Touch the Cloak

Luke 8:43-48

“43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master,the people are crowding and pressing against you.”46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Ceremonially, this woman had been unclean for 12 years and as such was socially ostracized.  This issue of the blood had ended her normal life.  She dared not openly approach Jesus so she crept up behind him in the crowd,  touching only His cloak.  

I once knew a woman who, because of the things of her past, did not feel worthy to receive communion.  She sat near the back of the church and watched as others received the elements.

Too often we let the things of our past keep us from God.  We do not feel worthy.  We do not think that God can love someone who has done the things we have done, said the things we have said or thought the things we have thought.  

After 12 years, the woman with the issue of blood worked up the courage to approach Jesus.  Immediately, she was healed.

In spite of what society tells us, or what may be hidden in our pasts...Christ beckons us to him.

Touch His cloak.  Better yet, take His hand.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)