Luke 8:42b-48
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.
"Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."
But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
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In the midst of a story about Jesus raising a dead girl, Jesus heals a woman. It is a short passage, only about six verses. Yet it is a significant story. This woman might have come up to many healers in her day asking to be healed. The passage states she was bleeding for twelve years. In those twelve years I am sure she asked someone for help. Yet, on this day she was healed by Jesus. Ultimately, she was healed because of her faith (verse 48). What is Jesus’ role?
She was obviously an outcast. She was an outcast in two manners, she was a woman and second she could not stop bleeding. She was unclean. She was also seen by the disciples. As the author states the disciples denied anything happened when Jesus asked “Who touched me?”. It does not take long for the woman to then be the center of attention as Jesus confronts her (verse 47). Jesus then has the option to turn his head, as others have done to her in the past, or to love her.
I often find it easier than not to judge others: to condemn them, to look the other way, and not accept and love them. I am often not like Jesus. Jesus accepted this women when others would not.
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.
"Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."
But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
___________________________________________________
In the midst of a story about Jesus raising a dead girl, Jesus heals a woman. It is a short passage, only about six verses. Yet it is a significant story. This woman might have come up to many healers in her day asking to be healed. The passage states she was bleeding for twelve years. In those twelve years I am sure she asked someone for help. Yet, on this day she was healed by Jesus. Ultimately, she was healed because of her faith (verse 48). What is Jesus’ role?
She was obviously an outcast. She was an outcast in two manners, she was a woman and second she could not stop bleeding. She was unclean. She was also seen by the disciples. As the author states the disciples denied anything happened when Jesus asked “Who touched me?”. It does not take long for the woman to then be the center of attention as Jesus confronts her (verse 47). Jesus then has the option to turn his head, as others have done to her in the past, or to love her.
I often find it easier than not to judge others: to condemn them, to look the other way, and not accept and love them. I am often not like Jesus. Jesus accepted this women when others would not.
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