Nor are we Protestants are exempt, for the veneration of the Bible and sale of paintings of Jesus is alive and well. Whichever the lady touched, the effect was powerful and immediate. He isn't angry. Dr. Wilson's Books Christian Art, About Us This is the story behind that statement. She has just been powerfully and instantly healed, and she is aware of the healing. When she was younger, she might make the journey to consult with them, but no longer. Why go to a doctor when nothing helps? It is quite possible to be in the immediate vicinity of Jesus without receiving his salvation through faith. 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.… John's Letters Where Luke records, "She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak" (8:44), the word translated "edge" is Greek kraspedon, " 'edge, border, hem' of a garment." & 2 Thessalonians ", [46] But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me. Isolation, from others or from God, due to negative emotions such as shame or grief, often leave us enduring a kind of perpetual anxiety. Luke's account doesn't tell us, but I see two reasons: When I think about this story, I am amazed by this woman's faith. We sometimes need a physical "point of contact" that helps us exercise our faith in God. Donations And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.” The word “hem” means “fringe, tassel, or the border of a garment”. Desperation, Determintation, Deliverance, Declaration. Do you think she was superstitious about touching Jesus clothes? Mark 5:28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. The Healing Touch of Jesus … 27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. We need contact with God and with others in order to feel safe and loved. When Jairus prostrates himself before Jesus begging for his daughter's life, she is not far away. Bring me to the place where I will reach out for your promises with the same vigor as the sick woman in this story. She must do this without revealing anything. Hebrews Beginning the Journey (for new Christians). Watercolors 28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed. And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. They have seen his boat from afar and have massed on the beach to welcome him. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you. I. Sitemap, Free Anyone who knew about her illness would shun her. To reach Jesus she must push and shove and elbow her way between people when tiny openings occur. And when Jesus begins to move through the crowd toward Jairus' house, she is not far behind. Jesus feels it too. Go in peace." Edersheim notes, "On one leaf of the Talmud not less than eleven different remedies are proposed, of which at most only six can possibly be regarded as astringents or tonics, while the rest are merely the outcome of superstition, to which resort is had in the absence of knowledge. Faith is often expressed in us at that raw, growing edge of life that is acquainted with fear but not overcome by it. Great Prayers Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. I've had that experience on occasion when praying for individuals. There is a detailed description in Edersheim, L&T 1:622-25. Songs, pomems, sermons on the hem of His garment. She is too ashamed to admit the nature of her illness, and perhaps even be rebuked for mingling with others in her unclean state. My books are available in paperback and Kindle from Amazon. It was in God's working through Jesus. Her faith surely wasn't in his clothing. Women were normally considered unclean during their period. Touch the Hem of His Garment. Mt 14:36 The hem of his garment. And I think that Jesus, was pleased. This both helps restore her own self-esteem, but also her standing in the community, if she is from Capernaum. 35And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; 36And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. Jesus felt the flow of power out of him. Sermon on the Mount He blesses her with God's peace. In both parables we see a bold, persistent faith that Jesus seeks in us: The disciples were to learn from this "that they should always pray and not give up" (18:1). “And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.” 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. Beginning the Journey (for new Christians), See legal, copyright, and reprint information, My books are available in paperback and Kindle from Amazon, The hemorrhaging woman is healed by touching Jesus' cloak. But she has pushed through. Next week we'll consider the story of Jairus, whose faith in Jesus took a blow when reports reached him that his daughter had died. And so she resorts to secrecy. And I think he's right on this point. Luke 8: 43-48. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. How would you assess the quality of her faith? And he says to you, as he said to the sick woman who pushed through her fears, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Our woman has spent twelve years in sickness, embarrassment, and frustration. That is what the hem of Jesus' cloak was to the hemorrhaging woman. She must. The Story of a Woman in Great touble. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened" (11:9-10). Rebuild & Renew: Post-Exilic Books Jesus accepts her. "[1] It is the same word used by the Gospel writers in the Parable of the Soils (8:14) to describe the thorns "choking" the wheat and making it unfruitful. But it can also refer to the "tassel" that Israelites wore on the four corners of the cloak. 1, 2, and 3 John Contact Us What will people say? Glorious Kingdom, The David, Life of How true to life. 1 He healed in Jesus' name through the laying on of hands, sent anointed prayer cloths to his followers, and encouraged listeners to place their hands on the radio as a "point of contact" for people's faith. A Woman’s Desperation (v. 43) a. Galatians James In Jesus' name, I pray. - Webster's Bibleand they entreated Him that they might but touch the tassel of His outer garment; and all who did so were restored to perfect health.- Weymouth Bibleand they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. Jesus is able to push forward only with difficulty and progress is slow. It is a faith that doesn't quit. ", [47] Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. Philippians Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120-134). Matthew 14:36 “and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. It is a pushy faith. However, we must guard carefully against attributing to objects and persons the glory and power which is God's alone. 7 Last Words of Christ en Español Let's pause a moment. All rights reserved. I pray that you would grow pushy, courageous faith in me today. As a Protestant, I have trouble with physical objects being touched in order to receive healing. That is the danger. Jairus at his side is ever-mindful that his daughter's life is slipping away every moment that is wasted. [40] Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Though the press of the crowds against him are jostling and bumping him constantly, their touch doesn't have any effect. Mark Knock and the door will be opened to you. Soon after followed the ever-memorable discourse, so strikingly in accordance with the present passover season, in the synagogues of Capernaum, respecting the "Bread of Life" (Joh 6:22-65). Mt 14:36 The hem of his garment. And she determines to find him and be healed. (Luke 8:48). Conquering Lamb of Revelation Now while this may seem hokey to you, God blessed and healed many people through his ministry. Father, you are so patient with us. The next moment Jesus stops, asks "Who touched me?" The unclean woman who has secretly pushed her way next to Jesus to touch his cloak has no place to hide. She must reach Jesus, and so she continues to wedge her body through the crowd until she comes up behind him. John's Gospel But she must touch him. Gideon In Jesus' day the tunic was visible under the cloak. Christ Powered Life (Rom 5-8) Peter's shadow is said to have healed those whom it touched as he passed by (Acts 5:15-16). We'll leave the mention of Jairus, the synagogue ruler, for now and consider him in the next lesson. 1 Peter Names of Jesus She doesn't want to confront him in public. She couldn't go about in society and mingle in the marketplace with the other women, since a touch from her would make someone unclean. The irony of this story is that dozens of people had been touching Jesus in these few minutes of moving towards Jairus' house, but only one had touched Jesus with faith that released saving power -- a sick but determined woman. Church The story of the woman with the issue of blood is a case in point. [43] And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. But she comes with determination. But as Jesus heads for Jairus' house to heal his daughter, the crowd is especially thick. For twelve years she has suffered from uterine bleeding and she is weak. Joshua In his case, Jesus propped up his faith with the words, "Don't be afraid, just believe.". The word translated "crushed" or "thronged" (KJV) is Greek sumpnigo, "as a hyperbolic expression for 'crowd around, press upon,' something like 'almost crush.' Luke Mark says that immediately "she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease" (Mark 5:29). Abraham 33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. She has no choice. Later in our study of Luke we'll look at two parables Jesus told about prayer and faith. See also Leona Glidden Running, "Garments," ISBE 2:401-407. Listening for God's Voice The numbers that pressed upon him seemed almost too large for him to be able to heal them singly by laying his hands upon them, therefore many begged that they might be allowed to touch "if it were but the border of his garment" (Mr 6:56). Touch the hem of HIS garment. Go forward in peace.". I'm just relating that sometimes it IS possible to sense God's power moving through us to another person. Lamb of God Among the pushing, shoving, elbowing crowd this day is a pale woman. But he is encouraging you to take courage, put your fears aside, and "go for it." Sometimes Bible commentators refer to undergarments and outer garments, but the inner garments were not like our underwear that are worn invariably under our other clothing. Lane Miller. Do you think there was an actual transfer or flow of power? Today is the day to come to Jesus and touch the hem of His garment. Her faith in doctors' remedies is long since gone. I imagine it like the crowd moving out of a sports stadium at the end of the game, except that Capernaum's streets are not designed to handle these kinds of crowds. But her problem is compounded by the way she is viewed by Jewish law -- as ceremonially unclean. She is suddenly afraid and trembling. What will the rabbi say when he finds out that an unclean woman has deliberately touched him?