At His Hem

The most dangerous place to be in a pressing crowd is on the ground.  Yet, this is where she placed herself.

 

Her bleeding made her an outcast.  Desperate for healing, she suffered at the hands of others for 12 years. 
 

She didn't ask for the bleeding.
She didn't ask to be separated from family and friends.
She didn't ask to be driven away from all human contact.

 

She longed for birthday parties and celebrations.
She longed for laughter at a dinner table.
She longed for a hug...a touch of any kind.

 

She is unclean.
She is lonely.
She is desperate.

And she finds herself at the feet of Jesus in a crowd that can easily trample her.
Next to her is the synagogue leader Jairus.  He is leading Jesus to his home after pleading with Him to heal his daughter.  I imagine the fear gripping her as she hopes to go unnoticed.

There is no place more dangerous for her.

She reaches out and touches the hem of Jesus.
This is not a straight hem stitched by Singer.  No, this is the tasseled hem of Jesus's cloak.
The tassel represents the holiness and divinity of God.
Her touch of the tassel revealed what she believed Jesus to be - holy and divine.

She was immediately healed.

Friend, find yourself where you don't want to be?

Maybe you are sick in need of healing.

Maybe you are drowning in the darkness of loneliness or anxiety or depression.

Maybe you taste tears every day.

Take courage.
These trials place you at the most dangerous - and most holy - of places.

 

You are at the hem of Jesus.

Cling to it, cradle it or simply touch it.
Jesus will heal you.
Jesus will call out to you.
Jesus will honor you.

And you too will hear the words, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

 

 _____________________________________________________________________________________

Luke 8:40-48
And as Jesus returned, the people welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him. And there came a man named Jairus, and he was an official of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus’ feet, and began to implore Him to come to his house; for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. But as He went, the crowds were pressing against Him.

And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.” But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.” When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”