10/5/11
She had no business being there. She certainly knew better. The Levitical law was very clear about this. Having an issue of blood made her unclean (Leviticus 15). Everyone and everything she touched were also now unclean. So why would she do it? How could this woman justify squeezing through a crowd of innocent, unsuspecting people, making contact with countless numbers of them as she went? And while those touches could be considered incidental, grabbing the garment of the man the crowd had come to see was purely intentional. That was, after all, why she was there. She wanted to touch the hem of Jesus garment, believing that was all it would take to end the twelve year nightmare with her issue of blood. As it turns out, the “gamble” paid off. Immediately upon touching Jesus clothes, her issue of blood dried up. Instead of receiving rebuke or chastisement for violating the law, she received the miracle she longed for. Jesus told her why it happened. Her faith had made her whole. Not a law or obedience to a law. It was not because of good works or acts of kindness. As this woman looked at Jesus, she didn’t see a law giver or a law enforcer, she saw Him as John had declared Him to be: full of grace and truth. Which brings us to a very important question: what do you see when you look at Jesus? Faith will also rise up in you for your miracle when you agree with John’s declaration of Jesus. He is full, not of judgment and condemnation, but of unmerited, underserved blessing (grace) towards you. Trying to earn what you need from the Lord amounts to dead religion and denies the New Covenant of grace. He freely gives to all who ask of Him and will receive by faith. Like this woman, you may have been waiting for years and have “spent” all you have seeking answers. Acknowledging Jesus as full of grace and releases the faith you need to lay hold of the power of God to change your situation and make you whole right now.