THE TOUCH OF FAITH

“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour” (Matthew‬ ‭9:20-22‬).

This is an incredible story. In many ways, there is nothing exactly like it in the whole Bible. Here we have a description of an event to which we can return time and again to learn what it means to trust in Jesus. This woman had it figured out better than all of the religious leaders of her day combined. Let us see what we can learn from her and from this account.

She had been sick a long time. “A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years…” Twelve years is a long time to suffer. Many of us are suffering with things that we have been troubled by for a longer period than that. And more significantly, we have been cursed with the problem of sin all of our lives. We went astray from the very beginning.

The disease of sin is worse than any physical malady that we could possibly have. Sin will cause us to lose our soul. It is rebellion against a holy God to whom we owe everything. But it does not matter how long you have been bad, or with whom you have been bad, or in what ways you have been bad. All that matters is that you come to the only one who can help you.

She brought nothing but a touch. ”She came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.” She had nothing to offer, nothing to bargain with. Mark’s account tells us that she had spent all of her money on doctors and had not been healed. Going to the wrong sources for information and salvation will leave you bankrupt spiritually. Man-made religion and man-made doctrines cannot help you. Jesus is your only hope. But anyone who wants to reach out and touch him and receive his help is allowed to do so.

She knew in her heart what to do. “For she said to herself, If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” Everyone knows whether or not they are following Jesus. To be saved and healed of sin, you must love Jesus and follow him. But some wonder, “How do I know if I love him?” But that is a pointless question. Everyone knows whether or not they love Jesus and whether or not they are following him.

This woman was practicing positive self-talk when it comes to the Savior. She wasn’t saying, “I wonder if he will really save me.” She wasn’t saying, “I’ve been so bad and I am so sick.” No! She was saying, “If I can just get close to him and touch him, then I will be healed.” You and I should be saying the same thing. If we can just get close to him, we will be fine. If we can just touch him, if we can just hang on to him, we will have everything that we need. Jesus was all she needed and he is all we need.

Jesus was pleased and her need was met. “But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well. And the woman was made well from that hour.” If you want to please Jesus, have faith in Jesus. Reach out and touch Jesus. LOVE Jesus. When your focus is on him, you will never be turned away. Being close to Jesus, loving him, is really all there is to it. It’s as simple as that.

Dewayne Dunaway