“As they went a woman who wanted to be healed came up behind and touched him, for she had been slowly bleeding for twelve years, and could find no cure. (Though she had spent everything she had on doctors). But the instant she touched the edge of his robe, the bleeding stopped.” Luke8vs43-48
I am quite sure this is the scripture that have made the practice of touching of garment popular today. But, I would like to let you know it was beyond the garment. The garment of Jesus wasn’t just about what He was putting on. Going back to Genesis, remember there is a glory Adam enjoyed which served as cloth for them? We never knew this until they sinned and we were told they were naked. There is a cloth beyond the garment: one heart with God.
The scripture above presents a woman who had consulted doctors for 12 years but she got no solution. She was in a situation that seems all hope was lost. She heard about one man called Jesus who goes about doing good; casting out demons and healing people. She decided to try this new man. It seems this man has a Curriculum Vitae that looks different from all the doctors she had consulted before. There was something that distinguished Him; He doesn’t heal physical sicknesses alone. The problem of where to meet with this Doctor arose, He doesn’t have a hospital. His consulting room is the heart of man “the deep calleth unto the deep”. He attends to patients anywhere and everywhere, if they can enter the consulting room with Him- In the Spirit. Booking a one-on-one appointment was even more difficult because patients were always all over Him anywhere He is found.
This woman then looked at the difficulty in seeing Him and how many years she's had to deal with this plague of blood slowly flowing out of her body. She somehow got the secret to seeing the doctor. Many people go to church, only very few touch God. She then decided, even if I can’t book an appointment with the Doctor, one of the qualifications in His CV says OMNIPRESENT, but for Him to give special attention to a special problem there is a need for connection. She then decided to take a step by talking to Jesus even before getting to Him:
“Doctor, I have tried all other doctors but since you are of a different breed, I will register in your clinic by touching your garment”.
She had touched the garment (the heart of God) before she touched the garment. She wasn’t the only sick person around there. In fact, Jesus was thronged by multitude of patients who seek to be healed by the Doctor. This was obvious from the response Peter gave to Jesus when He lamented someone had touched Him “so many are crowding against you”, Peter replied. This means not only this woman had access to touching the garment of Jesus. That should make you understand the garment wasn’t the deal; if it was, all who had contact with it will be healed. Jesus didn’t ask who touched His garment, He simply asked who touched Him.
Many people there had the opportunity to touch His garment, I am sure they went home feeling very delighted having touched the garment of the doctor. But, that didn’t move Jesus. Only one person went beyond the garment to touching Him and virtue came out of Him.
I don’t know what you are going through that has taken years. All possible options exhausted and silently brings tears to your eyes in the corner of your heart. You even find it difficult to discuss with anyone. You have prayed and prayed, attended all prayer meetings you know. Hope has found you today.
The woman went beyond the garment, the physical means, she moved to doing it with the spirit. Jesus told her what healed her wasn’t His cloth but her faith. Jesus is just right there beside you waiting for you to touch Him and virtues needed will be released. He is everywhere, not necessarily until you are in a spiritual meeting. Now the helm of His garment at your disposal is His word. What does the word say about your situation?
Start this week, declaring what the word says, and go out confessing just exactly that, not minding what you feel and see how God can get embarrassed with your trust in Him and lead to virtues flowing. Go beyond the garment!
Have a bledsed week!
Be Innovated
Olufemi Ibitoye
Inspiring
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