"And behold, a woman who had suffered...came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garments, for she said to herself, 'If I only touch his garments, I will be made well.' Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, 'Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.' " -Matthew 9:20-22
A woman. A woman who was desperate for healing. An outcast. The implication is that she had no husband. Widow? Or abandoned because of her years of being considered unclean? What we do know is that she was alone. And the culture of that day would have pinned her as unclean, untouchable...and certainly to touch a Rabbi in this state was a very severe sin. She knew this, but she was THAT desperate. Perhaps that is why she sneaked up behind Him in a crowd. She wanted to be unnoticed. She didn't want a scene. Just healing.
She was seeking physical healing. He gave her more.
The crowds were pressing in on Him...yet He felt the power leave His body. And He stopped to give more. He had compassion and love. Where society would see her as a lowly woman, low as a dog...He turns to her and calls her "daughter".
This has really touched my heart this week. We all have our journey that we are on.
This brought me comfort this week. I can't even remember the last time I asked God to wrap His arms around me. And He has. Satan has continuously whispered "failure" in my ear...but God has been speaking "daughter" to my heart. I am so thankful for this woman of the bible. She took a huge risk, and through it, women all throughout history have the certainty that He cares. He cares and even stops in the midst of the busyness of this world, to put the spotlight on us, to call us "daughter", and to heal us. He longs for us to just reach for the fringe of His garment...and He will turn and embrace all that we are with all that He is. The whole world can be pressing against Him for their needs, and He has the power to take care of them, and still take one on one time with us. Oh how Omnipotent He is!!!!
