When Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, as they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. There was a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”
The woman, realizing that she couldn’t go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she explained why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” – Luke 8 v 40-49
When Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth, a man named Jairus approached and begged him to come to his house to heal his sick daughter. On his way, something caught Jesus’ attention, something that wasn’t on the agenda – a radical faith. He had to know who it was and what had happened, for this miracle was uncommon. A woman who had suffered from a blood condition for twelve years – perhaps the significance of twelve as the numerical symbol of God’s power and authority or a symbol of completeness – touched Jesus, and instantly she was healed, made whole and complete. Jesus had to ask, “Who touched me?” for he felt power being drawn out of him.
Jesus didn’t fully understand what had happened, but he knew something great had transpired. He was moved and shaken inside, much like when the paralytic was lowered into his presence through the roof – that kind of radical faith. This is the kind of faith that shakes foundations; this woman understood that the presence of God is not something to be taken for granted, and she seized the opportunity. She took a bold step, touching his garment, as she had waited a long time to be freed from her affliction. She had struggled for years with her condition, as troubles, misfortune, pain, and wants can strengthen one’s faith. She didn’t wait to be acknowledged first, for she believed that if she could just touch a part of him, she would be healed. In her mind, something kept ringing: she had to take advantage of this moment, to make the most of God’s presence.
At the age of twelve, Jesus went missing, and His parents found Him in the Temple. When questioned, he replied, “Why were you searching for me? Don’t you know where my Father’s house is?” In another chapter, he said, “When two or three are gathered in my name, I will be with them.” I strongly sense that we need to leverage God’s presence and exercise radical faith for healing, restoration, and deliverance, especially when we gather in His name at church. It’s a time we should take seriously, a time to encounter God genuinely rather than just going through religious motions.
In Acts 16, the Bible records that Paul and Silas praised God, and their faith moved God. Remarkable things happened when their faith moved God – in prison, chains were loosed, doors opened, and people were saved. In Luke 17 v 6, Jesus said, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” When asked by Jesus, Peter and the others couldn’t believe the question. They must have thought, “Is he crazy? How could he ask who touched him when we were nearly crushed by the crowd?” They had no idea what had transpired, and Jesus was trying to learn the story, for someone had touched him not only physically but also within. This woman’s faith had touched and moved Jesus’ heart. When your faith moves God, a power transfer occurs. “Somebody touched me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Somebody needs to touch Jesus, someone needs to stretch beyond the ordinary, to move in faith and touch Him to experience Him as the deliverer. If you’ve been stuck in the same place for too long, it’s time to break out!
If only you could have faith like a mustard seed, you could move mountains. Be like this woman of faith, thinking, “If only I could touch Him, I would be made well.” Holy Spirit, move someone right now. A mustard seed is so small that it could fit into the center of your smallest finger, yet it can grow into a plant taller than you. Have a radical faith like this woman’s and move God to take action. Amen.