Just a Touch

Luke 8:40-48, Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you." But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

This scripture has been preached many times, by many different pastors, in many different churches, of many different demoninations however the overall message is the same. This passage of Scripture reflects a dying situation and restoration by faith. As Jesus prepared to go to the home of Jarius to help his daughter this woman who many tried to help knew that all she needed was a touch. Now unlike many who were in the crowd she was not looking for a touch from him because that seemed like an impossible task given the magnitude of the crowd so she purposed in her mind that if only I could put my finger on something of his I will be healed. Have you ever felt like you were in a hopeless situation and the only thing you could do to get helped seemed like an impossible task? The woman in this scripture did not know the outcome of the action she just knew she needed to take the action. Have you ever read this scripture and wondered how she knew she was healed? I mean did the bleeding instantly stop when she touched the hem, or at that moment was she not instantly looking for a manifestation but just the hope? A lot of times we as believers want instant gratification and/or an instant manifestation that God has heard our cries. Yes that would be great and also soothing but that is not always the case. We don't know whether her bleeding stopped right away but what we do know that as soon as she touched Jesus' cloak power left Him. There was a transfer of power and it was that power that healed her. Whether she stopped bleeding instantly is not the case but rather that she knew that she had nothing to lose and took steps to help herself. There is a scripture (1Samuel 30:6) that says sometimes you have to encourage yourself and this woman’s faith in Jesus caused her to encourage herself enough to push through for just a touch of His garment.

For some of you, your situation seems hopeless. You may feel like you are dying in your stuff or that the way things are going in your life there is nothing you can do to change it. The Lord dropped this scripture in my spirit for someone who like this woman is bleeding. You may or may not have had this issue for as many years as the woman did but your issue seems bigger than you and/or anyone who can help. But I came today to let you know that the crowd is passing by you and Jesus is in the middle, push through the hurt, push through the heartache, push through what seems impossible and touch His garment. Purpose in your mind that you may not know the outcome but no matter what it looks like, even when the task seems impossible, just a touch will heal me. Purpose in your heart that a touch of His Garment will change your situation. This woman was healed by faith and the power that comes from faith. Now I don't want to leave you hanging as to what happened to Jarius' daughter. Remember when the woman touched His cloak, Jesus was on His way to Jarius' house for his dying daughter. When Jesus got there the daughter was dead however Jesus, even having had some power removed from him by the woman with the blood issue still had the power to bring the dead to life. God has heard your cries, He knows what you are facing, He knows that to you the situation is dead-hopeless but for Him and through Him all things are possible if you just believe. Just a touch of faith can calm the storms, stop the bleeding and raise the dead. The Bible tells us that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. Our power is greater when we are connected to Jesus' power through faith. Be Blessed and Encouraged.