Short Thought continued.....

Push through

 

‘As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 

She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.’

(Luke 8:42-43 NIV)

 

This unnamed woman had unsuccessfully sought advice from physicians for twelve years. 

Her affliction deemed her to be religiously unacceptable. 

She would have lived on the edge of her faith community with other women,

separated because of the religious rituals required at menstruation and post-partum. 

 

Female, probably unmarried and childless, she found the courage to seek Jesus’ intervention.

Rather than follow the rules of her culture, she stepped out of hiding and chanced rejection by others.    

She may have acted in desperation but not in rebellion:

she hoped for healing and had the faith that Jesus could help.

 

She pushed through the crowd; she reached down and touched the edge of his cloak.

Immediately her bleeding stopped.

 

The covert touch of an outcast in a crowded place was effective.

Jesus only knew after her touch that ‘the power had gone out of him’ (v.46).

Her faith healed her.

 

There is such simplicity in this demonstration of His unconditional compassion, grace and mercy:

He did not see her.

She did not ask him.

She simply believed,

reached out,

and the changes to her life were inexorable.

 

Is there something in your life that has been impossible to resolve?

How has it impacted your faith?

What cultural or religious rules hinder you from asking Jesus for help?

How have you been living on the edge of community?

 

Prayer: Lord, help me to simply come to you.

 

Thought:  The woman came out of hiding to reach Jesus: what do you need to do?

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