For she said, if I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole. Mark 5:28
There is a nuclear power plant not that far from where we live; it’s a huge, complicated place with all sorts of equipment that I don’t understand, even though I have been – in my former role as a reporter – though that plant several times. I don’t know much about the way that plant takes nuclear fuel bundles and converts the energy from them into electricity. I do know that there are wires carrying the electricity from that plant to insert it into the province’s energy grid. And I also know that when I need a light in my room, all I need to do to access the power of that nuclear plant is to touch the light switch on my wall. The lady in our text may not have had much of an idea how Jesus would heal her. But she knew that He would, if she but reached out to touch His garment. Her act is a wonderful definition of faith.
This woman – tradition says her name was Veronica – did not perform some great act of commitment or put on some public demonstration of her faith. In fact, she tried to avoid being seen as she reached through the crowd to touch Jesus’ hem. She knew that she had no ability or capacity in herself to accomplish anything. She knew Who could heal, Who alone had the power to perform so great a miracle. Consider her approach, fearful of being discovered but determined to obtain the blessing she sought. There was no doubt in her mind what would happen. The only question was whether she could get close enough to touch Jesus; there was no question about what would happen if she could touch Him. Dozens, perhaps hundreds that day would have touched Jesus as they thronged about him, and we don’t read of any others being healed in this way. Where did Veronica get such a notion? Her notion came from knowing Who Jesus was, and in knowing His ability to heal her. Oh that we could exercise such faith today!
Our problem may not be as big as Veronica’s, or as urgent. But every day we encounter situations that are beyond ourselves. We see needs that we lack the ability to meet. We become frustrated at our problems, and feel sorry for ourselves. Our lack of faith does all sorts of harm to us. But Jesus is available. We can reach out to Him. We just need to see that He is greater than all our problems, and that He is willing and able to bless.
Reach out and touch the Lord Jesus today. It is not your reaching but His power that will work miracles. -Jim MacIntosh