Healed by a Hem

Several days ago, I came across a story in the Bible that reminded me of the magnificent healing power of Christ and also the importance of a Christian's profession of faith. I had read this story many times before, but sadly I had never stopped to reflect on the depth of its message. It comes from Luke 8:40-56.

Jesus has just returned to Capernaum where a crowd has gathered to welcome Him back. Among the gatherers are a man and a woman, both separately seeking a healing from Jesus. The man, Jairus, is a leader of a synagogue and of great reputation and wealth. He falls at Jesus' feet, pleading with Him to come to his home and heal his dying daughter. As Jesus tries to make His way through the crowd to Jairus' home, a woman fights through the people to get close to Him. "If I can just get close enough," she tells herself. This woman had been suffering from a "female problem" for twelve years. She has basically spent all her money trying to find an end to her problem, but to no avail. Not only has her illness affected her physically and financially, it has also deprived her of taking part in religious ceremonies. (Under levitical law, bleeding made her unclean and unfit to partake in religious activities.) She has become discouraged and desperate. She had heard of Jesus' healing power, and as a last resort, she sought out this "healer".

As Jesus tried to make His way through the crowd to Jairus' home, the woman "came up behind Him and touched the hem of his cloak." Unlike Jairus, she did not approach Jesus face to face. She preferred to remain anonymous. I'm assuming that her female problem was an embarrassment and not something she wanted to proclaim in front of the masses. I'm also thinking that because she was considered "lowly" in society, she did not feel worthy to confront Jesus directly. I guess you could say she was trying to "steal a healing" for it says "upon touching the Lord's garment, she was immediately healed."

"Who touched me?" Jesus asked. Everyone denied they had touched Him. I imagine His disciples looked at Him as though he were crazy for they said "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you." In their minds they are thinking that Jesus is asking for the impossible. Hundreds have touched Him. What difference did it make who touched Him? That would be like standing in the pouring rain and trying to pinpoint one single raindrop.

Jesus' response just gives me chills......

"but Jesus said 'Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.' "

I can only imagine that by this point, Jairus is growing impatient, as time is of the essence if his daughter is to live. The disciples are also wondering why Jesus is delaying His arrival to Jairus' home. Didn't He have a child to heal?

But Jesus would not let the matter drop. Finally, the woman recognizes that she cannot go unnoticed as she had hoped. She falls at the feet of Jesus, bearing witness as to why she had touched Him and that she had been healed.

Although her faith might not have been enough to move mountains, it was enough to bring her healing, because Jesus says to her "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

Jesus would not allow this woman a second-class healing. She ends up at Jesus' feet before Him, just where people of faith belong. I find it amazing that not only was it Jesus' power that healed her, it was also her faith that brought her healing. Jesus was sure to bring this to the crowd's attention when He told her that it was her faith that had healed her. Christ also wanted her faith to be publicy professed, not kept secret.

Where there is faith-no matter how big or small- God will respond to it and challenge us to become stronger in our faith. As long as we have faith, we, too, can be healed by a hem.

In His Love....