Being Made Whole

Luke 8:43-48

43  And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by

anyone,  44  came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her

hemorrhage stopped.  45  And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they

were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.”  46  But

Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.”  47  When

the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him,

and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how

she had been immediately healed.  48  And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you

well; go in peace.” (NASB)

For a long time I have been seeking healing from various things from my past. While I have had

some, there are some issues where the roots have yet to be yanked out. I have ‘worked’ for my

healing for many years, as did the woman with the issue of blood. I want to list some of the

things I did that became ‘works’, meaning I tried to earn my healing. Hours of prayer, thinking if I

prayed long enough and hard enough God would heal me. Reading books, blogs, articles, and

more books on emotions, emotional healing, inner healing, being a better wife, mom, friend,

woman, and on and on. Like the woman in the previous scriptures, I spent money and searched

for cures, relief, and help everywhere.

I realized that for me and my issues, healing wouldn’t come in a book, a doctor, or counseling.*

Sometimes we need what only God can give. Like the woman with the issue blood, I needed to

touch the fringe of His garment. I want to look a little deeper into this ‘fringe’, and its significance

is amazing.

The fringe (tzitzit) has many symbolic meanings. One is to remember the commands of the Lord

and to proclaim them. Each tzitzit had a blue thread running through it, which symbolized

something royal or divine. The tassels also were a symbol of authority.

This woman was brave enough to venture out into the crowds, even though she knew it was

forbidden due to her condition. She at some point must have heard of Jesus, and in her area, I

am sure she knew what the fringe represented. In her desperation, she was willing to do

whatever it took to be set free. Making her way through the people, she reached out and

touched the fringe…and was healed instantly.

The scripture says she was trembling when she came back, fell down before him and admitted

she touched Him. Already being afraid, she then let Him, and everyone else know why she

touched Him. Can you imagine letting all that were there know she had a hemorrhage for years

that no one could cure? I imagine it would be profoundly embarrassing, especially in those days.

However, even in her fear and embarrassment, she let them all know she was healed. Jesus

said to her “Your faith has made you well, go in peace.”

I know what it’s like to suffer for years and feel like a pariah, like a lost cause.  The account of

this in the book of Mark also. It says she suffered at the hands of physicians. I, too, have

suffered at the hands of those who tried to help me. I suffered with the mantra of ‘pray more,

have more faith, do this, do that, etc.’ While I am sure the intentions were good, it only made the

situation worse as I looked to what I was doing to try and get my healing.

Often times we wait for Jesus to reach out to us, when what we need to do is just touch Him-

just us and Jesus, in the middle of the busyness, the crowds, the naysayers. No travailing

prayers for days on end. No books, no counselors, no ‘trying’ to heal. Just reaching out, and

touching a small part (fringe) of Him can bring healing.

It was just me, reaching out to Jesus, touching the fringes…and I am being healed.

*Although I am a strong supporter of counseling and reading books on different subjects and

issues we may struggle with, especially in cases of abuse, there are times when we can make a

“work” out of trying to get our healing. That is what this post is referencing.

**I do believe that Jesus can heal instantly. For me though, it is usually a process. I understand

that everyone’s experience may be different.