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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
When the soldiers took the garments of Jesus at the foot of the Cross, I wonder if they had any idea what they were doing. Did they know the significance that these material objects had played in the life of the One hanging upon the Tree and those whom He had touched?
They Took His Garments (2/4)
Consider the following story: “But as He [Jesus] went, the multitudes thronged Him. Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, 'Who touched Me?' When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, 'Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, “Who touched Me?”’ But Jesus said, 'Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.' Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, 'Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.'” (Luke 8.42-48).
I will be the first to admit that I do not know everything about this event, or how or why some of the things occurred as they did. However, there are somethings that I absolutely know from this event that cast a shadow on what the soldiers did at the Cross when they took His garments. What many doctors could not do through all of their combined knowledge and experience, Jesus did without so much as turning a hand! There was no power in the hem of His garment, but there was certainly power in Him. Without trying to explain the hows and wherefores, Jesus said that He “...perceived power going out from me,” after the woman touched Him. I have every reason to believe that the woman with the issue of blood was cured in exactly the same way and by the same power that had healed hundreds of other hopeless and hurting individuals during the ministry of Jesus.
Consider another event: “When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him (Jesus), they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.” (Matthew 14.34-36). The miraculous healings recorded here seem to be identical to the woman with the issue of blood (above). However, a major difference in the land of Gennesaret is seen in the fact that “...as many as touched Him were made perfectly well.” This time, it wasn't a solitary lady who was healed; it was every person in a sizable crowd who was made whole by touching the hem of His garment!
I wonder if one of the four soldiers who seized the garments of Jesus had a need in his life. Did anyone have a sick child, or mother, or friend? The garment had no power inherently in it, but certainly the One from whom the garments were taken had power inherent within Himself. Had the soldiers been aware of the multiple healings associated with these garments, would it have made a difference? Would they have given a second thought to what they were doing when they stripped Him, tore some garments apart, and then gambled for the more valuable one-piece tunic?
The fable about killing the goose that laid the golden egg is just that, a fable. However, the crucifixion of Jesus is no fairy tale; it really happened. Irony of ironies, His tormentors killed the “Prince of life!” Sometimes the answer truly is in our grasp; all we have to do is see things for what they are!
Questions:
1. What commendation did Jesus give to the woman who touched the hem of His garment?
2. Where did all the sick folks come from who were healed at Gennesaret?
3. How many of the sick were healed at Gennesaret?
4. Speculate: What would Jesus have done had He been asked by one of the soldiers to provide some physical blessing for him or for a member of His family [Before answering, read Luke 22.50-51]?
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