Reach Out to Jesus

I have a favorite Bible story, it is found in three of the New Testament gospels, the story of the woman who bled for twelve years (Luke 8:42-48, Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:24-34). 

In this story Jesus has become so popular that a crowd of people surround him, pressing in on him, begging for his healing powers. I liken this today to a popular music star who is trying to get from a building to a car. The people press in on him and the bouncers try to keep the people back. This is much like the disciples in this story, they were trying to protect Jesus by keeping the people from getting too close. 

Back to the woman, she is bleeding and has been for twelve years. She does not know what she will do because no doctor can help her or heal her. She has spent much of her time and money on doctors. She is alone, being a social outcast because of her illness. I can imagine her in her home, hearing a commotion outside. She has heard of Jesus and heard about what he can do and she thinks, “If anyone can heal me, he can”. 

The woman contemplates sneaking out of her home and heading toward the crowd just to see him, just to get a glimpse. She knew in her heart that Jesus could heal her. With that thought she leaves her home, determined to get to him. She gets to the crowd but there are too many people. She pushes her way in trying to get to him. The woman gets closer and closer but cannot get Jesus’ attention because there are too many people. She is about to give up when she is pushed over in the crowd. She hits the ground and believes that her chance for healing has passed. 

She sees Jesus going by and gives one last try to get him to help her. She thinks, “If I can just touch him.” She has a sudden burst of energy and stretches out her arm and just touches the hem of his robe. Jesus immediately stops and asks his disciples who touched him. They say, a lot of people have touched you, we are in a crowd of many people. Jesus said, “Someone touched me; for I noticed that power has gone out from me” (Luke 8:46). 

Jesus looked down and saw the woman, a look of surrender on her face. Jesus helps her to her feet and says, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace”. The woman was healed. 

Don’t ask me why this story touches my heart so. It may be because it is such an emotional story. You can feel the passion coming out of the woman but her emotional distress is not mentioned in the Bible. There is no indication of what the woman was thinking or how she felt. The woman was alone, helpless and deserted. She knows that there is no one who can help her, except Jesus. And how did she get such faith? How does she know Jesus can heal her? The story does not tell us any part of her background. She must have somehow heard about Jesus and believed.

The theme of trying to get to Jesus through a crowd can also be found in Luke 5:17-26 in the story of the paralyzed man. In this story the man’s friends are so determined to have Jesus heal their friend that they cut a hole in the roof where Jesus was teaching and healing. They lowered the man down through the roof to Jesus. When Jesus saw the man’s faith he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven”. 

We do not know the woman's or the man’s name in these stories, nor do we know much else about them. But we do know of their painful need to be healed. We too sometimes have a great need to be healed, either through our journey with alcoholism, drug addiction, cancer or some other painful affliction. These problems aren’t as hopeless as they may seem. 

Jesus can get us through, just like the woman and the paralyzed man, we just need to believe and reach out to Jesus. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore approach the throne of grace and boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”. Have faith and reach out to Jesus.

Dear God, please be with us as we earnestly seek you. Be with us always, in good times and bad. Hold us in your loving arms. Amen 

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