“Someone Did Touch Me!”

“And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” (Luke 8:43-46 ESV)

Chapter 8 of this Gospel is so full of precious truths about our Savior’s ministry. The one thing Dr. Luke does as he records Jesus’ words and actions is to be sure to show the personal nature of Jesus’ ministry. If you look closely, you will always find that some individual is at the heart of Jesus’ teachings and ministry. That’s the way it is with Jesus; He cares for you as an individual. Jesus just didn’t die on the cross for “the world”, but for you. Jesus didn’t rise on the third day to show the world only that He had power over death; He did that for you. Until we personalize the good news of salvation, it will only ever be about “them” but not about us.

All too often, people hear the message of salvation and think, “That’s fine for them, but it doesn’t apply to me!” Oh, how wrong they are. The whole plan of salvation is for “you” as an individual, not “you” as part of some group of people. All throughout Scripture, we see that God knows “you,” the individual. And Luke demonstrates that in this chapter.

Look at 8:16, “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed….”, which is talking about an individual, just like “you”, and in 8:18, “Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given,…” This parable and many others speak about one individual, not a group of people, not about “them”, but about “you”. As you continue to read this chapter, you will find that the parable of the Sower and the four types of soil is about “you” not “them”. What about the demoniac who resided in Gerasene, who had a legion of demons that lived in him? Jesus stopped His ministry to all of Galilee to heal this one individual. He cared about “him” not just “them”. Then, as we continue, we see that Jesus’ ministry was interrupted by Jairus, an official of the synagogue. Jesus stopped ministering to “them” to minister to “him”.

Now look at the miracle of Jesus healing the woman with an issue of blood for 12 years. We are told that as Jesus was on his way to heal Jairus’ daughter,  “the multitudes” were pressing against Him, but it was this one woman whom Jesus noticed had touched Him. “And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” Jesus noticed the individual, not the crowd. Jesus knew “she” needed Him, not just that “they” wanted Him.

All too often, before we come to know the true living God, our Lord Jesus, we think “that Bible stuff” might be good for “them” but not for “me”. We hear the accounts of the miracles of Jesus and think, "He did all of that for “them”, but not for “me”. My friend, you have it completely turned around, it was for you. Jesus healed and preached to “them” so that “you” would trust Him. Everything that Jesus did was for the induvial that has “ears to hear” of His love and mercy and grace.

If by some chance you are reading this devotional today, don’t walk away thinking it was written for “them”, it wasn’t; it was written for “you”, the individual soul that Jesus died for. Of course, I don’t know what you are going through right now, but God does. He knows the burden that you’ve carried for these past years, and He wants to relieve you of that burden that only He can forgive and heal. Jesus is waiting to tell you the same thing that he told the woman who touched Him, “Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace.”

One last word, please don’t say “but I don’t have enough faith”, because you do. Faith is always a gift from God; He gives each person the right amount that they need to trust Him as their Savior. He has given you enough faith to trust Him, so don’t wait another day.

You have the faith it takes; use what God has already given “you,” the individual.

"Living in Grace is not about what I can do, but about what Jesus has already done!"