Reverse
The first four books in the New Testament are all eyewitness accounts of Jesus and what he got up to.
The third book is written by a man called Luke, who was a doctor. It is a very clear and well-presented report of Jesus’ life. Being a doctor, Luke does record a lot of medical healings.
There is a story about a woman who had sadly been suffering with haemorrhages for twelve years. Back then, the law stated that if anyone had a ‘discharge of blood’ that they were ‘unclean’ and that anything or anyone who touched then would also become unclean. (It’s all there in Leviticus 15).
This woman had spent all she had on medical bills but was not cured. One day she heard that Jesus was passing her way. So, she pushed through the crowds and managed to touch the edge of Jesus’ cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped, and Jesus knew it…
“Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.’ Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.’”
Her faith turned into action, and she was healed instantly… awesome! That was a miracle in itself, but there was also something profound being demonstrated:
That woman should not have been out and about, as the law stated that if anything or anyone touched her, they would be unclean. It’s a bit like how we are coping with Covid these days: if you have it, then you stay at home until better. Imagine 12 years of self-isolating.
But this woman pursued Jesus, as no doubt she had heard of the miracles he was doing. Here is the amazing thing – when she touched his cloak, instead of the cloak and Jesus becoming unclean the exact opposite happened, she became clean, and healed!
Jesus demonstrated that God has the power to change situations. In other words, it’s only God who can turn things around, from bad to good! How great is that!
As followers of Jesus today, Christians are called to do the same. This may be praying for healing, or sharing the good news of Jesus, or bringing hope into hopeless situations. It is both spiritual and practical in its application.
Let me encourage you. If you are in need, then turn to Jesus, like that woman did. If you are a Christian, then why not ask God to reveal to you where you can make a difference…
God bless
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader