The Healer's Touch Part 5: The Cure

"...your faith has made you well; go in peace.” – Luke 8:48

This will be the final post in this series, The Healer's Touch. If you haven't read the whole series, I really encourage you to do so!

Part 1: The Crowd
Part 2: The Women

Part 3: The Healing
Part 4: The Question

As we get things started in Part 5, I want to remind us that as we look at this story in Luke 8:40-48 of Christ healing the bleeding woman in the crowd, that we are looking beyond the miraculous physical healing that takes place, and seeing how it paints the picture of the miraculous healing Christ can give to our hearts. How he can save us from the penalty of our sin (Romans 6:23).

So with that, lets get started. 

The Cure (Saved by faith) 

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” – Luke 8:48

What healed this woman? Was it her journey through the crowd? Was it the touching of his robe? Was it something she did? No. It was the power of Jesus that went out and healed her. We see that in Luke 8:44-46. But in 8:48, we see Christ says, "Your faith has made you well." So what healed her? Was it her faith or Jesus? I think the answer to this is not a simple one, and I do not claim to fully understand it. However, as I have been thinking on it, I want to share a connection that I see forming between these two.

Her faith did make her well, as the scripture says, but why? I believe the reason Christ says that her faith has made her well, is because he was the object of her faith. The fact that Christ was the object of her faith, caused her to journey though the crowd and reach for his robe. This woman had tried having faith in herself and others for twelve years. She had faith in physicians, possibly home remedies, maybe even just trusting that if she ignores it, it may go away. However it didn't. It got worse and her situation grew more critical, and that is when her faith changed from herself and others, and turned to God.

Many deal with their sin in the same way. Some ignore it or deny it, having faith that God doesn't exist. Some fight with all their strength to do enough good to counter it, having faith in their good works. Some have faith in someone who can bless them and pronounce them forgiven. These all have one thing in common, the object of their faith is powerless to forgive sin, and powerless to heal their heart.

This woman's faith however, was placed upon the one person that could meet her need. It was placed on Christ. This is saving faith, that by grace is given to us.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:8-10

And what is the result of such a faith, and of such a healing? The God given freedom to go in peace! If you have read Part 2 in this series, taking a look at the woman's condition, you know she was in no way at peace. She was reminded every day that she was unclean and that she could do nothing to stop it. This is the same spiritual state of every person before God saves them. Have you ever felt that in your life? Waking up every day with guilt from the day before, feeling the weight of your sin bearing down on you? Exhausting yourself with your own efforts to find peace and satisfaction, yet nothing gives it?

Then, in that state, the work of God takes place on your life, and you see him for the first time, and the holy glory of God overwhelms you! You see him as the most desirable thing in the world, yet at the same time, the most unobtainable thing in the world because of your sin. Then you look at the cross of Jesus and see within his wounds just how deep God's wrath against your sin is, and at the same time how deep his love toward you is. God came in flesh, lived the sinless life you could not live, died the death you owe, and then overcame the grave to give you the life you do not deserve. That is the beautiful glory of God!

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. – Romans 6:4

That is the love of God, to heal you on the deepest level of your heart, and give you a life both now in this life, and forever in the life to come! Jesus did not come to help you be more moral, or to let you get away with whatever you want, he came to take what was dead and make it alive! He came to give those that will follow him life! So come to him in faith, repent from all that you have tried to satisfy yourself with, realize he is more desirable than anything in this world, then reach out for him and find the healing you have always needed, and then go in peace knowing you have been made new.

It is as if you look up from the broken glass of water that has always left you thirsting for more, to see a never ending waterfall that will quench your every need now and forever. John 4:1-42

The Healer's Touch Part 4: The Question

"...your faith has made you well; go in peace.” – Luke 8:48

Today we are continuing in the series titled The Healer's Touch. Here in Part 4, we will look at the question Christ asked of those around him and the answers given him, and what it means for us. Remember, in this series we are looking at this event, the healing of the bleeding woman found in Luke 8, and pulling back the layers. Our goal is to see beyond the physical event of this women's healing, and think on the great spiritual truths on display in this moment.

Here are the other parts in the series if you need to get caught up.

Part 1: The Crowd
Part 2: The Women
Part 3: The Healing

Now, lets get into Part 4.

The Question & Two Answers (The denial and the confession) 

Who was it that touched me? – Luke 8:45

It was a very simple question that Jesus asked, however the answers given and the reactions of the people around him carry some great truths for us to think on. Lets take them one at a time.

The Denial 

…they all denied it. – Luke 8:45

Even though they were all touching him, as Peter says, why did they all deny it? One reason that I believe we can see here is that those who are around Christ, yet still unbelievers, refused to be connected with Christ.

...everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 10:32-33

So what are some reasons that people who are all over Christ, end up denying him? I think two of the primary reasons are persecutions and unmet expectations that we have placed on God that he never promised to fulfill.

We see both of these commented on in the parable of the sower explained from Matthew 13:20-22 

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. – Matthew 13:20-22

Lets look at these two a little more from scripture.

Persecution:  

Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. – Luke 21:10-19

Those that are the Lord’s will overcome, and will have the words to say, and the perseverance to endure even when put to death.

Cares of the world: 

What are the cares of the world? Money, success, positions, fame, prestige, etc. Basically the lust of the flesh, eyes and the pride of life.  

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. – 1 John 2:15-17

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. – Revelation 3:17-18 

There is nothing wrong with having things. The problem is when those things are what we want more than God. To desire the blessings of things, rather the One who is the giver of the blessing.

These are the reasons people will deny Christ. It basically boils down to the fact that they never saw Christ as more valuable than the things of the world, including their own life.

The Confession 

And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. – Luke 8:47

She could not remain hidden. What an interesting way of saying it. The truth we see here is that salvation always brings about public confession. True salvation always becomes public and declares the work of God in our lives. 

Let's look at some examples of this from scripture:

Isaiah - Encountered God - Sent 

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: 

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” 

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” And he said, “Go...  – Isaiah 6:1-9 

Moses - Encountered God - Sent

Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” – Exodus 3:10-12 

Disciples - Lived with Christ - Sent

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20 

Paul - Encountered Christ - Sent 

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.  

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. – Acts 9:17-22

Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. 

So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus. – Acts 13:1-4

From what we see in scripture, and modeled by this women in Luke 8, is that a transforming encounter with God will produce a life sent confessing the encounter.

The question you have to ask yourself, is am I living a life of confessing the Healer's touch in my life? If the answer is no, it may be worth asking yourself if you have been touched by the healer, or are you a member of the crowd denying Him?

The Healer's Touch Part 3: The Healing

"...your faith has made you well; go in peace.” – Luke 8:48

Welcome back to the blog and the series The Healer's Touch. In this third part we will continue looking at the healing of the bleeding woman in Luke 8. If you have missed any of the other posts in this series, I really encourage you to check them out! You can find them here:

Part 1 - The Crowd
Part 2 - The Woman

Now lets jump into part three.

The Healing (The Transformation)

…immediately her discharge of blood ceased.

The amazing and supernatural physical healing God gave to this woman was complete and full, and so is the miraculous healing Christ accomplishes in the hearts of those he saves!

Our God is not a hopeful savior. He is not standing around like a parent with fingers crossed hoping their child succeeds at some sporting event or recital. However he is confident of his children’s success, because as the almighty and powerful God, his grace will not fail to accomplish it.

For me as a believer, this is a very comforting truth! There are too many times when I start to wonder if God will ever use me, if I am any value to him, or if there is any real hope for me to become something more for him.

It was not too long ago that I was wrestling with these very thoughts and decided to spend the afternoon drawing. It usually helps me think. The drawing I was working on had many fine details and intricate pen marks. While working on it my son came to me at the kitchen table and said that he liked my drawing and that it looked great. He then quickly followed up with, "it looks like it's finished."

I told him thank you, but that the drawing still had a long way to go. That it may look done, but in my head I can see the full picture, and it is not finished yet. He shrugged his shoulders and went back to playing.

As soon as he left tears started to well up in my eyes, as I heard my Father whisper to me, "Shawn, I'm not finished with you yet, I see what the full picture looks like. I'm here and I'm still working."

What a comfort that is! God's healing and work in us will not fail! Consider these words by F. B. Myer:

We go into the artist’s studio and find there unfinished pictures covering large canvases, and suggesting great designs, but which have been left, either because the genius was not competent to complete the work, or because paralysis laid the hand low in death; but as we go into God’s great workshop we find nothing that bears the mark of haste or insufficiency of power to finish, and we are sure that the work which His grace has begun, the arm of His strength will complete. – F. B. Meyer (19th Century Commentator) 

There is no haste or insufficiency of power to finish his work, I love that! Now let's drive this idea home with a walk through some of God's word to see this idea fleshed out.

When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit. – John 19:30

When Jesus died on the cross, he did not partially accomplish something. It was finished. He completed the work that he was sent to do. So what did he come to do?

...Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. – 1 Peter 3:18 

His work was finished! His work to bring you to God is complete! If your rejoicing and praise to God stops at your forgiveness of sin, you need to ask yourself, “Why am I rejoicing over that.” Is that the end? Is the removal of your guilt the greatest thing to rejoice over? No, rejoice that you are being brought to God! That is the end, your forgiveness is just the means. Yes, be glad and shout for joy that you are forgiven, but don't stop there! The forgiveness is not what satisfies your needs, it is God who completely satisfies your needs, and for his glory he lived a perfect life, suffered, and overcame sin and death to ensure that you are brought to the one who satisfies completely!

He who began a good work in you, is faithful to complete it. – Phil 1:6 

Your healing is as good as done. You still walk daily in a struggle, in a fight, but you are completely healed! Why? Because God will see it through. The completion of your healing, your growth, your conformity to Christ, is not your doing. He began it, and he will complete it.

I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. – Job 42:2 

No one in this world, a friend, enemy, or yourself can stop the purposes of God. So if he has purposed to bring you to God and to complete the good work in you, it is as good as done!

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. – Romans 8: 29-30

Romans 8:29-30 is the unbreakable chain of security for the believer. If you are his, you will be glorified with him, and he will conform you into the image of Christ! That is the the beautiful goal of every believer, to be made into the image of Christ! It is not about our ease or our comfort, but about our conformity. And that transformation is what brings us true joy in our lives, and God will accomplish it in you!

Your salvation is complete. Under the umbrella of grace Justification is accomplished (saved from the penalty of sin), Sanctification is being accomplished (saved from the power of sin), and Glorification will be accomplished (saved from the presence of sin). For the believer all three will happen! Some will try to say that we are justified and glorified by God, but it is by our own power and strength that we fight sin. My friends, you have no hope to find victory over the power of sin in your life apart from the grace of God!

We see this in Ephesians chapter two.

 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:8-10

No one has been saved by works, but everyone who is saved will display works. Why? Because we are his workmanship, not ours. How do we know that? Because God prepared beforehand for those who would follow him, good works for them to walk in. But why? Because he is the one conforming us into his image, and that transformation is by his plan and his power and is our necessary evidence of salvation. That is why God will do whatever it takes to conform us into his image, because it will bring him glory and satisfy us fully, and leave us lacking nothing.

Count is all joy my brother, when you meet trails of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1:2-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 1:3-7 

God will do everything necessary (and will do nothing unnecessary) in you and to you, to ensure that you make it to him. That you endure. That you overcome. He is working, and his plans will not fail, and his plans are good. You can trust and rest in that your healing is complete and full, because God has declared it as such. That is why we walk in a manor worthy of the gospel today, looking forward to the reality to come.

The Healer's Touch Part 2: The Woman

"...your faith has made you well; go in peace.” – Luke 8:48

Just in case you are jumping on the blog, first I'm glad your here! Second, in case you didn't know, this is the second post in a 5 part series looking at the miraculous healing of the woman within the crowd found in Luke 8. If you missed the first post, you can get caught up here: The Crowd

I think a short recap of what we are doing before continuing could also be helpful. We are walking through this story and pointing out the different people and events, and looking at it the through the lens, or facet, of how Christ's miraculous healings are a picture of his ability to overcome the deadly results of man's fallen nature. The first post looked at the crowd, and now we will turn our attention to the woman.


The Woman (The Believer) 

There was a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. – Luke 8:43

What we see here is a woman who is at the end of herself. She has exhausted every effort to try and find healing. Everything she had is gone, her savings emptied on multiple physicians who were unable to help her. Nothing worked. Nothing freed her of her condition.

That is what we see physically, however there is a huge spiritual truth being displayed here for us. For us to really grasp hold of what is on view here, we need to see her as the culture did. As one who is unclean.

In the Old Testament, the menstruation cycle is often used as a symbol of unrighteousness and a filthy state of the heart. To see this, lets start where her condition is described in the law.

“If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her menstrual impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness. As in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean. Every bed on which she lies, all the days of her discharge, shall be to her as the bed of her impurity. And everything on which she sits shall be unclean, as in the uncleanness of her menstrual impurity. And whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. But if she is cleansed of her discharge, she shall count for herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. And on the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons and bring them to the priest, to the entrance of the tent of meeting. And the priest shall use one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her before the Lord for her unclean discharge. – Leviticus 15:25-30 

I hope we feel the weight of this woman’s burden! For 12 years she was unclean! Every night for 12 years she went to bed, and woke up in the bed of her impurity. 

What a vivid picture of our sin! Everywhere we go, filth following us. Everywhere we sit or lay, marked unclean. We carry nothing good with us, and leave nothing good where we go. This is what this woman felt physically, and what every believer has felt spiritually concerning their sin. 

Let's look at some other examples from OT that use this condition to express uncleanness.

Zion stretches out her hands, but there is none to comfort her; the LORD has commanded against Jacob that his neighbors should be his foes; Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them. – Lamentations 1:17

“A filthy thing among them” as used here in the original language is to become a menstruating woman. The illustration is used to show how Jerusalem was sinful and worthy of judgement. That they, like a women in this situation, was separated from her husband and the temple. We see ourselves in this as the bride, unclean and separated from Christ our groom.

Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? 

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. – Isaiah 64:5b-6

Polluted garment in the original language is referencing menstrual rags. For 12 years this woman had been producing filthy rags. Her attempts at healing herself went no where, just as our attempts at righteousness without the work of God in our lives. As much as she tried to find healing, as much as she used to absorb the blood, she could not remove the label of unclean, and neither can we.

This is our state before Christ and seeing it brings about the most beautiful result. Spiritual poverty. 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:3

The poor in spirit know they are bleeding, dying, and they know nothing is going to make them better. They know their sin is there to destroy them and have fought it endlessly, yet have never won.

They have made countless vows of “Never again!” only to never find success. They have woken up morning after morning in shame and guilt, and have traveled the same paths and alleys so many times, unsure of why their feet cannot deny themselves returning to the same place that the day before they promised never to return to. They have been to counselors, they have put up restraints, yet they rebel against the advice of others and tear down their own barricades to return to that which will kill them.

They have pummeled their sin down, have stricken it with their fists, have laid it in its grave, only to awake the next day tired and fatigued from the fight to see it standing again facing them, lacking any bruise or wound and full of vitality to attack them once more. 

The spiritual poor are those who are exhausted from the fight. They understand their state and are aware of their inability to change it. 

It is when you realize that you cannot heal yourself that you will come to the only one who can heal you. Humility comes when no matter how much you bind and clean your wounds today, you will only awake to find them still seeping and infected tomorrow. This women spent all she had trying to heal herself, only to wake up still in her condition morning after morning. 

It is when you are humbled by seeing yourself in light of who God is, that you will come to him. He is all powerful, he is beautiful, he is holy. You are weak, you are bruised and bleeding, you are sinful. Then you are willing to give up your efforts, then you know you cannot change yourself and are willing to say, "crucify me with you Christ, kill this sinful man inside me and raise me to live with you." Galatians 2:20.

I hope you have experienced this painful, yet glorious reality in your own life. That you are unable to heal yourself, but there is someone who can.

The Healer's Touch Part 1: The Crowd

"...your faith has made you well; go in peace.” – Luke 8:48 

The story found in Luke chapter 8 about a woman healed of her bleeding is one that most people from a church background are familiar with. We have heard it referenced in sermons, and maybe have read through it a few times.

I was in the same boat, never really giving pause to this story, until after I was saved. I remember reading the story's account in the gospel of Mark a few months after my salvation and it hitting me like a glorious ton of bricks. What I saw in that moment was that I was once just a person in the crowd, but now I'm the one who has been healed!

It was not long ago that I finally sat down and dove into this passage and spent some time studying and writing on it. What a joy it was and I'm very excited to get to share it here in a 5 part series.

The Intro

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.  

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” – Luke 8:40–48 

When we read these verses in Luke 8:40–48, we can see them on the surface for what they are, Jesus using his divine power to heal a women's physical suffering.

This woman has been suffering for 12 years from a condition that could not be corrected in her body, and Jesus simply altered her physical state to heal her. He did not preform a surgery or prescribe a medication, but by His power, changed her from incurable to cured. What a display of his power over creation!

While this event alone is enough to capture our awe, I believe there is something beyond the miraculous physical healing for us to see displayed here. That is what I aim to draw out and show in this series. To turn the diamond of scripture and let us see this story through a different facet. To look at this, we need to take a moment and think on what Jesus's ability to physically heal means.

In the gospel accounts of Jesus’s life we see several times his power to heal and restore physically by overpowering sickness, infirmities, and disease. But why is he showing us this?

It is certainly an affirmation of his divine nature, but I think there is another layer to it. Think of where sickness, infirmities, and disease come from? In the beginning death was not part of God's creation. Then in Genesis chapter three we see death introduced as the world is broken by the effects of sin.

Do people die from sickness and disease? Of course they do. Every sickness and death faced in this world is a direct result of a broken world that our sin has created. The effects of sin start to kill us from the day we are born, and in this story we see Christ’s power over those effects in the physical healing of this woman. That is the facet that I want to look through as we walk through this story. To see God's power to heal the brokenness our sin creates.

As we do this, I will go through the various elements of this story and try unpack the people involved and the events that took place as we look at this story in a way that perhaps we have not before.

The Crowd (The Unbelievers) 

The crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him… As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.

Why were these people here? 

Perhaps the crowd was intrigued and curious about Jesus. Perhaps they came to be entertained or maybe it was fascination. Perhaps some wanted something from Jesus, or to see him do something miraculous.

There is a good chance these people had heard of or even seen some of the amazing things that Jesus had been doing, and for whatever reason they were there, I'm confident in saying it was not out of a desire for Christ. Rather it is likely out of infatuation with his power or a desire for what he may do in their midst.

Why is this important? Because we see the same situation today. Many people are intrigued by Christ and are interested in him. Some even see him as the potential relief of their ailments. Perhaps he is a salve to comfort their guilty conscience. They see him as a social experiment, or an additive to their existing philosophy or belief system. 

There are many people that want the benefits and awe of Christ, without wanting Christ himself. RC Sproul's sharing of Thomas Aquinas' observations expounds on this:

"Thomas Aquinas [observed] that to the naked eye it may seem that unbelievers are searching for God or seeking for the kingdom of God, while they are in fact fleeing from God with all of their might. What Aquinas observed was that people who are unconverted seek the “benefits” that only God can give them, such as ultimate meaning and purpose in their lives, relief from guilt, the presence of joy and happiness, and things of this nature." – RC Sproul

In this world, and within our churches, there are many people that are all over and around Jesus. People standing right next to him, but with hearts and minds far from him. They seek nothing of him for the sake of who he is, only for what he can offer. They worship his promises and provisions as their idols, and could do without the provider of them.

I've seen this type of thinking first hand, not only in my life, but in my son's also. It used to be that every time he was going to see my parents, he knew some sort of gift or toy was sure to be there also. It was not long till his excitement to see them was not to be with them and enjoy them, but to receive and enjoy a thing. His love for going to see them, was not a love for them, but a selfish love for himself.

There will be many people in churches this weekend that want to sit and play with a shinny new toy, one that will likely be losing its appeal within a day or two after leaving, rather than sitting, standing, singing, listening, or praying in awe of the one who loves them. The one who can meet the deepest needs of their heart and satisfy them forever!

One of the main reasons for this is we see ourselves as the most beautiful and desirable thing in the universe. But when your eyes are opened to see the glory of God, in his holiness, you see how undesirable, sinful, broken, and dead you are. That is when Christ's beauty shines forth, in his ability to forgive sin, and make us alive!

Sadly however, the North American church is full of people that have never seen Christ. But they come wanting his benefits, just as this crowed in Luke 8 did. We see people who were the same way in the scripture.

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. – Mark 10:17-22 

The rich young ruler did not come wanting Christ, he came wanting to gain eternal life while also keeping his idol close to his heart. Jesus does not call people to come to him and bring their idols along for the ride. He calls us to repent from their sin, to destroy the things that will never satisfy us, and to run to that which will forever meet our deepest needs.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” 

Jesus turned away the half hearted. We cannot come to him on our own standards, telling God what following him will be like. We do not assert ourselves over him, no, we come to him willing to abandon all for him, because he is everything to us!

Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. – 
Psalm 73:25-26 

This is the attitude of the believer! The one who says I don’t long for the benefits that help me here on this earth, I long for you Christ!

There is nothing wrong with enjoying the benefits of a relationship with God, however if you want the benefits without the relationship, there is huge problem. And that relationship with him is not one that we enter in on our own terms. It is through a genuine repentance from our sin, and following of Christ for who he is, the glorious King of Kings!