Who Touched Me?

So here is Jesus, walking down the road with a big crowd of people around him, and he stops and asks who touched him. Like, duh, everybody is touching him. And in fact the woman who did touch him didn’t actually touch him, she touched only his clothes.

We probably all know the story, and probably all remember that afterward, Jesus said that her faith had healed her. Chances are good that something was lost in the interpretation. We know, for instance, that it wasn’t actually her faith that healed her. The fact that Jesus felt power go out from him and the fact that she was healed the moment she touched his cloak indicate that it wasn’t her faith, but God’s power, that healed her. There is a point here, nonetheless.

There were a lot of people touching Jesus. God’s power was there the whole time. But there was only one woman in the crowd who was saying to herself, “If I could only touch Jesus clothes, I would be well.” She recognized the power of God in this man was so potent that she didn’t even need to touch him. His clothes would be sufficient.

I used to think that we didn’t see miracles much anymore because when we mature spiritually, we aren’t supposed to need them so much. And it is true that we should learn wisdom so that it isn’t constantly our own stupidity that gets us into fixes. That being said, however, it isn’t our maturity that results in decreasing displays of God’s miraculous power; it is our lack of faith.

We have been believers for years and years, so we see ourselves as mature, and we get the idea that now our knowledge is sufficient to solve our problems. We don’t need God anymore. So when we have some sort of health issue, we no longer run to Jesus. We run to the medical doctor or the herbalist. When we have a financial problem, we worry about it. When we have any other sort of problem, we discuss it amongst ourselves, sure that we can reach a solution.

We do all the right stuff, and we think it is our actions that are enough. But it can’t be our actions that do it. Remember, a lot of people were touching Jesus. I know people who have all the doctrine down pat, tithe on every mint and leaf, go to church, read their Bibles, and have zippo when it comes to victory in their lives. These same folk don’t feel well, aren’t enjoying the benefits of God’s blessing, and cannot be envied by any person of discernment.

Let’s look again. Many people were touching Jesus, but only one touched him with a purpose. Only one touched him with faith. I can tithe, you see, or I can tithe in faith. I can pray, or I can pray in faith. I can obey every jot and tittle, or I can obey God in faith.

There’s a difference.

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