February 26, 2017: SOAP #2642:  Numbers 19-20; Psalm 28; Mark 5

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 5:27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped… 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”  31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.  33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.  34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Observation:   Many people had touched Jesus that day as he walked down the dusty road.  Yet this lady stopped Jesus.  “Who touched my clothes?”  If her touch was the reason Jesus turned to her, he would have turned to many people that day.  It was not this lady’s touch that got Jesus attention; it was her faith.  Jesus said, “…your faith has healed you.”

It is not enough to be on the same road as Jesus.  It is not enough to be only an arm’s length away from Jesus.   A meaningful encounter with Jesus happens around faith.  Jesus responds to faith.

Application:  Being in church is not enough.  Even reading the Bible not sufficient for salvation.  The Word must be mixed with faith.   I must have a mental conviction that God exists, He speaks, and He is true to His character!

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me to know my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus better each day.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!