

It’s not:

• how confident you feel
• how much you understand
• how consistent you are

It is:

• who you turn to

One simple truth

Small faith in the right person
is enough.

What happens when you do

• Jesus responds to imperfect faith
• He meets people where they are
• He grows their faith after they come

Question for you

• When things get hard, where do you go first?

That answer reveals where your faith really sits.