Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Healing Faith
A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. (Luke 8:43–44NLT)
The people were moving in on Jesus. Everyone wanted a piece of Him as He made His way through the crowd. Then He suddenly stopped and said, “Who touched me?” (Luke 8:45 NLT).
One of His disciples said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you” (verse 45 NLT).
But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me” (verse 46 NLT).
Everyone denied it, although everyone was touching Him. Then the crowd parted, and there was a woman, falling on her knees before the Lord. The people probably thought Jesus was going to rebuke her. But Jesus didn’t want to criticize her; He wanted to commend her. He said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace” (verse 48 NLT). This woman recognized that Jesus could heal her, and she touched Him in faith.
We don’t know what her ailment was, other than she had some kind of serious problem with bleeding. Whatever it was, it caused continual bleeding for twelve painful years. This was a drawback in their culture due to the stigma and humiliation that came with such a thing. It was second only to leprosy for the shame and rejection that it would bring, because it would have caused her to be declared ceremonially unclean.
Because everything revolved around the synagogue, she was alone. She was ostracized. She was in pain. And she had spent all of her money on doctors. But in the midst of the years of disappointment and rejection, she believed God would heal and touch her.
You can reach out and touch Jesus right now—not religion or church. Touch Jesus. He can touch you. He can change you. He can help you to be the person that He wants you to be.
Copyright © 2018 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
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