HEART, HEALING AND MIRACLES (1)

“For she said WITHIN HERSELF, if I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole” – Matthew 9:21, KJV                              

The HEART is the Manufacturing Centre for HEALING and MIRACLES: “And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said WITHIN HERSELF, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour” (Mt. 9: 20-22, KJV). This Miracle is recorded in three of the gospels, each providing a unique perspective to the event (See also Mk. 5:25-34 and Lk.8:43-48). Mark’s account is the longest; Matthew’s the shortest.

The records in the three gospels show that this miracle occurred at the same time as the rais­ing of the daughter of Jairus (chief of the synagogue), who incidentally was twelve years old – exactly how long this nameless woman had suffered. Considered unclean, she came from behind to reach out and press the hem of Christ’s gar­ment and then tried to steal away quietly. Christ’s grace acted powerfully for both individuals as a testimony to what His grace can do for all, irrespective of class or status. Life is in the blood (Gen.9:4). Meanwhile, the woman was bleeding unceasingly; frail, weak and pale, life constantly ebbing from her. She, who must have originally had some means, had futilely spent all her living upon hope from physicians: “She had suffered many things of many physicians” (Mk.5: 26).

Along with her blood, her resources were drained, and she was no better, but rather grew worse. News of a greater Physician reached this woman, and awakened hope in her otherwise despairing HEART. With her desperate need driving her, and news of Christ’s Power drawing her, she sought Him, hoping however faintly, for a way of escape from twelve years of misery. She pressed through the crowd, with stealth, but also determination. From her HEART – “within herself” – she kept saying to herself, “If I may but touch his garment I shall be whole” (v. 21). That was the Origin of her miracle of healing. She saw it within her heart before receiving the miracle in reality!

Her Faith was stout enough to recognize that just the hem of His garment could convey healing. For twelve long years, she hadn’t been allowed to touch anyone or anyone’s clothing without making the person unclean, but now adamantly felt drawn to touch the Saviour! The word “touched” refers to a determined hold, not just a passing brush. Her touch pulled Power: “And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague” (Mk.5:29). His power reached where nothing had been effective. In a moment, the problem dried up at the source; all the uncleanness, shame, separation, and isolation were over: “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for unclean­ness” (Zec.13:1).

Christ recognized the touch of faith among the multitude pressing Him. She came secretly, but He would not let her return quietly, only to doubt and fear whether what she had done was wrong. He sealed His work in her! All because she THOUGHT and TOUCHED the hem of the Saviour’s garment, gone were the days of life ebbing away: “And there is no one who calls on Your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of You” (Isa.64:7a). How well do we stir ourselves up from our hearts, to take hold of the Lord by faith for every need? Many simply crowd around Christ without taking hold of Him by faith; they are ambiguous in their need and of His power.

When we stretch our thoughts and touch to lay hold on Him, God in Christ conveys what no other physician can: salvation, healing, and restoration. Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace, to obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Heb.4:16).