Touching the Savior

We often read and hear about the woman in the Bible who had the issue of blood. There were crowds around Jesus, but she pressed through the crowds to reach him and when she touched the hem of Jesus’ clothes, she was healed. But have you ever noticed that this was not the only account of someone touching Jesus’ clothing and being healed? Matthew 14:35 says,

And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

What an amazing verse to just stop and meditate on. Imagine all the people who were sick who came to reach Jesus.

• These people must have been very sick, because they had to be brought to Jesus; they didn’t just casually walk there.
• They must have been desperate for healing, because it was not an easy feat to get near Jesus; some were coming from the surrounding country, they didn’t have easy modes of transportation or communication, and once they arrived, there were many crowds surrounding Jesus.
• They must have had faith. One doesn’t go through all the pain and all the trouble to touch a man’s clothes, if he doesn’t believe that he will be healed.

The Scripture says, “and all who touched him were healed.” Can you imagine the wonderful chaos that must have been taking place as lame men jumped, blind men saw beauty, lepers were physically transformed, and so many other diseases and sicknesses were healed. What a time of rejoicing! What a compassionate Savior!

Now think of all those who were sick and did not go to Jesus. The Great Physician was in their town walking their streets, and they were too busy to meet Him or they didn’t believe in Him or they just didn’t care. How terribly sad, and yet I think of the people today who are also missing out on God’s compassion because they won’t reach out and touch Him.

Miracles still surround Jesus; His power is not dead, because He is not dead. Reach out and touch Jesus. Know His compassion, know His mercy, and experience His healing. He still heals diseases, and He still heals broken hearts.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
– John 3:16-18