Reach for His Hem

We have been here before, at the altar laying on of hands and praying for our friend to be healed.  This time as I am praying I am reminded of the woman with the issue of blood.

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: 43-48

In my head I say but he has touched the hem of His garment again and again and again.  He has declared the promises of the Lord.  He has shouted and cried the name that is above all names, Jesus.  He has stood.  And yet he waits.

One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.  When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”  Luke 5:17-20

His family and friends have carried him in their hearts and in their prayers. They have laid him before Jesus. They have fought through the crowds to get him before Jesus, the one with the power to heal. This day in church we were the men carrying him to get him closer to Jesus

We want to hear your faith and your faith and your faith has made him well.  He longs to hear, your faith has made you well.

And yet he waits and waits.  We wait.  We wait for Jesus to perform a miracle. 

Where is the miracle?  Where is the healing?  Where is Jesus?

He is here. He shows up every day.  The miracle is that Jesus sustains his life and his faith.  The miracle is the man abides and waits and continues to believe.  The miracle is after much time with hands held open to receive the gift of healing that has yet to come the hands reach up to give the gift of much praise.

Every day this man reaches for Jesus’ hem and every day Jesus gives him His presence, His love, and His power to live another day to bring the Father glory.

Will we continue to reach our hands out to Jesus?  Will we continue to bring those we love to Jesus? Will we see the miracle Jesus gives even when it does not come in the package we desire?  Will we continue to lift our hands up?