Inspired By Todd Agnew
Valerie Rae Hanneman
Matthew 9:20 (NLT) “a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Him. She touched the fringe of His robe, for she thought, "If I can just touch His robe, I will be healed."
We’ve had several new kids come to Care Fresno Kids Klub over the last couple of weeks. That just does my heart so good. I love it when new kids come. But they can be a challenge because there is a certain level of behavior that is expected during Klub meetings, and all to often it is a level that they are unfamiliar with. One of our boys got angry and cursed a blue streak. My mouth dropped open as he used the LORD’s name in vain in ways I had never heard before. Although I was horrified at the language, I must admit that he was very creative. I pulled him aside and explained that we simply did not talk like that at Kids Klub, I explained that we were in God’s home when we were meeting, and to use His name as a curse in His own home was just not acceptable. The blank look on his face told me that he didn’t have a clue as to what I was talking about. I knew then that the only time he had ever heard God’s name was as a curse word.
The crowd was pressing close to Jesus on this day, listening to every word that He said. A man came up and begged Jesus to come to his home - his daughter was gravely ill - Jesus was his only hope. Jesus agreed and they started towards the man’s home. The crowd started buzzing about the possibility of a miracle, and followed even closer to Him, wanting to have the best view of what would happen. On the outskirts was a woman, pale, almost grey in color. She had been ill with an issue of blood for 12 years. She had spent all her money, tried all the cures, even the wacky ones from her neighbors and friends who assured her that it had worked for their sister’s husband’s first cousin’s wife’s brother-in-law’s neighbor’s friend who had had exactly the same problem she did. Only nothing worked - nothing. After 12 years of this misery, death would be a mercy. But she had heard of Jesus, the Miracle Man. She had spent money with other miracle men - but He didn’t sound like He was one of those charlatans - He didn’t seem to be motivated by money. He was coming - maybe if she could just get His attention somehow........... Only He was surrounded by a crowd, she couldn’t get to Him - she couldn’t reach Jesus. She tried to squeeze between the people - but there were so many of them and she was so weak. Through the crowd she could see His back moving away from her. How would she ever get His attention? Suddenly, the crowd shifted and she was within reach of Him. She reached as far as she could, her fingers brushing the very edge of His robe, thinking, “If I can just touch His robe, I will be healed.” And so she was. After twelve years, after untold money, after too many tears of grief, she touched His robe and she was healed. And after she barely touched His robe, Jesus stopped the parade around Him, and turned to her, seemingly aware of her presence for the first time. (Jesus knew she was there - He saw her trembling hand reach for Him before the foundation of the earth was laid).
Did the fringe on the robe that she touched heal her? No, of course not. Jesus healed her. She couldn’t touch Jesus, but she could touch the robe that was touching Jesus. When she touched it, His power went from Him, through the robe that was touching Him and into the woman that was touching the robe.
I want to be the fringe on Jesus’ robe.
There are so many people in this world who can’t touch Jesus. They don’t understand who He is, they don’t know how He can change their lives, they can’t see Him as the Son of God. They don’t realize that He died for save them. They only know Him as a curse word. They know Him as a myth, or a really good man, or a radical killed for His beliefs - and now days as the husband of Mary Magdalene and the cause of centuries of coverup.
I know who Jesus is, my life is witness to how He changes lives. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is the only begotten Son of God and I believe that He died for my sins and saved me - I have staked my eternity on Him.
The people who cannot touch Jesus can touch me. If I live my life as an affirmation of my belief in Him, then Jesus’ power is going to flow through me, His fringe on His robe, and into the people who are touching me. Lives are going to be changed by Him. How awesome is that?
This young man in Care Fresno can’t touch Jesus - he only knows Him as a curse word. But his life and my life are touching. As I love him, am patient with him, reach out to him, he is going to see Jesus like he has never seen Him before. My prayer for him (and for all the Care Fresno kids) is that Jesus’ power will flow through me and into them and that they will have their own face-to-face encounter with Him as Savior.
LORD Jesus, I just want to be the fringe on Your robe. Help me to live my life touching You, reflecting You, so that others will see You in me.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist at valerie@fresnofirst.org
Posted by Valerie at May 19, 2006 01:20 PM