For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well”. Matthew 9.21
This might have been one of the quickest miracles. It wasn’t planned as Jesus was already on his way somewhere else. This nameless woman had been unwell for twelve years and had spent all she had on doctors. She must have heard about a man who went about town healing people, and she thought if only I could touch the hem of his garment, maybe I might be healed.
This had never been done. Many of those who were healed were touched by Jesus and didn’t touch him, so why did she think this reverse action would make any difference? Where did she get this idea from? At this point, she probably had no friends, and if she did, they probably didn’t think that was the best thing to do. Did Jesus pass the street on which she lived daily, or did she travel to another town he was visiting to see him, but whichever her situation, she wasn’t waiting for Jesus to come into her home? How long will we allow the opinions of others or the protocol of our day to keep us from what God can do?
She must have thought about the crowd all trying to see Jesus, the time and effort to travel to see Jesus, what people might say if they knew her story and what it must feel like to be healed. I bet she thought about this decision for such a long time and might have been weeks or months before she found the courage to meet Jesus. How long has it been since we’ve been thinking about taking that step of faith to do what has never been done?
The Bible states … Suddenly, she came from behind and touched Jesus. Was she running out of breath and energy trying to keep up with the throng who were following Jesus? Had she been walking so long and so far, yet unable to meet Jesus? Why was this her only hope, her last resort of sorts? Did others push her aside as everyone wanted to be close to Jesus? Suddenly, suggests with her last breath and last gust of energy, she took her last stride just within reach and touched Jesus.
How was her touch? Was she soft or desperate? Did she stop walking as the others continued to follow Jesus? Did she notice anything had changed in her body before Jesus spoke to her? Every step towards Jesus was faith in God that he is able. And there must have been many people following Jesus who were also unwell, but they returned home without being healed. We can all be close to the source of supernatural power but still not receive any of it. We can become familiar with the rituals and routines but still leave God’s presence drained and depleted.
And the demonstration of faith will be different for everyone. We don’t have to follow the protocol. God hasn’t asked us to do what other people are doing, but he will honour our faith like he did this woman’s. What are we saying to ourselves? What are the thoughts we’re ruminating in our minds? Are we hopeful that God is able and will heal us? Or have we given up, in despair, expecting whatever to happen? God knows if we absolutely trust Him or not.
Just because we’ve never seen something done before doesn’t imply that Jesus won’t honour our faith if we choose to do the unthinkable. And some of us may be quick to discourage others from doing something that has never been done. We have no clue and are not in control of what God does. We can’t use our lives as a template or a yardstick to determine or define what’s possible with God. This miracle must have been a surprise to many who expected Jesus to heal only in a certain way. There’s no limit to what God can and will do. How does God judge and reward our faith?
At some point, she discovered meeting Jesus, and getting healed was her personal decision. She might have been encouraged by others to get to town to see Jesus or might have been inspired by the stories she heard others tell. Our journey with the Lord is an individual commitment. Our peers, parents or pastors might pray for us and encourage us to step out in faith, but the final decision will be ours. When our situation becomes desperate, we won’t have time to think about what people will think or say.
She was definite about what she wanted to do. It wasn’t a list of options. Touching the hem of Jesus’ garment was her sole and primary priority. Could we feel stuck sometimes because we are attempting to do so many things at the same time with no clear direction of what exactly we want to do? Getting to town, meeting other people, being part of the crowd, listening to Jesus preach were all great things to do, but nothing else mattered except receiving her healing. What’s that one thing you’re asking God for?
It’s interesting that Jesus stops and acknowledges a woman in a desperate situation who has just been healed. At a time when women were seen but not heard, she had said nothing but had received so much. Twelve years of disease, debt and depression were reversed in a moment. When we have no strength left within ourselves, we have a God who can hear our desperate whispers and silent cries and will heal and restore.
Imagine telling anyone and everyone that she had been healed just because she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. Many would have been surprised or laughed at such a strange way to be healed. Many times, we expect the prayers of some important person or the execution of some noble act to shift the dial, but what if our simplest acts done in faith get God’s attention? What if our healing and restoration depend on what has never been done?
Lord, please help me trust you even with my mustard-size faith. Amen.