“Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.
And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”
When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”
But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”” Luke 8:43-48
I heard a message this afternoon that was rather interesting for two reasons. The first is that the pastor made a connection that wouldn’t have thought to make. That connection deals with the woman in Luke 8:43-48 touching the border or hem of Jesus’ garment. The pastor made the connection that if nothing else is very symbolic. As we read through the next set of verses in Numbers 15:37-41 we see God’s command to Moses to have the people put a blue cord and tassels on the hems of their garments. These cords and tassels are to remind the people of God’s covenant with them. I find that symbology for this woman’s faith that not only in her believing to be healed just by touching Jesus’ garment but also by touching the very symbology of God’s covenant on Jesus’ garment amazing and moving.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the Lord your God!”” Numbers 15:37-41
Going back to the verses in Luke, the pastor made note of Jesus asking “Who touched Me?” I thought that it was interesting and befitting that his conclusion was to draw the woman’s testimony of her healing to the crowd that was gathered.
We know from her statement in answer to His question that she knew that she had been immediately healed. We also know that Jesus felt the “power going out from” Him and in His divinity surely knew who had touched him. After all, Matthew 9:4 tells us about some of the scribes that Jesus knew their thoughts. That said, Jesus’ motive for asking this question just to bring the testimony of the woman’s healing is just contemplation on the part of the pastor that I was listening to but it’s worth thinking about and makes a good point.
So, what is my point? I like the message that the pastor gave as his conclusion. When God does something miraculous for us we should share that as a testimony to His goodness and His love because our sharing our experience with others may bring someone to Christ. Also, hopefully that testimony will bring some encouragement to others around us. I will add that at the very least it shows God how thankful that we are in our eagerness to share and will hopefully bring thanks and praise to Him from others as well.
I am thankful today that God gave me this message twice. Both this post and my last post entitled “About Midnight” were inspired at different times of the day today through different means. The first was from a verse of the day and this one was from a sermon podcast.
I still marvel when God inspires me to write these encouragements, but today I really have to give thanks for not only inspiring me but for giving me two very similar messages through two different means on the same day. My simple testimony that goes along with this is that I have been having a “dry” time over the last week or two and have been struggling through a spiritual fog and time of apathy. This inspiration today not only brings me comfort over hearing His voice in my life today but also is a sparkling example of how when we’re faithful to seek Him and if we listen and are open to what He is trying to tell us that He is faithful to speak into our lives.
Sovereign God, I give you thanks and praise for speaking into my life today. I thank You as always for inspiring me and giving me these messages for my life and for giving me the privilege of sharing those messages with others. All glory belongs to You God! I pray that you would shine your face upon all of my brothers and sisters today and that you would speak into each of their lives. Thank You for the life and ministry of Jesus and for making the scriptures come to life through the voice of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name. AMEN
This Narrow Path... 