“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.”
– Luke 8:43,44
When we talk about Jesus’ healing miracles, it’s good to remember that there’s always a deeper soul or spiritual dimension that accompanies the physical. In the story of the woman with the issue of blood, she wasn’t just sick, she was outcast by society. In those days, there was a prevalent theology that taught that you were sick because God had cursed you. Not only did she carry a broken body but also the belief that God didn’t love her. Her ailment wasn’t just about being sick but was connected to feeling rejected by her community and by God. She may have even believed that God was punishing her with a disease because she had done something wrong. Then, after 12 years of bleeding, she encountered Jesus, touched the hem of His garment and was instantly healed! The interesting part about this story is that Jesus didn’t even realize who had touched Him; He only knew that power had gone out of Him. When the woman identified herself, Jesus blessed her and she went on her way. Like Jesus, you can become the kind of person who is so filled and enriched with God’s Spirit that no matter where you go, whether you are intentional or not, others leave feeling healed, restored and renewed. You can be so full of compassion and goodness that when people touch you, you accidentally heal them! Isn’t that good news? |
Prayer
Jesus, please fill me with your Spirit so that I bring your healing presence and power to everyone I encounter.
Reflection
When others spend time with you, are they more likely to be healed or wounded?
