Monday 18^th February

Luke 8:43-48, Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34

How desperate are you for Jesus to touch your life? Moreover, how desperate are you to touch Jesus? Keep this question in your mind as we explore a woman in Luke’s Gospel, who was desperate to touch Jesus.

This story is also found both in Mark and Matthew, however I believe that Luke, being a doctor, adds the most detail about this wonderful miracle. So we shall Luke’s version as our principle text.

Jesus was on His way to Jairus’ house.  Jairus was a leading ruler of the synagogue. Yet in verse 41 we see that he falls at the feet of Jesus in desperation. His daughter is ill and dying. Seeing his need, Jesus full of compassion and love, follows Jairus to his house, followed by the growing crowds. On His way, a woman reaches from the crowd to touch Jesus, in order that He might heal her. This woman had an illness that had consumed her finance, time and resource yet she still had not been healed. No normal physician could help her but she knew of One who could, Jesus. Interestingly her issue of blood would have made her an outcast in society for she was deemed to be un-clean and not able to show herself in public. Yet she broke all cultural and religious barriers in an act of pure desperation and dependence of and in Jesus Christ. In Mark 5:38 she says, “If I could only touch His clothes, then I shall be made well.” How amazing is her faith. It’s a pure and radical faith. She had probably heard the growing stories of this Jesus, the miracle maker, and wanted her healing too. She had tried everything. Yet everything failed her. How often in our own lives do we spend our resources, time and money in useless endeavors, when all we need is Jesus? Why is He so often the last resort instead of the first thought in our minds?

We rejoin the story in verse 44. Immediately as she reached out and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment she was healed. 12 years of suffering was over by one moment in the presence of Jesus. WOW. However, Jesus’ response is to immediately stop… “Who touched me?” I always can relate to the disciples confused reaction here. Jesus, surrounded by a multitude of people, all pushing to get a glimpse of the Messiah and He asked who touched Him. Jesus, unfazed by the doubt in the disciple’s response, asks again “Who touched me? This time He adds that He felt power leave from Him. Finally the healed woman falls at His feet and publically declares that she had touched Jesus to be healed.  Anyone who had issues of blood was considered unclean and anyone who comes into contact with un-cleanliness would have been declared unclean as well. But not so with Jesus. Instead, Jesus, knowing what faith it must have taken to push through the crowds, reach out and touch Him, commended her and said that it was her faith that made her well. Jesus too was not interested in cultural and religious boundaries but rather He was interested in peoples genuine faith. Are you willing this morning to stand out from the crowd? To reach out and touch Jesus? He can heal you, save you and redeem you. His accepts you however you come, but once you have reached out and touched your life will be transformed!!