Touching the Hem of His Garment, part 1

This week we are going to be looking into an account that is a picture of what can happen when we are filled with Hope. As a basis for this study, let’s read the story found in Luke 8:40-48.

Luke 8:40 – 48 “When Jesus returned, the crowed welcomed Him, for they were all expecting Him. 41 Just then a man named Jairus came. He was the leader of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and pleaded with Him to come to his house, 42 because he had an only daughter about twelve years old, and she was dying.

While He was going, the crowds were nearly crushing Him. 43 A woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years, who had spent all she had on doctors and yet could not be healed by any, 44 approached from behind and touched the end of His robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing against you.” 

46 “Someone did touch me,” said Jesus. “I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 When the woman saw that she was discovered, she came trembling and fell down before Him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched Him and how she was instantly healed. 48 “Daughter,” He said to her, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” 

I am sure, like me, many of you have heard or read this story many times. Having grown up in church, and studying the Bible for a long time, there are a number of accounts in the Bible that I thought I fully understood. But as I’ve grown wiser,  I’ve come to realize that what I thought I fully understood, I really don’t understand much at all. Here is something I continue to learn: there is always so much more to learn, no matter how much I think I know. This account of the woman being healed of an issue of blood is one of those accounts that I only thought I fully understood. 

Today, I want to take us a little deeper into the events and the circumstances surrounding this great healing miracle, and, I hope, that before the week is done, the lessons the Lord has for us will help us better understand what really happened and why every detail of the story is so very important in the strengthening of our faith and our understanding of the Word of God. 

The fact of the miracle is easy to understand. This woman has been sick for 12 long years. She had done everything she knew how to do. The scriptures tell us all she did, and all of it to no avail. She was growing weaker every day and unless she had a miracle, she knew that she was going to die in just a short time. She needed a physical miracle because the medical skills of the doctors of her day just weren’t enough to help her. She had reached the end of her rope, and had lost all hope of receiving help from anyone around her. 

Added to her physical issues, there were also social and spiritual issues because of her condition. Because she had an "issue of blood," she was considered ceremonially unclean and could not mix with other people. She could not attend worship at the synagogue. She was shunned by everyone around her because if they even touched her, they, too, would be considered spiritually unclean. 

She kept to herself most of the time. Certainly, at this point in her life, she could only have had a few friends, but even they kept their distance. The Law demanded it. Chances are, she lived in secret places, hiding in the shadows, moving only at times when there wasn’t much activity going on. It was like she was a stranger in her own town. 

When I read about her condition, I am reminded that all of us are born with an "issue of blood." No, it’s not the same thing that she had, but the effect that it has upon us is just as bad and, perhaps, even worse. We are all born in sin, with the sin-tainted blood of Adam, through which we inherit a fallen nature. 

We can try to make every effort and do everything we can in an attempt to purify ourselves, but no matter what we try, we are considered “unclean,” lost in the eyes of God and dead in our sin. We are living flesh, with a dead spirit, growing weaker every day, drawing closer to the grave and a Godless eternity with every breath we take. No one can help us, for all people are in the same condition.

Continued tomorrow