She was a woman. He was a man. She had lost everything. He was a man of means. She broke the law. He upheld the law. She was unclean. He was ceremonially clean. Two people from very different lives but with one thing in common. They both needed a miracle.
The unnamed woman came risking her life. If it were made known she had entered a crowd of men while bleeding, she would be stoned. Yet she came. She was weak from 12 years of bleeding. She was poor from seeking doctors to no avail. She had absolutely nothing to offer Jesus and everything to loose. But she was desperate. She was at the end of herself. She knew the only thing that could save her was a divine touch.
Jarius, had a name. He was a man of influence, a man of means. He was an executive of the temple. As such, I’m sure he knew the law and was careful to uphold it. Ceremonially he was clean. But all of that did not prevent his daughter of 12 years from falling ill. He too was desperate. He too had to take a risk. If his colleagues knew he had gone to see Jesus, he could loose his job, his standing in the community, his status. But Jarius risked it all because he knew the only thing that could save him was a divine visitation.
The number 12 represents completeness and faith. This is the common ground between the unnamed woman and the man of influence. FAITH. Jesus was not moved by Jarius’ status or the woman’s lack thereof. He was not moved by Jarius’ richness or the woman’s poverty. He was moved by their faith. He was moved by their willingness to lose everything to find completeness in Him. The woman wanted a touch. Jesus obliged. Jarius wanted a visit. Jesus said yes.
Do you need a touch from Jesus this morning? Do you have a situation that requires His divine presence? Like these two heroes of the faith, you may need to let go of some religious trappings. You may need to break some traditions. You may need to be willing to lose everything to gain your freedom. You may need to risk a broken heart, disappointment, rejection, loss of status and BOLDLY declare, “If I touch Him, I will be healed.” “If I ask Him, He will come and heal.” Rise up in faith this morning. Take a risk. Dare to believe. He is moved by our faith.
“Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years. She had endured a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet instead of getting better, she grew worse.
Jesus knew at once that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?””
Mark 5:25-26, 30 NET
http://bible.com/107/mrk.5.25-26,30.net