A friend called me to chat and we ended up talking about the women who touched Jesus’ garment. In Luke and Mark (and briefly in Matthew) you hear a small story of a woman who had a bleeding problem. This is significant for a reason. When reading scripture, you sometimes have to put it in context to get the full beauty of it all. She was deemed legally “unclean”. She was broke. She had spent her money on doctors that did not help. She was banned from all social and religious gatherings because anyone she touched then became unclean also. She no longer had a place among her family so they would not become unclean. So in short… she was broke, sick, and all alone.

She had been bleeding for twelve years. That’s a long time to be isolated. This is sandwiched into another story which speaks to the fact that Jesus came for the rich and the poor, the young and the long suffering, for disease and new life. A twelve year old was on death’s door and that’s actually who Jesus was walking to heal. It was the daughter of a synagogue leader. Twelve is also a holy number signifying divine authority and order.

First of all, it says people flocked around Jesus. The woman with a bleeding problem was not supposed to be there and she knew that if she could just touch Jesus’ garment, she could be healed. She knew His power. She believed that He came to save and restore and heal. Being there at all meant she could face public shame and punishment but it would all be worth it if she could just get to the one who CAN.

As people are pressing in and swarming around Jesus, she desperately comes closer and closer until she reaches and touches just the hem of His garment. She instantly knew she was healed. By law, her touch makes anyone unclean. I find this to be profound. It doesn’t say this in this passage but Jesus can’t be made unclean like man can. He is the only man who makes the unclean, clean again. He is in direct opposition because His power and His cleanliness is not moved by the mess of people but we are always moved by His power and perfection. I imagine her standing in tearful awe and being healed and then being immediately shaken by the reality of what she has just done.

Jesus asks who touched Him (not because He didn’t know). She falls at His feet. Trembling. Tears of joy now being tears of fear. She confesses it was her and she is now healed. Imagine the gasps. “What has she done” filling the mouths and minds of those present. Instead of rebuking her, He commends her for her faith. He calls her daughter.

He calls HER daughter.

He called her His daughter and restored her place of belonging. Something she hasn’t had in twelve years. Telling her that she belonged in the community of God. Her restoration was not stolen or accidental. Her restoration was a public display of Jesus coming to make us WHOLE and HOLY.

How powerful is that?

In spite of law or circumstances or opinions, we have a place among His people because we simply believe He is who He says He is.

Imagine a love so powerful that it doesn’t just come for our physical issues or healing but it comes for our hearts and our dignity and our soul.

I am reminded that asking Jesus because He can, isn’t a weakness or discontentment or distance from reality. Asking Jesus is acknowledging His power and authority and reaching for the hem of His garment. We get so caught up in trying to “be content” that we don’t ever actually take our problems to Him. We don’t desperately seek Him. I’m not saying you and I are in seasons of struggle because we don’t have a bold enough faith, I’m saying that we need to be bold enough to ask and then believe it is possible. His answers might still be no but if we don’t desperately hang on to the one who is able, then we will never know if healing or restoration was possible.

I want to live like I believe that I belong. I want to live with a faith bold enough to defy everything and chase after Jesus because this world pales in comparison to the works that only He can do. I want to wait in hopeful expectation and do the scary, hard things because the one who makes it possible is leading my steps. I want faith bold enough to ask. I want to desperately seek the one who comes to make us whole and holy while…

Under The Sun.