Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:43-48, NKJV.)
In Luke 8 a woman in great distress because of an incurable sickness came to Jesus; she was desperate to touch Him. I am very interested in this question of touch, because it is the one thing we are not allowed to do during this pandemic; we must keep social distance. Yet this sense of touch is an essential human need. In my crusades, many sick people come forward for prayer, asking me to lay hands on them. What is it about the touch of another? Touch is one of the ways we show love, kindness, reassurance, empathy. At this time when we can’t touch one another, I want you to reach out and touch Jesus. Many say, “But I can’t touch Jesus, He is not here.” Yet when I was reading this passage in Luke 8, I realise that this woman, in her need, did not actually touch Jesus; she touched the hem of His garment.
This is what I want you to understand today: Jesus KNEW she had reached out to Him, because He felt virtue pass to her. Like her, you are not able to physically touch Jesus, but you can reach out to Him through prayer and worship. Whatever your problem: whether it is sickness, financial or other distress, come to Jesus. And just as with that woman, Jesus will know you have reached out to Him. He will turn around and say, “Child of Mine, go in peace, your faith has healed you.”
‘Another Touch’ used by kind permission www.vinesong.com