"Who Touched Me?"

 

Most of us are probably familiar with the story in the book of Luke chapter 8 verses 40-49. It's the story of a woman who had an "issue of blood" for twelve continuous years and "no one was found who could heal her" (verse 43). Today we would medically define the woman's "issue" as uterine hemorrhaging! Whether her bleeding was from disease, a tumor, or something genetic, scripture does not specify. Imagine if that were you! Not a pleasant condition! Not only was she frustrated but she spent all the money she had trying to find a doctor who might cure her. Even then, according to Mark chapter 5 verse 26, "she grew much worse." The Bible describes her as being "physically weak" so I imagine she was also anemic and consumed with fear and anxiety. Have you ever been sick for an extended period of time and experienced the hopelessness of having physicians perform various tests, suggest all sorts of treatments, and even change your medications over and over to discover nothing worked anyway? This desperate woman was financially broke and feeling absolutely hopeless. After twelve years she had lost all faith in physicians. 

At this time, Jesus was walking among the crowd. The streets were utterly jammed with people pushing, shoving, and elbowing each other trying to draw close to Him. In fact, the Bible said the crowds "thronged" Him in the King James Version. The New International Version said, "The crowds almost crushed Him" (8:42). I can imagine this scene being similar to a crowd moving out of a sports stadium at the end of a professional football game. Keep this in mind, there was no way Jesus Himself was not being touched, pushed, jammed, or hung onto by many people as He moved along. As the story goes, the hemorrhaging woman is way back in the crowd working her way toward Jesus. She said to herself, "If I can just touch the hem of His garment I will be healed" (Mark 5:28). What is interesting to me is, that when the woman finally reached Jesus and touched Him, Jesus' first response in verse 45 was, "WHO TOUCHED ME?"

Now I have to ask a question. Have you ever wondered why Jesus asked, Who touched Me? Jesus was God in flesh. Shouldn't He have known who touched Him when He knows all things? Jesus was being "touched" by many people, why did He notice just this one person's touch? Was there something different about her among hundreds of other people touching Him as He passed through? And then Jesus adds to His answer which also, to me anyway, seems strange. He said in verse 46 not only that "Someone touched me" BUT "I feel that virtue has gone out of me." Why didn't Jesus feel virtue going out of Him when others were bumping into Him too? Interesting question, no? I'm no scholar, far from it, but I did notice some key points I'd like to share that made this woman different than all others who were thronging Jesus. 

First of all, you must know by Jewish law she was considered ceremonially unclean. The old Levitical law, which she was under, charged that women were considered unclean during their menstrual cycle- therefore any issue of blood (refer to Leviticus 15: 25-27) would be considered unclean. So back in the day, anyone who knew about her "issue" would have shunned her. In her condition, she couldn't go about in society and mingle in the marketplace with other women since a touch from her would make someone unclean, again, according to Levitical law! She couldn't attend ceremonial occasions or worship in the synagogue! She was forced into seclusion and secrecy. Even if she went out she would have to go incognito to keep her condition carefully hidden. But when she knew Jesus was coming because word of Jesus' astounding acts of healing had spread across Galilee, the Bible says she moved with determination.

Key point #1: DETERMINATION. She was not looking at her illness or the impossibility of curing it as she was told. She believed if she could just get to Him, touch the hem of His garment, nothing else mattered. Not the doctor's report, not what people told her, not how the law shunned her, etc. even if it meant elbowing her way, pushing and shoving between people when tiny openings occurred. Her strength was drained, she was weak, and yet she did not give up! She had to reach Jesus. That was her only answer and so she continued to wedge her body through the crowd until she came up behind Him. This determined woman, now realizes Jesus is the only way to be healed but she doesn't want to confront Him in public. Why? She is too ashamed to admit the nature of her illness and perhaps even be rebuked for mingling with others in her unclean state. She must do this without revealing anything, yet she must touch Him. And she did! Mark's gospel testified that immediately "she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease" (Mark 5:29). Jesus felt it too! Think about that. Though the press of the crowds against Him were jostling and bumping Him constantly, their touch doesn't have any effect on Him! But when this determined woman touches Him, Jesus is suddenly aware of it! "I know that virtue has gone out of Me" (Luke 8:46).

Key point #2: a woman of great FAITH. She believed she could be healed before she ever touched Him. She believed in His astonishing capabilities that she had heard about and received. "Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet." This unclean woman who had secretly pushed her way next to Jesus to touch His cloak had no place to hide. She is suddenly afraid and trembling. Were her thoughts: Am I too bad to be healed? Am I too unclean? Will Jesus even bother with me? Now she was in His presence, open, exposed, vulnerable. While at His feet she tells her story. She has no choice. "In the presence of all the people she told why she touched Him and how she had been instantly healed. Then He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace" (verses 47-48). 

Key point #3 OPEN CONFESSION. In front of all, she told her story. She was desperate for healing! So much so that she didn't care what other people would think or at least she didn't let worry stop her. So she fell to the ground at the feet of Jesus having great faith that HE could heal her. Faith and determination are of great worth in the Lord's sight! For without faith it is impossible to please God.

Hopefully, we can learn something from this Biblical story. If you have a need or request of any kind, come boldly to Jesus. Regardless of how severe a condition is, or how big a request is, how long you've been burdened by something, regardless of what a doctor has told you, or what your own eyes have shown you, be determined to believe Jesus is able and capable of healing you. Jesus is not afraid of any supposed "uncleanliness". Start with determination, followed by an act of faith before you ever see the results, then finish it with a confession that you are healed. I am amazed by this woman's faith. It's a pushy faith. An elbow-my-way and don't-take-no-for-an-answer faith. It is a faith that doesn't quit regardless of any impossibility with human doctors. Jesus' promises are more than a Ph.D. on paper! Jesus instructed in His Word to pray always! Don't give up. Be determined! Jesus is seeking to produce in you and me the kind of faith that motivated the hemorrhaging woman to touch the hem of His garment. She spent twelve years in sickness, misery, embarrassment, frustration, and isolation but she pushed through! Have you suffered from something for years? DON'T GIVE UP. Be determined for NOTHING is impossible with God.

Until He Comes, 

-Pat-

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME

 

In the book of Luke, Jesus said, "TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME." All Christians have a fundamental understanding of what it means to make a life-long commitment and follow Jesus, but do we understand what it means to take up our cross?  Many people interpret "cross" as some burden they must carry in their lives: a strained relationship, a thankless job, a physical illness, etc. With self-pitying pride, they say, "That's my cross I have to carry." 

Jesus also said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” Luke 9:23. So too, 

Notice that there are 3 things Jesus said in order to be one of His followers:

1. Deny ourselves

2. Take up our cross

3. Follow Him

** a follower is a person not only devoted and loyal, their loyalty and support are consistent and ongoing. 

Following Jesus is what most of us claim we do but seem to overlook steps 1 and 2 for whatever reason. 

Let's look at Jesus' first order: DENY YOURSELF. What are we supposed to deny?

When a person denies or cuts off oneself from any kind of desired pleasure it causes undesired agony, suffering, or pain. An example would be a person who, after years and years of smoking attempts to quit. The mind wants to do what is right but the body doesn't care what is right. The body (flesh) still wants, desires, and craves what it wants even if what it wants is wrong. 

Sin is like that. As humans, we know what is right and moral but our flesh desires the opposite. The flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh because they are opposed to each other (Galatians 5:17). DENYING our body/flesh of pleasures isn't fun, especially when that pleasure is connected to sin. And that is the point Jesus is making, just as He told Mary Magdelene, "Go and sin no more." (Deny your flesh of that sin.)

The Bible refers to "suffering in the flesh."  1 Peter 4:1  “… he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” The spiritual connotation for us means he who denies his flesh will cease from sin! If you don't give in to temptation you won't go further to commit sin. These are well-known words but do we actually understand what it means for us in our day-to-day lives? “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he (referring to you and I) no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1-2.) Notice it said to arm yourself with the same mind. not the physical body because God is not asking us to die on a cross as Jesus did! Our death must come through the death of thoughts (through the mind) that manifest as temptations to commit sin. Scriptures also instruct us to "mortify" the deeds of the flesh. To mortify the deeds of the flesh simply means to subdue the needs and desires of the body through discipline. The power of discipline is given to every faithful follower through the Holy Spirit and not through our own ability!

 

What are "deeds?" Deeds are an action that is performed intentionally or consciously.  As temptations come up in our minds, we are to choose to deny them. Our mind stands guard at the door of our hearts, and we get to decide what comes through. When a sinful thought pops up in your mind the first time, it is considered temptation – a “suggestion” from Satan. But you can choose to deny that thought access to your heart! In practice, that means that as soon as you become aware of the thought, you disagree with it. You don’t dwell on it. The thought meets a firm “no” in your mind. You don’t permit the thought to pass through your mind and come into your heart which unfortunately will become a sinful action if you let it!  Denying sinful thoughts or suggestions is how you TAKE UP YOUR CROSS daily. 

Then with that mindset, FOLLOW His example. It's called losing YOUR life for a life of Christ.

Let this be your motivation! The verse today promises that when you suffer in your flesh, that is to say, when you take up your cross and deny the sinful thoughts that come up in you during the day, you will actually cease from sin! And it is not just a promise that will be fulfilled some unknown day far in the future – you see progress as you go. Taking up your cross daily leads to transformation. You won’t always be the same person you are today. As you are cleansed and forgiven from the sin in your nature, the fruits of the Spirit come in its place. Rather than being quick to judge and critical, or grumpy and downcast, you can radiate love and kindness and gentleness. (Galatians 5:22-23) Isn’t that hopeful?

Keep in mind, that we will meet these sufferings in the time of temptation. We (as believers in Christ) have the mind of Christ - that, “not my will, but Yours, be done,” and yet we can still find that our flesh does not easily give up its passions and desires. (James 1:14; Galatians 5:24.) Then, just like Jesus, we have to cry out for help from the Father. We too have to learn obedience through these sufferings (that is when we suffer in the flesh by denying things that are wrong). But the incredible thing is that because Jesus has gone through the same thing, being tempted yet committed no sin, He knows and understands the temptations and sufferings that we face. And because of that, He is able to aid us when we are tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18.) “Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16. The help we get is the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to deny ourselves and take up our cross, which quite simply means to say “No!” to each temptation, faithfully, over and over, until the temptation has been overcome. No, again and again, to our own will; to the lusts and desires of the flesh. When these desires are denied, it hurts. This is what it means to "suffer in the flesh is to cease from sin." When we do this faithfully, when we resist temptation without relapse, we little by little cease from sin in that area! And the Holy Spirit is right there helping us overcome all the while. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.

Until He Comes

-Pat-