Seek

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I want to share a time with you when Jesus traveled to Gennesaret. While he is there a woman with a terrible disease attempts to steal her healing and publicly is rewarded with what she seeks. I hope you enjoy it and are inspired by this woman’s faith.


Late one afternoon I watched as a crowd gathered on a beach. I found myself curious at what was happening and moved down to the shoreline and stood a short distance away. Standing behind me was a woman I knew well. She had been banned from the community due to her disease that had left her unclean. This woman was not allowed to enter the temple or attend public gatherings. Over the last twelve years she had gone broke trying to find a physician who could cure her of this wretched disease. Yet each physician fought a losing battle as she only grew weaker and poorer after their treatment.

The crowd drew closer to the water and I could tell that the boat must have come aground. The volume of the waiting crowd grew louder and many carrying small children begged for attention. Several men climbed from the boat in an attempt to make a path for one of the men to pass through. The crowd tugged and pulled on the mans clothing begging him to touch their child or stop for a moment to heal them. It seemed the man was sure to be overwhelmed by the eagerness of the nearly riotous crowd. The crowd grabbed his hands and arms some clinging to his feet and legs as he struggled to move farther from the shore.

Suddenly the woman who had been standing behind me began repeating over and over “if I could just touch his clothes”. I turned to see tears streaming down her pale hollow face. I tried to talk to her but I didn’t want to get too close to her due to her condition. Suddenly her mumblings stopped and she brushed past me toward the man they called Jesus. I watched as she struggled to reach him. By this time the crowd had nearly become impenetrable around him and I watched as she was pushed back. Finally as Jesus made his way through the sea of people I saw the woman reach out and touch his garment as she was falling to the ground. “Who touched my clothes”. Jesus asked? “People have been grabbing at you since we stepped from the boat”, the men with him said. “Who touched my clothes?” Jesus asked a second time.

The crowd grew silent and took a step back sensing the importance of the moment.
The woman with the disease stepped forward in the silence because she felt in herself that healing had come to her. “I touched your garment sir.” She said.
“Your faith has made you whole. Now be freed from your suffering.” Jesus said.
She had abandoned all fear of being embarrassed by her disease. She wasn’t concerned any longer about what people might say. All that mattered was touching Jesus the healer.

I find this particular healing fascinating because it is different than the other healings of Jesus. In this healing the woman sought after it. We read all through the New Testament where Jesus willingly healed or asked the person if they wanted to be healed. This healing however was taken. Jesus honored the woman’s faith and blessed her with her heart's desire.

It seems to me that this is where we are today. Jesus is not going to walk down our street and knock on our door. We must seek him with faith believing that our healing and miracle is within our reach and is found in Him.

Remember to always ride the narrow road and stop in and see us again.

Your riding companion, Larry (Skeeter)