TOUCH THAT HEALS

TOUCH THAT HEALS

Abstract:

Woman who suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years gets healed when she touched Jesus tunic in faith. There were lot of people surrounding Jesus and pressing on him. No one got healed. The woman suffering from hemorrhages had the ardent faith that she will be healed if she could touch Jesus' clothes. She touched Jesus in faith and got healed.

Healing is an experience of faith. We might have heard people sharing their healing after attending a charismatic retreat or some spiritual exercises. Hundreds of people might have attended the retreat but only few had the healing experience. It might be their deep faith that helped them to experience the healing.

In the gospel of Mark (Mk 5: 25-30 ) we read about the healing of a woman suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. Let us visualize the scene. Jesus is on his way to the house of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue on his request to heal his ailing daughter. A large crowd is following Jesus and  pressing on Him. It is here the woman with bleeding has the dramatic entry. 

To say about the woman... she has been suffering from hemorrhages for past twelve years.. St Mark gives a vivid description of her pathetic condition. She has consulted many physicians but her ailment was not cured. It became further worse. More over she had spent all she had. It is under these circumstances she learns about Jesus. Jesus of Nazareth who is the friend of the poor and the downtrodden, who heals the sick and who is compassionate. She is attracted to Jesus. She develops a kind of faith in Jesus. She feels that Jesus alone can heal her. She finds her compassion in Jesus. She decides to meet Jesus. But how? She has been following Jesus at a distance for many days. There are people around him always. She cannot meet Jesus  in public as she is unclean. 

As the crowd moves forward the woman makes a  dramatic entry. She thought this is the right time now she is in the crowd. No one will recognize her. Anonymity  is the trade mark of a crowd. everyone will lose their face in a crowd. One may loose his identity in the crowd. However it is a blessing for some one like the woman. She moves with the crowd. She wants to come closer to Jesus. But the crowd is growing and at times she feels it impossible to reach by Jesus' side.  She doesn't give up. She thinks, if she could touch at least His tunic she will be healed. Her faith is growing..Yes I will be healed if I touch His tunic. She manages to come near Jesus and with deep faith she touches Jesus cloak.She feels the healing in her body. However Jesus feels that power has gone from him and inquires who has touched Him. Every one around Him was amazed by his query as the crowd was literally pressing on him. Woman feeling that she cannot hide kneels in front of Jesus and request pardon. Jesus is so kind to her and gives a healing blessing.

Here the woman is cured out of her faith. Her faith in Jesus. She believed that Jesus can cure her. She suffered a lot for long twelve years. It is these sufferings that helped to take refuge in Jesus. Her faith was strong. There were lot of people surrounding Jesus and pressing on him. No one got healed. They were mere spectators. They always waited to see Jesus performing. Most often we are also like this. We may be in church , in a retreat, spiritual activity or in a prayer meeting. We are aware that we are with Jesus. We are in Jesus' presence. But many a time we forget to touch and experience Jesus.  The woman suffering from hemorrhages had the ardent faith that she will be healed if she could touch Jesus' clothes. She touched Jesus in faith and got healed. Let us be aware of each and every moment in company with Jesus and experience His healing power.