I often meet people that are curious about Jesus; after all, He is probably the most famous figure in the world. I also see that often the curiosity stops right there, though literally millions of lives have been healed by Him over the centuries. Many are still “just curious”. Many don’t want to, or are afraid to reach out to Him even in the face of the millions of lives that have been changed by people who know Him as their Lord and Savior.
Mark 5:30-31 (TNIV)
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ “
Just like this woman, I, and many others, have recognized that life by our standards was tough, painful and not always going so well. Just like this woman, I, and many others, fought hard through crowds of people that are simply curious about this man Jesus, crowds of people that are looking for ways to discredit Him and crowds of people who mock him. Just like this woman, I, and many others, sought Him out and put our faith in His healing power. And, just like this woman, I and many others found that indeed, Jesus wanted to know who we were; He wanted to have a relationship with us.
You may think Jesus’ question, “Who touched my clothes?” had little to do with a relationship. However, recognizing that a crowd of people were pressing around Him (Verse 24, “A large crowd followed and pressed around him.”), I believe that though many must have touched him, that fact that this woman sought Him out in faith and that He just healed her……wanting to know who she was…. was very relational.
What a difference there is between all the people that are curious about Jesus and the ones who actually reach out to touch Him! Today, there are many that barely know Jesus and nothing really changes in their lives. It is by faith, seeking Jesus out, that we can experience His healing power.
Indeed, I find it interesting that this woman, just like me and many others…….found that her own human efforts to heal her life failed her. When we find that our human efforts fail us we often just continued to be filled with apathy and often just get worse. However, for this woman, as well as me and many others, it was only when we heard about Jesus, sought Him out and accepted a relationship with Him that TRUE life was illuminated…..sometimes we don’t even know what we don’t know….other times we know there is something better but just don’t know what to do. Well, now you know. Seek Jesus. Find healing and move into an illuminated life.