Corona Devo 445

As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. (43) A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. (44) Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.

(45) “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.”

(46) But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” (47) When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. (48) “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” ~Luke 8:42-48

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The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. ~Luke 8:47

Why have we touched Jesus?

Would we tell a whole crowd about our sin, our hurt or our afflictions (emotional and physical) over the years?

In a world where society teaches us to appear as if we have it all together, this woman had given up on the social facade.

It takes a lot to get to that point of humility, desperation, and submissiveness. It often takes a lot to make us realize that we can't call-the-shots and do this-thing-called-life all on our own. Some of us have not been leveled to that level yet.

But some of us have. And this woman that had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and...no cure (Luke 8:43) was at that point. She had heard what Jesus could do, she didn't care who witnessed it, and she believed that He could do it for her.

And He did. (...she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. ~Luke 8:44).

It doesn't have to take hardship to make us reach out to "touch the fringe" of Jesus, but very often, that is exactly what is required.

The false-gods of popularity, money and status preach that we can handle life independently and alone. But that becomes very lonely and unfulfilling--we just can't sustain all-on-our-own.

And we were never meant to.

The public humility portion of this story is fresh to me. While I have read these verses before, hearing that the whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him (Luke 8:47) brought a new dynamic and understanding to my reading of it today.

When (in our own faith-journey) have we realized that (we) could not stay hidden? Have we realized this?

When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. ~Luke 8:47

Are we willing to do the same today? We cannot stay hidden from Jesus. So let us come before Him and the realization/awe/privilege of doing so may cause us to tremble and fall to (our) knees in front of him. And let it be so, no matter who is watching or listening.

The whole crowd heard her admit her need to Jesus.

The whole crowd heard her admit her lack to Jesus.

The whole crowd heard her admit her afflictions to Jesus.

The whole crowd heard her admit her desperation for Jesus.

Are we willing to do the same today?

She had tried "doing life" and "seeking remedies" on her own long enough. Are we tired of doing the same?

This woman had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure (Luke 8:43).

Jesus is our cure.

Whether we are at the top of the social/financial/popularity pile or buried beneath those climbing it: We must come to the realization that we cannot stay hidden from God and that our suffering will not end without His touch.

And the fresh-perspective that these verses bring to our lives today is that there is freedom (and healing) in our transparency.  This woman did not remain anonymous in her healing.

The fake facade will get us nowhere.  

Have you noticed?

But when this woman publicly confessed her deepest needs and desires in complete rawness and unabashed humility, Jesus found her.  And she found Jesus.

And in the process others witnessed what authentic faith looks like and can provide: Healing.

It is going to be an emotional and spiritual experience when we come honestly before God and lay down what has been afflicting/restraining/enslaving us: she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him (Luke 8:47).

But this is the road to recovery and healing with Jesus. “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” ~Luke 8:48

It will take complete submission and a realization of Who God is: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings (Revelation 17:14).

It will take courage and faith: Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe (Luke 8:44).

It will take community: The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him (Luke 8:47).

And it will bring our healing: “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:48).

It seems foreign to us that "going out on a limb" publically can bring internal peace and healing, but that is precisely the woman's story and testimony.

Are we willing to follow her steps and be bold enough to touch the fringe of his robe today, regardless of who is watching or listening?

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com