2023

Mark 5:25-34           (Also found in Matthew 9:20-22 and Luke 8:42-48)

(25) And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, (26) and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, (27) when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. (28) For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. (29) And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. (30) And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? (31) And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? (32) And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. (33) But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. (34) And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

  This is a great story to learn a valuable lesson. Here is a women who has been suffering an affliction for many years. She had spent all her money on many doctors but the condition only seemed to get worse. Then when she heard of Jesus her thought was If I could only touch his clothes, she would be made whole. And of course, she does, and Jesus notices that virtue had left him. He turns and says who touched my clothes. There were many people around him touching and shoving, but one person made a difference when they touched him. She comes forth and he tells her that her faith has made her whole.

  When I read this, the first thing that comes to mind is whenever we are afflicted or come across hard times in our life, our first reaction is self-help. It is what the woman did, she was seeking in all the wrong places. Then she hears about Jesus and probably all the miracles he has performed and realized; He is the only one who can help me. She makes a point to Go and get close to Him to just be able to touch His clothes, not even talk to Him, but literally to just be near Him. (Psalm 73:38) In our modern times, we have the knowledge and access of the great things Jesus does, yet when we run into problems, usually that last thing we do is to seek out and draw close to Jesus. We have been groomed for self-help, I can do it all on my own mentality. That was never the plan of God. He wanted to be the one that we grew near to and trusted to heal our sickness and supply our needs and to provide us with everything we needed.

Are we seeking God in the fashion that to us it is a life and death situation? It was almost for certain it was for her.

Are we seeking God in the fashion that even He notices when he has been touched by us? Every day, God is being prayed, to sought after by millions of people, but do you make a difference that He feels you in your approach to Him.

Do we wait or only seek God after our Self-help remedies do not help our afflictions? Whether it be sickness or issues in every day life.

Has Jesus told you: Your faith has made you whole. Go in peace?

Psalm 73:28   But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all thy works.

James 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Matthew 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

2 Thessalonians 3:16  Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

Colossians 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Matthew 6:33   But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.