In the crowd that day was a woman who had suffered greatly for twelve years from slow bleeding. Even though she had spent all that she had on healers, she was still suffering. Pressing in through the crowd, she came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of his garment. Instantly her bleeding stopped and she was healed.
Jesus suddenly stopped and said to his disciples, “Someone touched me. Who was it?”
While they all denied it, Peter pointed out, “Master, everyone is touching you, trying to get close to you. The crowds are so thick we can’t walk through all these people without being jostled.”
Jesus replied, “Yes, but I felt power surge through me. Someone touched me to be healed, and they received their healing.”
When the woman realized she couldn’t hide any longer, she came and fell trembling at Jesus’ feet. Before the entire crowd she declared, “I was desperate to touch you, Jesus, for I knew if I could just touch even the fringe of your garment I would be healed.”
Jesus responded, “Beloved daughter, your faith in me released your healing. You may go with my peace.”
Luke 8: 43-48 The Passion Translation
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The people were crowding against Jesus, and many people touched him; but there was one touch different from the others. There was a heart’s cry in it, a pleading, a piteous supplication. It was a touch of faith, inspired by a deep sense of need. It was not an accidental touch, a mere touch of nearness; it was intentional.
This incident illustrates what is going on all the while, about Christ. We cannot move without pressing up against him. Sometimes in our heedlessness we jostle him rudely. But when among all earth’s millions, one person intentionally reaches out a hand to feel after Christ, to touch him with a purpose, to seek for some blessing, to crave some help–Jesus instantly knows the pressure of that touch, and turns to answer it. He knows when any heart wants him, no matter how obscure the person, how poor, how hidden away in the crowd. Blessing came that day to none in that crowd, so far as we know–except to this poor, sick woman, who touched Christ’s clothes. It came to her, because she had a burden on her heart–and sought Christ’s help.
So in every company, there are some who are close, and yet receive no blessing, because there is no faith in their touching. Then there are those who are no nearer–but who reach out their hands in faith, and touch Christ’s clothes, and go away helped, comforted.
Source: YouDevotion
