Saturday, January 25, 2025

Just Touch His Garment, In Faith - Matthew 8-10

Matthew 9:19-22 (ESV)

And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.


It is hard to imagine all the movement of Jesus.   In this section of chapters 8-10 he has already healed eight people and there are two comments of Him healing many people.   He had mobs follow Him just to see a miracle.   In the above section we read about something that happened as Jesus was summoned by a ruler (we don’t know if it was a Jewish ruler or a Gentile ruler) to come to his home to heal a daughter (who actually was reported as dead, before Jesus gets there).   As He is making His way through the crowd to the girl’s home the above event took place.  Matthew gives us a very brief description of the event.  Notice what Mark adds to our story:


Mark 5:30-33 (ESV)

And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.


The part that is the most intriguing is that this woman had watched, observed, reasoned and came to faith.   We have no knowledge of anyone preaching to her or teaching her about faith.  She simply came, in baby like faith, to the Savior for healing.   Our first response in sickness is typically not turning toward Jesus in faith to be healed.  Most, today, do not believe Jesus heals in this manner anymore.   But all healing is from Jesus.  The method used today may be different than when Jesus was on the earth, but all healing is in His hands.  This woman had the faith to simply want to touch the hem of His garment to be made whole.   Such amazing faith.   No theologian.   No preacher.   No deacon or elder or bishop.  She was just a woman with a twelve-year history of infirmity.  She heard and saw Jesus’ healings and came to Him in humility and by faith touched His trailing, probably dragging in the dust, garment.  That healed and changed her life.   She had way less knowledge than we have today.  Yet, she touched Him and was made whole.  We need, in faith, to come to Jesus for wholeness, wellness and healing.  Reach out and touch His garment.  

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