Let’s set the scene. Close your eyes.
You are one of the disciples walking through the crowds with Jesus as he attempts to make his way to Jariu's home, where his little girl lay sick - and close to death. Desperate for the mission at hand to be complete, you beg the multitudes to step aside and make way for Jesus. Yet, there’s a moment where it all shifts - a pause in Jesus’ step as he turns around and asks, “Who touched my clothes?” and although you may be irritated at the interruption - the interruption was necessary.
Socially, and culturally - the woman with the issue of blood in Mark chapter 5 carried several burdens, including the burden of her health for 12 years. Because of her bleeding, she could not touch Jesus without making him unclean. She could not be married, she could not be in community, and she was to be shunned away from all of the beautiful things a normal life could offer her. Although she tried to seek medical attention, there was nothing physicians could offer her to make her better - on the contrary, they created more for her to worry about. Scriptures even highlight that these constant visits made her poorer - making it clear that this woman had nothing to her name.
She heard the talks around town about Jesus - and all of the healing - but could she also have access to it in the condition she was in? Could there be hope for her?
Ashamed - yet desperate, she pushes through the crowds and says to herself, “If I could just touch the hem of his garment - I shall be made well.” The moment she reaches out and her touch makes contact, her bleeding stops.
Scholars share that it could be easy to label the woman as “superstitious” but the correct way to label her is as desperate - desperate to know if what she’s been told about our Messiah was true - desperate for any comfort he could offer her even if it was for a moment - by touching his garment.
“Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched My clothes?’
Here in this moment - the woman realizes her faith led her to be healed. Here in this moment - Jesus too realizes the risk and possible embarrassment his daughter could have faced, so he makes it a point to single her out, knowing it was her FAITH that healed her. Jesus didn’t ask, “Who touched me?” because he didn’t know - he knew all along it was his daughter. Yet he acknowledged her by giving her his full attention. “Daughter, your faith has made you well.”
Not too long ago, I went out to eat breakfast with my cousin Arlene and told her I wanted to quit my business “Your Next Move” because I felt like God was calling me into something new, yet familiar.
Since I could remember, I have loved to write. For a while I pursued it, created a blog, shared the words God placed in my heart, and then one day because of failure I decided to stop. I decided I wasn’t good enough, or theologically smart enough, and most of all too sinful for anyone to care to read what I had to say. How could I share with others who God was, if I myself was struggling in sin?
Recently, God reminded me of the days when I would pour my heart out to him in writing and convicted me. Yes, I am called to share who God is because I can also share what He has saved me from. Yes, I am called to share what I’ve struggled with - without hiding because to hide my struggles is to hide where God has glorified Himself in.
Like the woman with the issue of blood, I desperately needed healing, restoration, and a new identity. How many more women need a place to openly share their struggles, confusions, and brokenness? How can I not feel commissioned to create these dialogs and these spaces?
And so, it is with a very humbled heart - full of gratitude for Jesus - that I invite you into The Hem Community. A place where as women, (men too - the gospel is for everyone!) we come together and push through the crowds as an act of faith, reaching for Jesus through our messes, trusting and knowing that although our brokenness, sin, filth has been present, Jesus can heal us, make us whole and give us a new identity to never turn back again. To the daughters, we’re in this walk together.
