36. and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

For twelve long years this woman had reached out to other solutions. She had spent her last penny on doctors who tried first one thing then another to alleviate her suffering. For twelve years she had been forsaken by man. This is perhaps the most terrible thing of all, the loneliness, the separation. Man would not come near her, her family had forsaken her, and loneliness, like a sepulcher, closed in on her on all sides. Perhaps she even thought that God had left her.

Her suffering was just not Physical.  She Had Suffered Physically. She Had Suffered Socially. She Had Suffered Emotionally. She Had Suffered Religiously. She Had Suffered Financially.

She is a picture of that believer who is laboring under a heavy burden. Many of God’s children are discouraged and defeated today. You have tried everything in your power to get better. You have tried everything you know to handle your problems. You’ve read all the books, listened to all the preachers, and gotten advise from the best of sources, but you are no better. Your life is just as messed up as it ever was.

Well, friend, if that is you today, keep on reading, because as we watch this poor woman get the help she needs, we are going to find out about the help we need as well.) Somewhere, from some source, this poor woman heard about Jesus. Maybe she had heard how He had healed that leper, Mark 1:40-42. Maybe she had heard about that wild man just across the lake that Jesus had helped, Mark 5:1-20. Or, maybe some other poor soul, who lived on the fringes of society due to an uncleanness of some kind had been healed of Jesus and came in and told her about Him. No doubt she had heard that there was power in His touch. But, she didn’t want Him to touch her. She wanted to touch Him. Perhaps she had heard of Jesus from another that had touched His garment and been healed, Luke 6:19!

     Regardless of where she heard about Him, she knew she had to get to Him. She had come to realize that Jesus was her only hope! She believed with all her heart that if she could just get to Him, she would be healed. She had to be determined, because she demonstrated great courage by approaching Jesus in that crowd. As she elbowed her way through the people, she was causing ceremonial defilement for everyone she touched. She was taking a great risk, for if she had been recognized, she would have been subjected to public humiliation and ridicule and possible retribution. A crowd like that might have gotten worked up and stoned her to death. For her, it was a risk worth taking. She knew what Jesus would do for her if she could just get to Him!

She had to be determined, because by the very nature of her disease, it would have taken all the energy she had to drag herself out of her bed to struggle through that crowd to get to Jesus. She was desperate!

Have you reached that place in your life yet? Have you come to understand that Jesus is the only hope you have? Friend, if you are lost today, you need to get to Jesus! He is the only source of salvation for you,

 John 14:6

6.Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 If you have never trusted Him for salvation, then you need to come to Him. Jesus is your only hope. You need to touch Him by faith!

Maybe you are saved, but like this woman are burdened and defeated, and need to touch Him as well. The sooner you come to realize that Jesus is the only person Who can help you, the sooner you can get the help you need!

 You know, in that crowd that day, there were dozens of people with physical, spiritual, and emotional needs. But, only one lady got any help. Dozens touched Jesus, but only one was transformed. Why? Because only one saw Him as her only source! She believed He could help her and she did whatever she had to do to touch Him. When she touched Him, she was made whole! Don’t be one of those people who brush up against Jesus today and not be changed. If you need help, look to Him, He has the power to change your situation. If you need help, get to Him and touch Him by faith!

For whatever your issue is today, just reach out and touch the hem of his garment and be set free, made whole, and saved by the Grace and Mercy of Jesus Christ.

Also, we have people whom we meet everyday who like this woman are alone and lost. We have friends and family who are hurting, and who have been hurt by tradition. There are members of churches that are hurting, even now, who need you to reach out to them and let them feel the touch of the Master's hand.