Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Breaking the Rules (08/16/04)
TITLE: She Broke the Rules By Norma OGrady 08/22/04 |
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The women with the issue of blood.
This week my pastor touched on this story, something he said struck a sour note with me.
He said Jesus didn't know who had touched him.
I think when people read the following verse it gives them that impression.
Mark5:30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
Jesus knew very well who had touched Him.
Jesus also knew that someone was breaking the rules.
Matthew 9 verse 20 tells us:
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."
This woman broke the rules, she had tried everything, we find out as we read Mark5:26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.
She had been thinking the number one rule humans so often think in.
I can do it.
I don't need anyone or anything to help me, "I'm independent."
I can do anything I put my mind to.
All about me, myself and the big I.
This is rule number one, this is the rule most people accept without a doubt.
This woman had tried it all.
Then she heard about a Man who's name is Jesus.
There is No doubt in my mind she had been watching Jesus and following Him around.
She knew Jesus was different.
Jesus not only talked the talk, Jesus walked the walk.
Jesus was His own witness.
Jesus shared stories with the multitudes.
News travels fast.
Great news travels faster.
This woman had tried it all.
Then she thought to her self "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.
Luke 8 43 As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[4] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
She needed a point of contact. It wasn't the cloak, the cloak was just a point of contact for her. It was the number one rule, faith.
Without faith we cannot please God.
This woman by breaking the rules received her healing.
She broke the rule of me, myself and I.
She put her faith in Jesus Christ.
She took the step, no she didn't just take a step, she took a leap of faith.
She took her focus off of man, and put it with God.
She placed all her hopes, cares and dreams in Jesus Christ.
She recognized and accepted Jesus as her healer.
Don't ever think Jesus didn't know who touched him. Just because He said in verse 45"Who touched me?"
Jesus asked.
When they all denied it,
Even Peter the one who would face his own trial later, answered Jesus with another question. "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."
How can it be possible for me to know this?
Jesus just wanted to draw attention to this woman's faith and trust.
She had put it all in Him.
She was healed because of faith.
Luke 8:46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."
This is the POWER that can only be moved by Faith.
47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet.
In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.
48 Then He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
This is why Jesus ask who.
Jesus wanted to demonstrate that it's faith not works that move God to work miracles.
This is a course in Miracles.
You start by breaking the rules.
Will you begin to please God by breaking the rules?
I sure pray you will.