Where are You?
"And there was a woman in the crowd who had had a hemorrhage for
twelve years. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors through the years
and had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In
fact, she was worse. She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him
through the crowd and touched the fringe of his robe. For she thought to
herself, "If I can just touch his clothing, I will be healed."
Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel that she had been healed!
Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned
around in the crowd and asked, 'Who touched my clothes?' His disciples said to
him, 'All this crowd is pressing around you. How can you ask, "Who touched
me?"' But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. Then the
frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came
and fell at his feet and told him what she had done. And he said to her,
"Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. You have been
healed." (Mark 5:25-34 NLT)[1]
If we could have gone back in time and taken a video of this scene we would find
a variety of people in the video.
There were people who were along the side of the road or passing by. These
people either had no interest in Jesus or were totally against Him. These could
have been religious people like the Pharisees or Sadducees and common folk.
Another group of people were those crowding around Jesus. Some of them, like His
disciples, were there wanting to hear every word He had to say. Some may have
been curious about Jesus. Some might have been there to see what kind of
excitement might happen with Jesus and His disciples. Some might have been there
just to make other people think they were part of the group. All of these may
not have really believed Jesus was the Messiah but at least they were interested
and not like those on the side of the road or passing by.
That leaves us with the woman at the center of this account. She has been
bleeding for twelve years. She has been going to doctors until she has no money
but still is not better. In her desperation she reaches out and touches the hem
of Jesus' garment. She knew that if she did this she would be healed. She did
reach out and was healed because of her faith.
You are in this video somewhere.
If you don't believe that Jesus was the Son of god or that maybe Jesus didn't
even exist then you are one of those passing by or standing on the side of the
road. All who have not surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ will be judged by
him and will spend eternity in hell. Jesus Christ is who He said He is. Give
your life to Him. Stop passing Him by.
You might be one of those in the crowd around Jesus. If you are a true follower
of Jesus Christ, praise the Lord! If you are curious about Him, ask Him to make
Himself known to you. Put your trust in Him and start a personal, intimate
relationship with Him. If you are someone who goes around to special services
just for the excitement or just to be seen in the right place but don't have a
relationship with Jesus Christ, stop being a hypocrite and give your life to
Him.
If you are desperate for a touch from Jesus for healing of body, mind or spirit
then you are the woman which this account is about. If you are in this condition
reach out with just enough faith to touch the hem of His garment. That may be
all the faith or strength you have but reach out to the Healer, Redeemer, Friend
and Counselor. He won't turn you away. This woman was to stay away from people
since she had this disease Jesus wants you to come to Him just as you are. Reach
out to the only one who can truly save, heal and restore.
By Dean W. Masters
Unedited redistribution approved.