A woman who seemed to have no hope in this life found hope in just a touch. Not just any touch, no, it was to touch the only begotten of the God. She had been afflicted twelve years with an issue of blood. Twelve long years she’d suffered without relief. How dark it must have been for her, but at last One who came to bring light, the Hope of glory. Her faith informed her of the Master, and her hope “If I may but touch Him, I can be whole.” She was willing to do whatever it took to get to the Master (Mark 5:25-34). How about you?
If I may touch the hem of His garment in compassion, then I can be whole. Toward the sick Jesus had compassion. They came in multitudes (Matt. 14:14), sometimes by twos as the two blind men (Matt. 20:30-34), and a leper (Mark 1:41). Jesus had compassion on them all and so should we. Toward the lost Jesus came in compassion. He saw many as sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34), and revealed a compassionate Father who runs to receive a lost son (Luke 15:20). Our Lord brought an all new compassionate instruction: love your enemies (Matt. 5:44). On Jerusalem who had rejected the prophets and refused Him, He had compassion and desired to love them, redeem them, nurture and protect them under His wings of love (Luke 13:34). When His own had rejected Him, beaten Him and spat up on Him, he prayed “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). If we as His people could touch but the hem of His garment in compassion, then what a different place this world would be.
If I may touch the hem of His garment in purity, then I can be whole. He is a High Priest without sin (Heb. 4:15). He taught: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). Fleshly purity (Matt. 5:27-28) was demanded by Him, the purity of marriage and the home (Matt. 19:3-9) emphasized to keep His followers and the world pure from the debauchery of infidelity. Those overcoming ones who followed Him are clothed in white (Rev. 3:18), clean and pure from the sins of the world. I fear that few who wear His name today are even trying to touch the hem of His garment in the purity demanded. What do you think? The things worn, words spoken, choices made—does this speak of one trying to touch Him or something else? If we’d but try to touch the hem of His garment in purity, He would make us whole.
Closely connected is His call to be holy (I Pet. 2:5, 9). If I may but touch the hem of His garment in holiness, then I can be made whole. From Old through the New, God has called His people to holiness (Lev. 11:44). It was Jesus who said “give not that which is holy to the dogs” (Matt. 7:6). His forerunner, John the Baptizer, was holy (Mark 6:20). Even the unclean spirits cried in testimony of the holy Christ (Mark 1:24, Luke 4:34). Notice: “God has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness” (I Thess. 4:7). A godly woman is saved by holiness and sobriety (I Tim. 2:15). The exhortation of the Hebrew writer was: “Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).
The key to salvation is to try. This great lady of faith was willing to do whatever it took to get to the Master, and she did. You can, too. Make the effort, it’s worth it all!
David Hill
President
Tennessee Bible College