Written by Kim Hardin

Mathew 9:18-26 – As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.” So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind She touched the fringe of his robe, for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment. When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. “Get out!” he told “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside.

The trip to the Holy Land that I took in November 2021 with 30+ other pilgrims changed my life and faith. The challenges in getting there were unprecedented due to the global pandemic. The timing of making sure all vaccines and the booster were received, along with having a PCR Covid test in which we had to get the results in a specific window of time, were daunting. We arrived in Israel on November 2; the country opened to tourists just the day before. We returned to the States on November 12, and Israel again closed their borders to tourists only two weeks later. It was a miracle that we even got to go.

There were several locations and opportunities to walk where Jesus walked and each was a blessing. However, one place in particular had an impact on me and several of the women on the trip. We visited Magdala, the hometown of Mary Magdalene, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. A large part of the ministry of Jesus took place in the region of Galilee. In 2009, the ruins of a first century synagogue were discovered in Magdala. Jesus is believed to have taught in this very synagogue.

At the synagogue and the areas around it in Magdala, Jesus taught and performed miracles. Two of these miracles are described in the scripture shared above. Also in this town, Jesus expelled the demons from Mary Magdalene. We don’t know if Mary’s demons were evil spirits or mental illnesses. We don’t know if Mary was a prostitute or one of the courtiers of Herod’s court since she spent time with the wife of Herod’s steward.

Through our faith, He will give us what we need in order to be a productive part of the Body of Christ.

In Magdala next to the location where the first century synagogue was discovered, a building called Duc in Altum, the Latin phrase meaning “put out into deep water”, has been constructed as a place of prayer, teaching and worship for all Christians. In the building is an atrium that honors the women of the Bible and all women of faith. It is a motivating thought to know that the women around Jesus were faith warriors, who often outshined the men through their faith and belief in the Savior of the world.