Friday 07 August 2015

Psalm: Psalm 63:1-8

Background

As if the poor woman in this story has not already sufferedenough, even at the moment of her healing she has to come forwardand tell Jesus and all the people in the crowd why she needed totouch him and how she was healed.

This unnamed woman had been haemorrhaging for 12 years. In allthat time the woman, anything she touched and anyone who touchedher was regarded as unclean. No one was going to make a paththrough the crowds to allow her to speak with Jesus.

The woman weakened by her many years of illness and blood losswas determined to get to Jesus, just to touch him would be enough,so she pressed through the crowd until with the tip of her fingershe touched the hem of his robe, "and immediately her haemorrhagestopped" (v. 44).

Then came the shameful moment when she identified herself andtold her story to Jesus and to the crowd. Her relief at beinghealed after so many years gave her the strength and confidence tospeak up. In a moment, the embarrassment and shame fell away asJesus' voice echoed in her ears, "Daughter, your faith has made youwell; go in peace" (v. 48). "Daughter"-  a woman who had beenan outcast for so long is affirmed in her special and closerelationship with Jesus. He claims her as a daughter.

Jesus paused on his way to heal Jairus' daughter in order torestore to full life his own 'daughter'. Her faith healed her, butJesus' words gave her back her humanity.

To Ponder

• What is your reaction to these two stories? What do you noticehappening inside of you as you read?

• What do these stories tell you about God?