Luke Chapter 8: Verses 43-48 (NIV-UK)
And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
‘Who touched me?’ Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.’
But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.’
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.’
Jesus knew exactly who had touched Him and why. The healing of the woman’s physical condition had taken place, but the complete healing and restoration of her life was incomplete, and Jesus wanted to make sure the woman’s life was restored. I believe that’s why he asked who touched Him. He wanted to restore her publicly. She had endured 12 years of being unclean according to the law of Moses. Not only was she suffering physically, she was an outcast. That’s why she thought she could sneak into the crowd and slip home again. And I believe Jesus knew that too. So when He spoke out, she had to be brave. So trembling, she came forward, and in front of the whole crowd, she shared her testimony.
Then Jesus completed the healing. He called her “daughter”. Included. No longer an outcast. Acknowledged and restored mentally. Able to go home in peace with her head held high. That was every bit as important as the healing of her physical condition. Peter couldn’t understand why Jesus asked what seemed to Peter like a silly question. But it simply shows that Jesus knows everything about us, and is able to meet every need. Even the ones we haven’t even asked Him to.
Sometimes we need to take a deep breath and step out in faith. We have come so far, but Jesus wants to take us even further. I thought of that in church this morning as I listened to the stories of the nine people who were baptised. Some shared their story confidently, rejoicing in what God had done in their lives. The two youngest, aged 10 and 12, were honest enough to confess that they do things wrong sometimes but knew they could come to God for forgiveness. The four older teenagers, not used to speaking in public, overcame their shyness to acknowledge what God had done for them. One young lass happily acknowledging how God has opened doors for her to be able to share her faith. And the oldest candidate acknowledging that his wife, and others present, had prayed for him to come to faith, and he was humbled and a bit emotional at the grace of God that had brought him to that point. It was a perfect illustration that Jesus knows each of us as well as he knew that woman in the crowd. Its worth taking a deep breath and coming to His feet and telling Him everything that’s on our heart. When we are that sincere, He will tell us also, “Daughter, Son, go in peace, your faith has healed You.” Jesus will change our lives and He won’t leave anything half finished. And when we take the time and effort to acknowledge God’s grace publicly, we are also given His blessing and encouragement. Truly an encouraging thought this Easter Sunday!
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the grace and love that You pour out to us when we come to You in our need. Also, for the encouragement and blessing that You pour out on us when we act in obedience to what You say to us. And once again thank You for the cross and resurrection that makes all of that possible. Amen.