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" It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63

Sunday 8 December 2019

The Hem of His Garment

As women serving the Lord Jesus our Saviour, it’s the simple verses in a reading that can leap out and grab you.
Like these:
Matthew 9:20-22
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment:

For she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole. 

But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. 
And the woman was made whole from that hour.

The Faith of this suffering woman to believe:
"If I could but touch the hem of His garment." (See 9: 21, in Matt 9:20-22, also Mark 5:25 -34, Luke 8:43 -48)
Faith has faith's reward.
In this chapter there are a number of contrasts.
Firstly as we're probably aware, this healing took place at a very busy time. Jesus was on His way to rich man Jairus' home to heal his daughter. 
That’s a good application for us there! 
We're busy about our day, full of our thoughts, needs, demands... 
And the still, small voice of God’s Spirit whispers needing attention. 
It might be a child, 
a person calling needing prayer, 
someone God prompts us to visit, 
or to speak and share a tract with a stranger.. 
❤❤❤❤❤
May we have Christ's compassion!
The depth of His deep compassion is seen in His familiar and loving appellation
"Daughter"..
*****
Immediately in preceding verses with this miracle of the woman's healing by faith, there is an interesting contrast to this in Luke's gospel to consider.
Luke 8:
19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

In Hebrew the word hear ("shema") includes the action to obey.
(See link here)
To hear is to obey!
Hear and obey.
That's what God wants.
 Jesus refusal to do their bidding was perhaps because of his brothers unbelief being an unnecessary distraction. 
(John 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.) 
Calling this poor woman "Daughter" proved indeed that:
 "My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."
*****
Another curious note that struck me in this passage, is that the woman had the 12 years of tears and suffering, giving all her living, it says in Luke. 
An outcast, for she was unclean by Jewish law with an issue of blood - what intense suffering!
This length of time she was ill was the exact same age as daughter of Jairus, who was 12 years old.
Numbers are important in God's word, from the 7 days of creation to the 7 year tribulation, the mark of the Beast, 666, in Revelation 
The number 12 is a symbol of faith, the church and divine rule. 
The number 12 features prominently in the Bible.  Genesis states there were 12 sons of Jacob, and those 12 sons formed the 12 tribes of Israel. The New Testament tells us that Jesus had 12 apostles, and so much more if you chose to study the references on this.
Faith is definitely shown in both these miracles, it stands as a challenge to me to be likewise faithful and obedient!  
".. you in your small corner and I in mine."..
https://youtu.be/9y58uU0qcIM
This might be an oft sung children's song.. but oh, the meaning lives on into adulthood, if we are privileged to be taught truly from our youth!
May our light always shine brightly, purely!
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matt. 5:16 
Praying the Lord will bless you.
Sorry I've been quiet, I'm in an rather unwell patch. 
Also our fires continue, we had US  Canadian and Kiwi firefighters come over this week to help. 
Fires here have been burning over 3 months now, still very smokey.
May God have great mercy upon sinfilled Oz, we are lovers of self rather than lovers of God. 
We are never worthy of any of the least of His many mercies.
Praying on with fasting, as health & circumstances permit - for a REAL soul stirring awakening  for eternity in this nation + others - for spiritual rain and physical rain upon poor Oz.
May God pour out His  blessings indeed, as VERY much more of both is needed.  
May the Lord bless your day, I pray this  has blessed you, if so please let me know.
Prayer hugs, πŸ™πŸ€—πŸ™πŸ€—
Shaz in Oz.x
*****
PS . If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on.
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7 comments:

Conniecrafter said...

Sorry to hear you have been unwell. I am sure the fires don't help matters much either, when you have such stress put upon you it doesn't help with your health.
May we all have the faith in what God can do as this woman did, by just touching his hem she would be healed!

Anne said...

I hadn't seen the 12 connection with this passage or that of jairus, thanks Sis! Australia is undergoing a testing time if only people would cry out to God instead of shaking their fist at Him. May He be merciful for the sake of His saints. Our prayers continue for you and your country dear Shaz xxx

Betsy said...

Thank you for taking the time to put this post together for all of us to be blessed by it, especially since you are still so unwell. This is the third time in less than 4 days the the passage of the woman who touched Jesus' garment has been laid before me in various ways. Obviously the Lord is telling me something! Now, that I may have the ears and open heart to hear it.
I'm continuing to keep you and your healing in my prayers as well as Australia and the horrible fires. May they soon be out and this evil world of our turn back to the Lord.
Blessings,
Betsy

Cheryl said...

This was so encouraging to me today! My family and I JUST had a huge and intensely meaningful visit from the Lord that came in the form of numbers. I believe numbers and dates are of extreme importance to God. I have never had Him do something so vividly visible before concerning numbers in my personal life, but this recent encounter was just SO real and blatant. There is even a book in the Bible called "Numbers" so we know how much He cares about numbers! Thank you for your encouragement at my blog. I think the way it works is that you always have to check the box on any blog comment if you want to be notified of replies. Thank you for persevering! Much love to you, sweet sister!

Anonymous said...

I read this chapter last night with Craig and the boys, and the boys were amazed that the unclean woman had been sick for 12 years, and that she had faith to simply touch His hem and be healed. It was a great read. Thank you.

Debbie Nolan said...

Shaz I just discovered your blog through Cheryl's. Sounds like you are having your challenges with health and fire. Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I loved reading about numbers and their meaning. I have always found the number three to show up in the scriptures but I had never noted the 12 year old girl and related it to the woman who had suffered 12 years. What a blessed observation. Will share this little nugget with my hubby. May God continue to encourage your heart. Will be back to visit.

Sunshine Country said...

This was an encouraging passage to think on - thank you so much for sharing. It is always a blessing to see the examples of faith in God's Word, and to desire to be stronger in faith like them. It struck me, that even though she had suffered for twelve long years, she still believed that Christ would heal her. Praying to be more like this, and delivered from doubting when disappointments and struggles stretch on through years in my own life! Thank you for sharing this.