A Powerful Touch

A Powerful Touch

Read: Luke 8:40-48

“Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

Luke 8:46

“Faith is extending an empty hand to God to receive His gift of grace.”

—A. W. Pink

IN WORD Jesus’ words to the masses crowding around Him sound accusing, but in fact they are inviting. The result of the trembling woman’s confession that she was, in fact, the one who touched Him is not punished with “How dare you?” as she might have expected, but with the ultimate reassurance: “Your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

What does this passage say about us? It says that we need not approach Him with trembling, as though we have no right to be in His presence. We don’t, of course—like this woman, we are ritually unclean—but He has given us the privilege of His presence by grace, and we can take full advantage of it. He welcomes us to touch Him.

What does this passage say about Jesus? It says that He is touchable—a Savior who is accessible, not hidden in obscurity, demanding our qualification, but waiting only for us to acknowledge our need. It also says that His power flows to those who are bold enough to touch Him.

IN DEED There is an unusual combination of attitudes in the approach of the bleeding, trembling woman. We rarely find it in ourselves. When we have desperate need, we often lack faith. When we find ourselves strong in faith, it’s usually before we’re at the end of our rope, when we see plenty of plausible opportunities for Jesus to intervene. But the woman came in desperation and in faith. The two are often mutually exclusive in our experience, but when we have both, we have what it takes to touch Jesus. Only despair drives us into His presence, even through a dense, crushing crowd. And only faith is bold enough to grab His garment against all protocol, knowing that He is the source of all mercy and help.

Do you have what it takes to touch Him? The desperation to bring your impurity into His holy presence? Enough boldness to press through the crowds and grab Him? Then come, and watch His power flow.