Hopeful Hem
Sewing is not one of my talents. I consider it a dangerous sport. Somehow, whenever it is me versus the needle, the needle always wins. I always walk away with blood dripping from my finger. Sewing machines frighten me. I know all it wants is my blood. The machine wants me to sacrifice my finger to satisfy its appetite. (OK, I went a little far with that. Sorry.)
My mom and grandmother, on the other hand (one that is not bleeding-sorry bad pun) love to sew. They can make anything. I am always amazed how they will take an ugly brown pattern and use it to create a work of art. I did not inherit their talent. In fact, I actually dated a guy in 7th grade, so he would sew a pair of shorts for me so I could pass home ec class. (I was desperate O.K.! Don’t follow my wicked example. I just feared having to bleed more!)
So, what in the world does this have to do with Scripture? I can relate to desperate people. So can you. I can relate to not being “good enough”. So can you. I can relate to being willing to do anything just to be able to be “normal”. So can you. I can relate to being in pain and wanting to just give up. So can you. We have stories. Some are trite, like my sewing experiences. Some are heart wrenching, like having friends die, or having family disown you, or watching your dreams shatter, or a million other things we have to face. Have you come to the end of your hope? Can I beg you to hold on? I mean that literally. For one went before us, she held on and found the hem of hope.
As Jesus was on His way, the crowds almost crushed Him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years but no one could heal her. She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched Me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against You.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched Me; I know that power has gone out from Me.” 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. Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:42b-48)
Don’t you see yourself in this Scripture? I know that I do. She is so timid in her faith. She is not willing to go and directly ask for His help. She doesn’t have the nerve to speak, to face Him. Instead, she shrinks back. Here she is in a crowd of people yet she feels utterly alone.
I bet she had felt that way for quite some time. For you see, with the medical condition she had, she was considered ceremonially unclean. If anyone came in contact with her, that person would also be considered ceremonially unclean. Being unclean kept you from being able to enter the temple. Needless to say, people stayed away from the “unclean”. They did not want to be “infected”. The religious leaders had strict regulations that were to keep those who were “unclean” away from other people. It caused complete isolation. You were excluded from your place of worship, the temple, the symbol of the seat of God. Not only was God far away, so were other people for they were not allowed to be around you. Can you imagine being shunned, being an outcast for 12 years? That’s like repeating junior high four times. What could be worse than that? How would you be affected emotionally? Would you be mad, depressed, confused? Would your pain lead you to question God who seemed so far, so distant, so high above that you weren’t even allowed to go and worship Him? What hope would you have when it seemed that God Himself had rejected you?
When I was in high school, I remember reading an article about a school shooting in a different city. In recent news, we have heard this tragic story far too often. But at that time, it was unheard of. This young teenager had opened fire at his school and then killed himself. In the aftermath of this terrible event, a note written by the gunman was found. He said how tired he was of being an outcast, of having others always make fun of him. They called him names, and they poked fun at his grades and at his weight problem. In the middle of the article was a picture of this young kid. He looked so normal.
I remember the next day. I went to school a different person. I looked at faces. I wondered how many kids at my school felt like an outcast in a crowd, how many of them were tired of being shunned. I wondered how many I had excluded instead of loving them. In my “good girl” religiosity, was I too unapproachable? Instead of reaching out with a helping hand, did I just look down at others and then walk away? Was I too busy talking about how “bad” they were or I should I say “unclean” instead of seeing them as a child of God? Was I too religious to love? How many were right beside me and yet they felt all alone?
They could relate to this woman. You see, she was surrounded by a huge group of religious people and yet she was all by herself. No one reached out to her in love. For twelve years she had suffered. Finally, in one desperate attempt, she stretched out to touch the hem of a garment, hoping for the physical and emotional healing she so desperately desired.
She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. (Luke 8:44)
Immediately-what an exciting word! She knew she had been healed. Imagine suffering for so terribly long and then in one instant, the pain is completely gone! The joy she must have felt. Can’t you just see her big smile, her wide eyes? She must have wanted to dance, to celebrate.
But the happy moment was short-lived. Suddenly, events took an unexpected turn.
“Who touched Me?,” Jesus asked. (Luke 8:45a)
Just imagine the terror she was feeling. Remember, she was ceremonially unclean; she was not allowed to be in the crowd. She had been caught. Yes, she was healed but by Levitical law she had to wait seven days before she could be considered ceremonially clean. Now, all of those people in the crowd who may have touched her would be considered unclean; they would have to bathe and they would be considered unclean for the rest of the day. This is a big deal. This is not like after a camping trip when you need to shower to feel better. Nobody would be allowed into the temple. This is a huge spiritual issue. And here she is in the middle of a large crowd. People would not like the thought of someone making them unclean. Who knows what they were capable of if they got angry? Right in the middle of this mess is Jesus. He was asking for her to reveal her identity. Now, I don’t know about you but if this were me, I’d be sneaking back into the crowd. I’d be like, “Hey, I’m healed, I’m gone.”
But in the middle of this tense scene, is comedy relief. People are funny. I’m so glad the Bible captures how human we all are.
“Who touched Me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” (Luke 8:45)
Everyone IN THE CROWD is saying “not me. I didn’t touch You.” They are in a crowd. Who knows who touched whom? I can just see them pointing at others, blaming them. Then right after everyone has denied it, Peter is the only one honest enough to say, “Uh, everyone could have touched You,” as if Jesus doesn’t know what He is talking about. Good ol’ Peter. So to clarify to Peter as well as to the rest of the crowd, Jesus further explains what has happened.
But Jesus said, “Someone touched Me; I know that power has gone out from Me.” (Luke 8:46)
I hope this verse is as much of a comfort to you as it is to me. Think about the fact that the actual power inside of Jesus flowed to this woman. Some of you are thinking, “that sounds like a weird sci-fi thing.” Before you shut me out, take time to consider just how awesome this is. The power of Jesus flows into us to meet our deepest need. That is such a consoling thought to me when I am hurting. For I know there have been times that no one besides Jesus could do anything to help me. She knows how I feel. Maybe you do, too. No one could heal her. No one. She had sought help. She had gone to the experts. She had listened to their advice and followed it. Yet, nothing changed. Her condition stayed the same. Each resource was drained. There was nothing else they could do.
My grandfather had a major problem with his hip. For the longest time, the doctors could not figure out what was causing his pain. They changed their diagnosis and treatment a hundred times yet nothing helped. They even put him in physical therapy for a while until to the pain in his hip became even worse and he started having intense back problems. What did the medical experts say? “Well, maybe we should stop the physical therapy.” You think?
All of us have experienced pain, whether physical or emotional, and we have heard the opinions of others. But that didn’t solve it. We stayed in the same predicament. Nothing changed. But there is hope. We have access to the actual power of Jesus. The power that created the universe can come into our lives and heal us, help us, transform us. That is amazing!
The woman had received His power, had received healing, but now she had to take a further step. She had been asked to reveal her identity. Once again, I want to remind you that I would have been about half way home. Well, in theory. Actually, I would have been stuck just like she was for she was in a large crowd. All of the people were looking around to find out who had touched Jesus.
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. (Luke 8:47)
Doesn’t that break your heart? This poor woman was trembling, afraid. She had just received healing and instead of feeling she could proclaim this with joy, she was afraid of what the crowd’s reaction would be.
Do you know how many people feel this way in the church? We are afraid to tell others what God has done in our live because then they will know what God truly has freed us from. We like to hide it because we don’t want to be judged.
Dennis Jernigan is a well-known Christian praise and worship leader. He openly admits to his homosexual activity in the past and how God freed him from this stronghold in his life. Now, Dennis is married and has a number of children. I remember I was listening to one of his CDs for the first time. He had his testimony in the middle of it. My eyes grew big and I thought, “he really shouldn’t put that on his CD for it may make some uncomfortable and turn them away and they would miss out on his wonderful music.” God quickly rebuked me for this man was willing to testify what God had done for him, how he had been healed, freed. He was glorifying God and openly proclaiming that Truth could set others free. Dennis refused to hide behind a superficial religiosity. No, he wanted to proclaim the power of God.
Isn’t that what the church is supposed to be doing? We should want to tell the world that we have been saved from our sins. To do that, we need to be honest that we are sinners! We have found the source of healing but in order to share it with others, we must admit that we, too, at one time were sick. So, let down the pride.
Can you imagine if you went to a 12-step program for help and found out that nobody there would admit to a problem? Instead they say they are there for the coffee. We would say that they are in serious denial. But yet as a church we do the same thing. We act as if we are perfect and that there is no sin problem in our sanctuary. We have got to let down our guard and start proclaiming the truth that Christ has come to save sinners and I am the worst of them! Amen! OK, I’m off my soapbox now.
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. Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” (Luke8:47-48)
This statement of Christ is so beautiful. For Jesus, in His tender, mercy knew that she needed more than just physical healing. His words bring the emotional and spiritual healing this woman so desperately needed.
He calls her “Daughter”. How long had it been since she had heard such a sweet term of endearment? Did you know that this is the only time this word is recorded as being used by Jesus? How special, just for her, just for the woman who had been considered unclean for twelve years. She was not only physically healed, not only would she be ceremonially clean in seven days and able to rejoin society, she was now a true daughter of the living God. Man may have rejected her, but she was always close to God’s heart. She was not forgotten or rejected by Him. What a tender reminder of God’s love for us no matter the world’s opinion of who we are. Jesus wanted to let this woman know that she truly belongs to the family of God that right can never be taken from her, for she is the daughter of the King.
Then, after such a tender address, Jesus commends her in front of the crowd. He said, “Your faith has healed you.” Jesus brags on her in front of all the people. He did not say, “I healed you” which would be the truth. Instead, he allowed her the victory for she had suffered defeat for so long.
Isn’t this just typical of a parent? They give credit to the child. Maybe it’s making cookies. The child, in the attempt to help, makes a huge mess. The parent actually makes the cookies. But who gets the credit? The parent tells everyone, “My child made these cookies.” Everyone “oohs” and “aahs”, usually knowing that the parent was more involved than what they are taking credit for. But the child doesn’t realize this. The child stands so proud, so excited, relishing in a job well done.
Here, the Heavenly Father, her Parent, gave credit to His precious daughter, “your faith has healed you.” How tender and kind He is to us. For anyone who has made a huge mess with your life, will you just look to God? He is not yelling or condemning. He just is looking at you with love and is speaking to his angels about how proud He is of you just because you are His. That’s a Father.
His beautiful speech does not end there. After tenderly addressing her and then bragging on her, Jesus says, “Go in peace.”
Isn’t that music to your ears? We can go in peace for Christ ordained it. Her trials did not end for she was still in this evil, fallen world. But this time, no matter what she faced, she could go with the peace of Jesus Himself, for He told her that she could.
This woman’s illness brought her years of torment but in an instant, through the touch of Christ, her life changed. Forever changed. She had to sneak into the crowd, but she departed with her head held high with a path cleared for her when Jesus said, “Go in peace.” She came in believing that she was only worthy to possibly touch the hem of His garment, she left with a face to face meeting with the Living God. She came feeling worthless; she heard the Almighty God brag about her. She came feeling alone, she left as a Daughter. She came ill, she left well. She came broken, she left whole.
One encounter with Christ can radically change any life. I do not know where you are. Some of you may need to take the initial step of faith and grab onto Jesus. Others of you may be struggling and you long to hear your Savior’s voice. Some of you may be walking in peace but not sharing the way with others. It is time for all of us to feel His power.
May I touch the hem of Your garment
I know I’ll never be the same
For Your power heals
The sick, the blind, the lame
May I touch the hem of Your garment
To feel Your holy power
My life will be instantly changed
From this very hour
I must let go of the world
For only then will my hands be free
To touch the hem of the robe
Of His Royal Majesty
Dear Daughter
Have you ever been too late? You waited so long to fix a problem that by the time you sought help, everything was out of control. I know I am the worst about asking for help. I like to do things in my way and in my time. I hate when people give me advice, esp. when I have not asked for it. Ironically enough, a mother who loves to give advice raised me. The weeping and gnashing of teeth began early in my life. The worst was when she was right.
I remember one time when I was little and I decided to make a sand castle on the beach. My mom gave me some pointers as she helped me make it. Well, of course, even at the tender age of six, I had decided to make the castle my way. Needless to say, her side looked much better than my side. So, I, um, kicked her castle so it collapsed into a sand pile. I felt much better. Discipline did not even faze me. I enjoyed seeing her castle of dreams in the dust. In fact, I’m kind of enjoying writing about it. Sorry, mom!
But there have been other castles of dreams that have shattered in my life when I did not heed warnings: poor health, broken relationships, financial trouble, and so much regret. Maybe you can relate. Have you had a broken, smashed dream? Maybe it wasn’t for you. Maybe it was for your child. You had imagined them being president and now you just hope they make it through another day.
Mark Schultz wrote a song called, “He’s My Son”. It is based on a father in the church where Mark is the youth minister. The father told Mark how he would plead to God about his son who was diagnosed with cancer when only a young teenager. Is there anyone who can relate to these lyrics?
I’m down on my knees again tonight
I’m hoping this prayer will turn out right
See there is a boy that needs your help
I’ve done all that I can do myself
His mother is tired
I’m sure you can understand
Each night as he sleeps
She goes in to hold his hand
And she tries not to cry
As the tears fill her eyes
Can You hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can you make him feel all right?
If You can hear me
Let me take his place somehow
See, he’s not just anyone
He’s my son
Sometimes late at night I watch him sleep
I dream of the boy He’d like to be
I try to be strong and see him through
But God who he needs right now is You
Let him grow old
Live life without this fear
What would I be
Living without him here
He’s so tired and he’s scared
Let him know that You’re there
Can You hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can you make him feel all right?
If You can hear me
Let me take his place somehow
See, he’s not just anyone
He’s my son
Can You hear me?
Can’t You see him?
Please don’t leave him
He’s my son
There is one in the Bible whose heart could cry this song. But his pain would not be for a son but for a daughter, his twelve-year-old little girl.
Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed Him, for they were all expecting Him. Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with Him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying… While Jesus was speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher any more.” Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with Him except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” They laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. But He took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but He ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.” (Luke 8:40-42, 49-56)
I love this first sentence. The crowd welcomed Him. They were excited to see Him. They were waiting, expecting Him. They looked forward to being around Him. They wanted to hear His words. So, they pressed in against Him. It was a welcome back party! What a picture of how the church should be! We should be getting together, getting ready, looking forward to celebrating the return of Jesus!
It is here at this exciting moment, that a man comes and dampers the mood. He didn’t mean to extinguish the fun; he just had a need and had to come straight to Jesus.
Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with Him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. (Luke 8:41-42)
Look at who Jairus is, a ruler of the synagogue. He was one of the groups who opposed Jesus. How many words had he spoken or heard against Jesus? How many of his friends were angered by Jesus? How many did he know that were humiliated by Jesus’ wisdom and they desired to get revenge? How many times had he heard of disapproval of Jesus, even questioning whether His healing power was from-heaven or hell? Did Jairus agree with them? Did he nod his head in approval? Maybe. But that was before his daughter was on the verge of death.
It seems that she may have been sick for at least a little while, but it had taken a turn for the worse. They realized that she did not have much time left. I wonder if Jairus had to debate his very self about seeking the help of the One whom his peers disliked? How desperate had the situation become before he finally ran to his last hope? He came to Jesus, fell at His feet, and begged for Him to come to his daughter. This is a cry of a man who no longer cared about what his group of friends thought.
Let’s stop here and go back in time. Go with me before the world was even formed. God was planning His creation. He is smiling as He thinks of Jairus. He loved him before he was born. God wanted to make sure that Jairus became one of His children. So in His sovereignty, God gave Jairus a sick child, one who would be on the verge of death at the tender age of twelve. For the Lord knew that this would be the only reason Jairus would come to the feet of Jesus. What an amazing God we have. He greatly desires our salvation. He will go to any length to save us. Isn’t that apparent? For Jairus was at the feet of the Creator who had come down to His created. Here He was to minister to the man Jairus who He knew about before time began. (Is that mind-boggling or what?)
And so Jesus went with Him. It was on his journey to the house of Jairus that the woman touched the hem of Jesus garment. While Jesus was still speaking to her and commending her faith, a message came to Jairus.
While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher any more.” (Luke 8:49)
Can you imagine the thoughts of Jairus? “Why didn’t I come to Jesus sooner? It is my fault. Oh, my precious daughter, the joy of my life.” As his grief overwhelmed him, he heard a voice.
Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” (Luke 8:50)
Focus on these two words, “Hearing this”. Jesus heard the news. He was not too busy with the crowd, or the woman who had been healed, or anything else to not be immediately available for Jairus. “Hearing this…” Jairus did not even have to tell Him about it. Jairus did not have to receive the bad news alone.
What bad news have you received? Did you feel alone? Did you think no one cared? Do you believe that no one would stand beside you during the difficult times? Did you think your problems were ignored? Let me encourage you today. Jesus heard the news with you. He is standing right with you. Nothing else is more important to Him then being there for you, supporting you, carrying you through these hard times. You are not alone.
Jairus had Someone standing beside him. In a time of shock and confusion, he heard the words, “Don’t be afraid, and just believe.” Do not fear. Look at me. Don’t give into your emotions. Focus on Me. I can do more than you can imagine. “She will be healed.” Yes, you have heard it’s the end, there is no hope. You can choose to listen to the world or to Me. The world says, “let go, and give up, too bad.” I’m telling you that a miracle is on the horizon. Don’t give up. I’ll continue to walk beside you. Then, Jairus, you will see how I have decided to see this situation end.
And Jairus decided to listen to Jesus. They continued to the house.
When He arrived at the house of Jairus, He did not let anyone go in with Him except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” They laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. (Luke 8:51-52)
They laughed at Him. Of course, we realize the foolishness of this. We say that we would never laugh at Jesus. For we know that He can raise the dead, heal the sick, move the stars. He is all-powerful!
But can I suggest to you that we laugh often even if it is done quietly. Has God asked us to do something and we say, “Lord, I could never do that.” And then we give Him numerous excuses as to why. Or maybe God has commanded your church to go in a new direction, possibly not in the style of your tradition, or how “we’ve always done it.” We claim that it’s impossible. (By the way, some of our churches are truly dead and we need to be raised to life!) I have heard that many years ago, a staff person at the church that I serve at was “let go” (that is a nice way a church fires people) because he was too “radical”. This same man is now serving at one of the largest churches in the nation and reaching thousands of people through his ministry. Obviously, the church was not comfortable reaching out to anyone beside themselves. God asked them to extend a hand of love to the community and they laughed (quietly, of course) and said that we needed to focus on feeding “our own” people. We are like the wailing crowd that laughed at Jesus. Yes, we cry over the spiritually dead, but we are not willing to place hope in the One who could save them. It’s much easier to laugh.
Jesus was not swayed by their mockery. Instead, He took with Him those who could witness His power.
But He took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. (Luke 8:54-55a)
Whose child was it? Jairus’. Yes. His wife’s. Yes. But Who else? Jesus calls her “My child”. He cared about her and loved her with a Father’s love.
Do you have a child who is hurting? Remember Jesus loves your child, too. Do you have a child who has strayed away? Remember Jesus hurts for your child, too. His heart aches, rejoices, beams with pride just like yours.
Single parents-can I give you a special word? Jesus is right there with you. Never feel like you have to raise your child alone. Jesus is standing by you, look at your beloved young one, while both of you say, “My child.” He cares about their hopes, their wants, their needs.
Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but He ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. (Luke 55b-56)
The parents were in shock. So, Jesus lovingly took over the situation and asked them to give their little girl something to eat. Feed her. Break bread with her. Fellowship with her. Just enjoy her. By the way, keep this between us. It will be our divine secret. Others will know about it later. It will be recorded for eternity. They will know about your walk Jairus. You left your house a ruler of the synagogue, an enemy of Mine. But you have returned a child of the Savior, a child of Mine.