Contemplative Bible Reading

Mark 5:30-31 (New Living Translation)

30 Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”

31 His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

This is part of the (hi)story of how Jesus healed a woman who crept through a crowd and touched His clothing. Jesus asked his close followers, “Who touched my robe?”

His followers stated the obvious. Everyone in the crowd touched the robe of Jesus. Good grief. Did Jesus want a list of names or something? Silly question. The touch of this woman, however, was different.

Life goes on day by day. The same things happen over and over, day after day, year after year, ho hum, blah blah blah. It all runs together and means nothing. Then something different comes. I remember that different day, that different event. It wasn’t the same thing.

So it was on this day with the crowds pressing in on Jesus and the followers. The small touch of this woman was different. She had faith. She knew that if she touched Jesus the physical misery of her life would cease. She only needed to touch the robe of Jesus. She reached Jesus. She had the faintest encounter. It happened. Jesus healed. And Jesus knew that a person with great faith had sought Him.

I guess that was the difference. A person of great faith sought Jesus. They met. Everything changed. How many times has this been repeated in the 2,000 years since? Someone seeks Jesus. When they meet, everything changes. Praise be to God. Thanks be to God.