TOUCHED HIM

“A woman ... came up behind him ... and touched his garment.”

Mark 5:25—34

There is a big difference In this story between the crowd and the woman. Many in the crowd touched Jesus that day. They accidentally jostled Him, and their garments brushed against His. But they merely “thronged” about Jesus, so nothing happened. The woman did more than “throng;” she actually reached out and touched Him. It was a different kind of contact. As a result, she was instantly healed.

Look for a moment at the touch of this infirm woman. It was the touch of desperation. She had been ill for twelve years. She had sought the help of many physicians and had spent all her savings. But instead of getting better, she got worse. Her condition seemed hopeless. So she reached out to Jesus as a last resort.

It was a purposeful touch. The woman was incurably ill, and she was weary of her condition. More than anything else…she wanted to be well and strong. So she intentionally slipped through the crowd, made her way right up to the Master, stretched out her hand and touched His garment There was nothing accidental about that touch ~ she had made her plan and she carried it through willfully.

It was also the touch of faith. The woman believed that if she could only touch the Master’s garment, she would be healed. Perhaps she had watched Him reach out His hand on other occasions, touch the sick, and heal them. She was determined to make contact. And Jesus, perceiving the woman’s faith, said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Are we among the “throngers” or the “touchers”? Do we merely brush against the Savior casually and go on our way the same as before? Or do we really touch Him and rise in newness of life?

Thought for the day:

It takes little effort to throng about Jesus in the crowd. It takes determination and faith to touch Him and be healed.

J.T. Seamands