Brush Up Against Jesus
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Luke 8:43-48
43. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by any one, 44. came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. 45. And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!" 46. But Jesus said, "Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me." 47. And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."
Acts 5:14-15
14. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, 15. so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
Acts 19:11-12
11. And God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12. so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
When you brush up against Jesus, your life changes. It’s just that simple. Once you know the truth, there can be no turning back! Popular belief in the magical power of holy people prompted the woman in the first scripture to seek out Jesus. Everything had been tried, nothing healed her. She had remained a social outcast--unclean--for 12 years! She was desperate! This magic man was probably her last hope! And she was hoping against hope that this would be the one with “powerful enough magic!” She had surrendered all hope of ever being healed any other way. That’s why “it worked!” She had surrendered to the power of Jesus.
By the time the stories in Acts were recorded, Jesus had already commissioned his disciples to go and heal all the world. Through the Holy Spirit, they had access to the same healing power their teacher had when he was with them on earth. They were “on fire” to continue the physical healings that precipitated the spiritual healing in the lives of the diseased and “possessed.” First their bodies were made whole, then they were able to heal their souls. And they served as living testimony to the “gospel” that was being preached by the disciples.
Of course, Christianity was still very new. So amazing acts of healing and heroics, powerful oratory and brave acts of martyrdom were “needed” to drive home the message of Jesus’ saving power. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of the band of travelers that followed the disciples around. Who wouldn’t want to be associated with these amazing men, who must have had almost like an “electrical” energy about them!? Peter’s shadow. Paul’s apron. The fringe of Jesus’ garment. Brush up against the Holy Spirit. Go ahead!
Come out of the shadows. Reach out for the healing power that is only available one way -- by asking, seeking, desiring it. Jesus left us the Holy Spirit. The spirit is ready to move in us when we invite it in. At some point, we realize that nothing on this earth will ever fill us or complete us. Only Jesus. Only Jesus. That’s when the Spirit moves, sometimes slowly, quietly, like a wisp of smoke. Sometimes like a brick wall! Sometimes, we don’t even notice until it’s already happened.
When my children were small they loved to get into our bed and “cuddle” on Saturday mornings. The four of us would snuggle up and sometimes (if we were especially lucky!) they would fall back asleep for a while, there between us. That is as close to heaven as I will ever find on this earth. And that’s the closest feeling I can describe when I talk about being surrounded by God’s love, displayed for us on the cross, unleashed and freely given to us through the resurrection.
My prayer today is that you’ll see that wisp of smoke out of the corner of your eye. And that you’ll thank God for releasing His healing power into your world.
Mary
