The Hem of His Cloak

This new discovery brings tears to my eyes.

I’m reading through the Bible chronologically this year. I’ve recently been reading the Gospels – the first four books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. And somehow last year, when I did this same reading plan, I missed what I’m about to share with you.

I saw this part the first time I read it last year, from Matthew chapter 9, the Scripture reads:

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch His cloak, I will be healed.”

Then today, I read a few chapters later, in chapter 14. And here is where it surprised me:

And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to Him and begged Him to let the sick just touch the edge of His cloak, and all who touched Him were healed.

The Hem

That was the connector. The hem, or the edge of His cloak.

The bleeding woman said to herself that all she needed to do was just touch the cloak to be healed.

Twelve years of bleeding. Countless dollars spent on countless physicians. All for nothing.

And here she was, pressing through the crowd, crouched over so not to be recognized or seen.

“Just a little closer,” she must have thought, as she stretched out her hand to grab just the threads of cotton that flowed at the base of his garment.

Then later, in a different city on a different day, as the word spread that He had arrived, people clamored to bring their sick. “Just to touch the edge of His cloak.”

Not even to be touched by Him, skin to skin. Not like when we go to the doctor and he presses his hands against your chest to listen more closely.

All Who Touched Him

In that passage from chapter 14 we are told, “and all who touched Him were healed.”

Not even that Jesus touched them, but that the people touched Him. Again, the imagery of hands stretched out just to grab hold of some part of Jesus is striking to me. The desperation and hope that were in their hearts and minds.

Let Me Get Closer

Do you ever think about yourself as the one in these stories, so determined, you would risk everything to get just a little closer to Him to be healed.

Are we so despondent in our situation or circumstances that we would seek Him out among the throngs of people. That we would press in through the crowd to grab hold of the slightest inch of material in hopes that we would receive the healing we are so urgent to receive?

Only Jesus

Just to touch the hem of his cloak. It wasn’t the hem that restored the woman or the people. It was the WHO.

The nearness of Jesus. He’s not magical. He is the Healer. The Healer of hearts and minds and bodies. Only He has the power to heal what we so desperately need healed.

And sometimes our most desperate, humble reaching toward Jesus is exactly what He honors. Keep coming to Him with everything, especially when it feels like you have nothing.