New Discovery

Yesterday I was watching TV, as usual, when something unusual happened.  A TV evangelist caught my attention as I was flipping through the stations trying to find something at six o'clock on Sunday that I wanted to watch while feeding Emma.  Now, I'm not one to really stop and listen to TV evangelists.  On most occasions I have listened for a moment only to hear the equivalent of a "pay for healing" or "pay for a blessing" or "give to get prosperity" message.  In my lifetime the only exceptions that I can personally attest to are TD Jakes, Charles Stanley and Son, Billy Graham, and one or two others.  Then of course a local evangelist that I have met personally.  So, for me to stop on this station was pretty remarkable.  Actually it was the work of God.

I listened as Rev. Prince (again I've only heard him this once) provided me with a new discovery.  He was speaking about the woman with the issue of blood.  During the sermon he asked did we see what was remarkable in this passage.  Now, as a part of school I have begun to look deeper at God's word but I always seem to miss something.  I try to ask:

• What is God doing?
• Who are the main actors?
• What is missing from this story?
• What jumps out at you?
• What seems out of place?
• What question is being answered?

Yesterday, Rev. Prince asked his congregation to look for something remarkable.  Like most everyone else I jumped to the healing of the woman who had grown sick and worse.  He, however, said God led him to two things.  First, the connection between Jesus and the Old Testament prophecies of the Sun of Righteousness, and the promise of healing in the Messiah.  Second, and this was very new to me, was the fact that the crowd pressed on Jesus and crowded him yet only the woman who touched him was healed.  Did you get that?  The crowds were jostling, pressing, bumping, touching, grabbing, pushing and shoving, and running into Jesus as he walked to heal a little girl.  Surely many were sick, in need, and wanting healing.  Yet, only the woman who said, in faith, "if I can touch the hem of his garment" was made whole.

How often have we all walked beside him, praying for a touch, a word, a blessing from God?  And this passage tells us that it is already there for us.  We all need to touch, in faith; touch while believing; touch with hope; and touch Christ ready to receive.  Will we all be healed instantly, I don't know.  Will we all be blessed, definitely!