Luke 8:45-48 45And Jesus said, “Who was the one who touched me?” And when all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing in on you!” 46But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I know power has gone out from me.” 47And when the woman saw that she could not escape notice, she came trembling, and falling down before him told in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
The curious reader might wonder why Jesus asked the question about who touched him. Jesus as the Son of God could tell what people were thinking (5:22). This may not be a question of uncertainty but of opportunity. It was an opportunity for the one who touched him to show herself. The touch of the bleeding woman was special because it was from seeking faith. As Peter stated, many people were pressing around Jesus and touching him. Peter may have thought the question was silly because so many people were crowding around Jesus and touching him. There is a difference between the touch of faith and a normal touch of proximity, acquaintance, and curiosity. It is not enough to be close to Jesus to experience healing. One must come in faith.
Jesus knew there was someone out in the crowd who touched him out of desperation. Verse 46 offers another curiosity that makes Jesus seem like a battery that lost some juice. Jesus did not have limited power that could be depleted over time or with too much use. Rather, this statement should be again interpreted as Jesus providing an opportunity for the one who touched him to come forward.
That is exactly what happened as the woman realized she could not hide in the crowd anymore. She had been found out. She could not remain quiet and isolated anymore. Jesus was inviting her back into community. The only proper response to such a miracle is worship. The woman fell down in worship but also with fear and uncertainty. She knew Jesus had healed her. She believed in his power. But it was difficult to come out in the public before all the people and confess her faith in a visible way. Her faith was stronger than her fear, and so she gave a testimony to all who were crowding around Jesus. This confession of faith took a lot of bravery for her to do. When Jesus heals a genuine seeker, that person cannot remain silent.
Jesus acknowledged her faith and pronounced peace into her life. Peace was her greatest need. Her physical struggles had taken away her peace. Those who suffer long-term illness or permanent disability or fight constant pain might struggle to find peace. Although those challenges may never disappear in this lifetime–and most people will develop some kind of challenge later in life–we can still experience an inner people because we find inner healing. The physical struggles of this woman kept her from having inner peace. Peace is not dependent upon our physical well-being, but having peace can be greatly influenced by it. The word for “healing” (sesōken) is the same for “saving.” This woman was both healed from her pains and saved from her inner struggles. Can we be willing to come to Jesus to find peace even though we may not experience a dramatic healing like this woman? It may require an even greater faith when healing does not come. But we can be assured that there is peace waiting on the other side.
For older posts, click here.