Source/Author: Dr Michael Dalseno

People who received from Jesus because they reached out and touched Him.

WHO IS THE ONE WHO TOUCHED ME? (Lk.8.45)

By Dr. M.P. Dalseno

In between the story of Jairus’ daughter in Luke Ch. 8 appears yet another story; that of “a woman with a hemorrhage.” Why is this succinct short story so strategically embedded within another, that of a synagogue official? Obviously, it was too significant to delay its telling, even if it meant disrupting the sequence of relating another.

A lot of people were pressing Jesus, a point exemplified by Peter, who felt that Jesus must have been having some rare relapse to apparently not notice the obvious; “Master, the multitudes are crowding and pressing upon you!” (v.45). True, a lot of people were crowding around Jesus for all sorts of reasons; some were greatly afflicted of body, some of mind, some just wanted to hear what He was saying, and some were simply a little bit inquisitive as to what this young “Rabbi” was all about.

But in the midst of the fray, the frantic jostling, and the fervor, one woman “touched” Jesus. She did something that apparently few others in the chaotic crowd were contemplating. It is interesting that the Greek word for “touched” is related in its etymology to “kindle, or to set on fire.” This woman had an element of the “fire” of passion, sincerity, and of a simple faith that just reached out, in an unencumbered way, to Jesus. And Jesus felt the difference! Lots of people were touching Him, but only one person really, in its fullest sense, “touched” Jesus.

Sure enough, the woman (without a name yet, significantly, identified by her sincere need) was miraculously healed (v.44). Twelve years of pain, suffering, ridicule and inconvenience was enough for her. She got desperate and deliberate in response to her despondency and distress, and this ignited the deep reservoirs of faith and spirit within her.

We need to reach out and truly “touch” Jesus with a fire of passion, faith and sincerity that gets the attention of Jesus. As important was the official of a synagogue that envelopes this story, he simply had to wait his turn until this humble and faithful woman “drew virtue” (v.46) out of Him. The key? Notice that the Lord called her “Daughter” (v.48). Relationship with Jesus truly “touches” Him and gets His attention.