One Touch

One Touch (Luke 8:40-48)

Luke 8:40-48, “And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. 41And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: 42For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. 43And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”

Imagine the grief and despair that she felt. Most would grow impatient and give up in twelve days. Each day was more of the same. She has been suffering twelve humiliating years with an issue of blood. She was labeled unclean by the Rabbis. According to the law of God, she was considered ceremonially unclean. This affected her life both socially and spiritually. She was not allowed to fellowship with the public, nor to worship at the Temple. She lived a life of solitude and physical suffering.

She was untouchable and not able to touch others. Lonely, heartbroken, and humiliated at this point, even a hug would have ministered to her, but it was prohibited. She was ostracized from the Synagogue. She was an outcast from society. She thought she was orphaned from God. She had an opportunity for an official visit with the Son of God. Daily, as she was avoided by others, she saw their faces and their eyes. They must have been cold, cringing, and some calloused. For twelve years she had been carrying the weight and burden of this humiliation. With appointments with numerous doctors filling her head with dreams and hopes of healing her with remedies, in the end, the only filling that came was the pockets of the doctors. She was destitute after a dozen years of steady blood loss. She was pale, anemic, and tired. She was done with the stigma, shamers, and shysters. Her life may have been filled with tragedy and desperation for twelve long years, but things were about to change. Her life was soon to be completely transformed. The attributes of her transformation will be evident in all who experience the touch of Christ.

She heard of another physician. One Who is compassionate, no charges or fees, a gentle healer. She had heard of His success among the incurable. Briefly following the crowd, she desperately extended her empty hand through the crowd and touched the hem of His garment. When she realized she could not hide from the Lord, she came before Jesus trembling. She was terrified and fell down before the Lord. She told the people what was wrong with her and then told them that when she touched Jesus she was healed immediately. She had spent all her living seeking healing, but just one touch from the Lord made her whole. She was immediately transformed by His mighty touch.

Jesus was moved by her faith. This is the only time that Jesus called a woman “daughter” in all of Scripture. He encouraged her to be of good comfort. Don't forget, she was scared of the people for being unclean and she was afraid of Jesus because she touched Him. She was wondering, I'm sure, "What is going to happen to me now?" With gentleness, tenderness, and assurance, Jesus told her everything was going to be all right, "Be of good comfort." Jesus was telling her to have courage and to be cheerful. This is the meaning of this word "comfort." He continued and said, "Go in peace. Your faith has made you whole." This word "whole" means "continually whole." Jesus assured her that she would not have a relapse. Her problem was not coming back. Christ's message is the same for us today.

Just as this poor woman was immediately healed of her plague when she touched the Lord Jesus, so sinners are healed of the plague of their hearts, freed from the curse of the law and the guilt of sin as soon as they touch the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. Like this woman with the hemorrhage, we all have been defiled by sin. We must be cleansed of sin or we can never spend eternity in the presence of a holy God. Only Jesus can cleanse us through His death on the cross. Following the crowd who are following Jesus will not bring a person into a personal relationship with Him. We must lay hold of Him by faith as she did that day. You will never possess what you need in life apart from Christ! Religion without Christ is of no value to lost sinners. When you get close enough to touch the Lord by faith, I assure you that He will know and He will respond. He will not let a touch of faith go without notice. When Jesus does a work in your heart or life, you won't be able to keep it quiet. If someone as big as the Lord lives within, He will be revealed from time to time. We will have to tell it once in a while. Her time with the Lord had brought great and immediate blessing. The same remains true with us. There is nothing like the touch of Jesus.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for saving me by Your amazing grace. I know that when I called out to Your Son for salvation, He was already reaching out for me. Help me to reach others who need You. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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