October 30

Performing Miracles -- Matthew 8:18-34, 9:18-34, 13:53-58; Luke 9:57-62, 8:22-56; Mark 4:35-41; 5:1-43; 6:1-6

After the slow plodding and genealogies and lists of tribes and numbering of people and the enumeration of laws in the Old Testament, the story of Jesus is a whirlwind of activity.  Miracle after miracle and so many are probably not even recorded.  From time to time, there is a verse that says that Jesus healed the sick that were brought to Him and you wonder how long the line was.  

One of the miracles that has always intrigued me is the woman who reaches out and touches the hem of Jesus' garment and is healed.  

She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getter better she grew worse. [Mark 5:26]

Sorry, doctors.  But there's so much you don't know.  The language of your profession is poignant.  Medicine is a practice and we are described as patients.  Perhaps because we deal with your practice with all patience.

But Jesus is different.  Why does he note this woman's touch when He's in a crowd and obviously so many other people are touching him.  Why is her touch different?  Is it her desire?  Is it her belief that after seeking so many cures she has finally found someone who can actually heal her?  It's incredible that after spending so much time and money she still reaches out to Jesus.  I admire her for her determination.  It was just whose garment she touched.  It was also about her and a heart that was touched by Jesus.

Jesus feels the power go out of Him.  Was He genuinely startled to the feel the power flow out of Him undirected by himself?  Perhaps Jesus can't help himself in the face of real faith and desire to come in contact with Him.  In such instances, the power just naturally flows out of Him.

I can't but wonder, too, about all of the people who wanted to be healed, who wanted to touch and be touched by Jesus, but were unable to fight the crowds or travel to see Him or perhaps even to find him as He traveled from town to town and from side to side of the lake.  Is our opportunity to find and be touched by Jesus in life just a matter of being in the right place at the right time?  Or is there something more at work.