A
Touch
Luke 8:42-48
A woman, suffering from bleeding for over 12 years, struggled her way
through the dense crowd which engulfed Jesus as he walked to Jairus’s
house. She had purposefully
approached from behind not wanting to draw any attention. She successfully
reached Jesus unnoticed and stretched her hand to touch his robe.
She had tried everything exhausting her resources to find a cure with no
results. Jesus was known to heal. He was on his way to heal. It was just what
he did. The woman knew deep in her heart if she could just touch him. This was
her chance. She did not need eye contact. Who was she anyway? She was a nobody;
she was shunned by everyone else. But Jesus, she knew that Jesus could heal her.
A touch was all she needed.
Her hand reached, it touched His robe and she felt power coerce into her.
She didn’t know what she had expected but this was not it. Feeling this power stopped her dead in her
tracks, she embraced the sensation, allowing it to fill her and empty out –
push out – all that was impure in the face of pure holiness.
The crowd flowed past her for a split second then suddenly they stopped.
Jesus had stopped. She looked up then immediately looked down; Jesus had turned
and was looking straight at her.
He spoke, “Who touched me?” “Master, the crowds are hemming you in and
pressing against you.” One of His disciples said.
Jesus was insistent, “Who
touched me? I know power has gone out from me.”
The woman felt a finger pointed
directly at her though not a hand was raised.
She fell at his feet feeling equally grateful and exposed. Without
raising her head she told her story. In His deep compassion He tenderly slid
his hand below her chin lifting her face,
“Daughter, your faith has healed you,
go in peace.”
Jesus was surrounded by people “hemmed in” with people constantly bumping
into Him. Why didn’t power flow into everyone? Why her? There was enough power
that left Him He knew someone was healed. He stopped. I think He wanted to make
full contact, not just ignore her like everyone else had. He knew who had
touched Him – He wanted her to speak, to say out loud what she needed to
acknowledge, her need for His healing.
No one else
was healed. Many may have needed His touch but didn’t ask whether by touch or
verbal. Maybe out of fear or they were unsure He would do it.
Whatever was the
cause they didn’t ask, so they didn’t receive,
“You do not have because you do
not ask.” James 4:2.
It was her
faith that brought healing. She asked with full expectation of being healed.
“Ask
and it will be given to you.” Matthew 7:7
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
What do you
need that only Christ can supply?
What is
keeping you from asking?
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