So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him. And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.
And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”
When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.”
But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.
But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened. Luke 8:40-56
This morning, our time of mindfulness was given to Lectio divina. ”Lectio divina is a method for praying with the Scriptures. As one reads and invites the Word to become a transforming lens that brings the events of daily living into focus, one can come to live more deeply and find the presence of God more readily in the events of each day. The method of lectio divina follows four steps: lectio (reading), meditatio (meditation), contemplatio (contemplation), and oratio (prayer).
I came into group this morning already feeling raw and overwhelmed. Tears started my day, and sitting there listening to the Scripture reading the tears were still present, although I can’t tell why.As the Scriptures were read, the words “someone touched me” and “Your faith has made you well.” stuck out to me. We were challenged to consider who we connected with most from the story, and as it was read again for meditation, to put ourselves into the place of that person we connected with in the story. I related to the woman with the issue of blood.
The woman did not belong there. Women who were bleeding were unclean. They did not belong in the group. They were to be seperated (See Leviticus 15:19-31). Yet there she was, in the midst of the crowd. surrounded, yet still isolated and alone. I often feel that way. As if I don’t belong, alone in a crowd of people, as if there is something that separates me from true connection.
She wanted the connection with the Lord. She knew one touch could bring healing. Healing was the only thing that could restore her to connection with her people. It was the only thing that could bring her the community that she so desired. And so, she broke the rules. She pushed and crawled her way through the crowd of people. Maybe she wanted to go unnoticed, she just wanted her healing, then things would be okay. She was desperate and in need. I feel the same way this morning, my heart raw and in need of a touch from the Savior.
I had already purposed to reach out and touch the Savior today, and had even considered that the Lectio Divina might be a good place to start. Imagine that the Lord just happened to walk by in this very way. He always sees me, He is always there when I need Him, showing up in a way that lets me know it is okay to be where I am, regardless of the rules or the messages I tell myself.
Others shared how Jarius might have felt annoyed at the woman, interrupting his needed miracle for his child. The woman had been waiting twelve years for a miracle, but his daughter was actively dying. His daughter’s need was more pressing. Yet, Jesus stopped because He had been touched in a crowd of people.
Oh, how that resonates with my soul as I contemplated this Scripture. I don’t want my need to inconvenience others. I know there are needs greater and more pressing than my own, I see them daily. How she must have felt burdened in the moment that she overheard the declaration “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” Her faith had made her well, but in the delay his daughter had died. Maybe it would have been better if she had not reached out.
But Jesus was not finished. He didn’t just have enough miracle for one. He turned back to Jarius and said “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” And despite the news that she had died, she did arise that very day.
So often the enemy attacks my mind and tells me that what I am in need of is nothing compared to what others are facing. I can minimize my need, put it on the back burner indefinitely. I will remain silent, because that is the environment in which I grew up. Serve others. Meet other’s needs. It was not a matter of first, like serve others first, meet other’s needs first, it was do not impose on others. I could demand attention with my behaviors, but there was not time or space for my emotional needs, for comfort, for understanding or support. When I have reached out on that emotional level, it has hurt those closest to me. Others have been left without just as the woman might have felt in the moment responsible for taking Jesus away from meeting the need of Jairus’s daughter.
Yet, Jesus is enough. I can reach out and touch Him with my need and it does not diminish the need of another. He has enough power to meet any and every need that is brought to Him in faith. He also wants to meet this need in the flesh, through others in His body. He knows that we often need those needs to be met with “skin.” I have known I can take things to Him, but He also designed us for community. He designed us to bear one another’s burdens and to encourage and lift one another up. This woman, in the Scripture and the one writing this, need community and connection. Jesus is able and willing to restore connection with Him, with each other, and with ourselves when we reach out, press through the crowd, and touch Him in faith.
And so my prayer is: Lord, I connect on so many levels with this Scripture and the woman with the issue of blood. Lord, despite feelings like I do not belong, You have chosen me and called me Your own. Lord, the feelings of aloneness and isolation are not true because You will never leave me or forsake me. You have set me apart for Your purposes, but You have still called me to connection and community with You and with Your people. You are not deterred by my upbringing or the false messages that I have internalized, You bring healing and restoration as I reach out, past the crowd to touch the hem of Your garment in faith. You have brought me to this place, to allow me to be seen as You bring the healing that only comes through the application of the finished work of the cross and in community and connection with You and with other people of faith. I understand I have to walk in this healing, I have to continue to stand in faith until the manifest goodness of Your work in my life is completed, for I know that You have begun the good work in me and that You will bring it to completion. Thank You Lord for the people that You are connecting me with, allowing me to experience You in and through them. In Jesus name. Amen.
Restoring Voice 
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