“As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. ‘Who touched me?’ Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, ‘Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.’ When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of Him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. ‘Daughter,’ He said, ‘your faith has made you well. Go in Peace.” Luke 8:42b-48
According to Leviticus 12, a woman with an issue of blood was considered ceremonially unclean for a set period of time until the bleeding stopped. She was then to bring an offering to the temple to complete her purification. In Leviticus 15 there is further clarification of what—and who—was considered ceremonially unclean. Anyone who touched her . . . anything she sat on or lay down on . . . anyone who touched what she had touched. There were prescribed steps for being cleansed, purified, and once again declared clean.
“This is how you will guard the people of Israel from ceremonial uncleanness. Otherwise they would die, for their impurity would defile my Tabernacle that stands among them.” Leviticus 15:31
Unclean. Isolated. Unwelcome to worship at the Temple. For the woman whose story appears in Luke 8, this had been her lot in life for twelve years. Over that time she had spent all she had trying to find healing and—presumably—restoration within her community. How desperate she must have been that day in a village on the shores of the Galilee. So desperate she would risk being in a crowd. So desperate she would risk touching the One who was her only hope.
“What ifs” could have slowed her down. What if the crowd reviles her? What if “they” keep her from Him? What if He, too, rejects her? What if she exposed her need and nothing happened?
Can you sense her desperation? Have you experienced a need that has resulted in your feeling depressed? Isolated? Longing for answers to prayer, yet seemingly hearing only silence—further isolating you? Have you found it easier to remain alone in the dark rather than making the effort to enter the light?
Jesus isn’t turned away by your touch . . . your need . . . your prayers. A little over 2,000 years ago today this was His passion week. He had entered Jerusalem on a donkey to the shouts of “Hosanna.” He cleansed the temple, He continued to teach and heal. He continued His ministry right up until the day he was betrayed. The shouts of Hosanna were forgotten, replaced by the ugly call to “crucify Him.”
This year Passover and Good Friday are on the same day. The Gregorian and Hebrew calendars coincide. The Passover Lamb was sacrificed at the Temple. Our Passover Lamb was hung on a cross. His blood was shed to atone for our sins. By the blood of God’s Lamb we are no longer untouchable, outcast, alone.
May God refresh you, heal your greatest need, and restore you to fulness of life..
The Love of God (by Marty Goetz)
“The Love of God, the Love of God
Can you see on that tree, the Love of God?
The Love of God, the Love of God
There for you, there for me, the Love of God.
He bleeds for you, He pleads for you who are needy
To let Him be
The Love of God
The Love of God
Can you see on that tree, the Love of God?
He gave all for you
Hear Him call to you who are weary
”Come to Me….”
The Love of God . . .
He gave all for you
Hear Him call to you who are weary
”Come to Me . . .”
The Love of God, the Love of God
Can you see on that tree the Love of God
There for you, there for me
The Love of God
Here for you, here for me, here for free
Jesus He’s the Love of God . . .”
By Marilyn Allison