Prayer for the Sick: Faith
The Woman Who Touched His Garment
Luke 8:43-48 [show] 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." (ESV)
Do you ever talk to yourself? The psalmist David was talking to himself when he said: Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. (Psalm42:5)
These refrains had been heard by the children of Israel and were dear to them. Could it be that they might even have encouraged the boldness of the woman who sought her healing from Jesus? The clue is in Matthew 9:21 [show] for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well." (ESV) – for she said within herself, If I but touch his garment, I shall be made whole.
Matthew Henry comments:
Many a poor soul is healed, and helped, and saved by Christ, that is hidden in a crowd, and nobody notices it. This woman came trembling, yet her faith saved her. There may be trembling, where yet there is saving faith.
There are times when I have seen people come forth at healing events who profess to being touched by the presence of virtue (often described as heat). Yet, faith. It grows like a precious seed in fertile soil and bears much fruit. That is why it’s so important in prayer for the sick. We impart a measure of our own faith with encouraging words to those who would receive their wholeness from the Lord. We share the relationship we have with him.
Here are resources for study and reflection. Please leave comments. Thanks!
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