Luke 8:40-48The Message (MSG)
His Touch
40-42 On his return, Jesus was welcomed by a crowd. They were all there expecting him. A man came up, Jairus by name. He was president of the meeting place. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his home because his twelve-year-old daughter, his only child, was dying. Jesus went with him, making his way through the pushing, jostling crowd.
43-45 In the crowd that day there was a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with hemorrhages. She had spent every penny she had on doctors but not one had been able to help her. She slipped in from behind and touched the edge of Jesus’ robe. At that very moment her hemorrhaging stopped. Jesus said, “Who touched me?”
When no one stepped forward, Peter said, “But Master, we’ve got crowds of people on our hands. Dozens have touched you.”
46 Jesus insisted, “Someone touched me. I felt power discharging from me.”
47 When the woman realized that she couldn’t remain hidden, she knelt trembling before him. In front of all the people, she blurted out her story—why she touched him and how at that same moment she was healed.
48 Jesus said, “Daughter, you took a risk trusting me, and now you’re healed and whole. Live well, live blessed!”
I begin with sharing this verse because it’s integral to telling the account of a healing I experienced in my youth. When I was 15, I was sitting in back row of our church, Colonial Church of Edina, and our minister Dr. Arthur Rouner was preaching on the above verse. He was sharing through the end of the passage, vs. 56 where Jesus raises a young girl from the dead. I was riveted to my seat. I later realize that the Holy Spirit was resting heavily on me that beautiful spring day and that the Lord Himself was speaking to my heart. I show the picture of me at age 62 at the top of this post because it shows at age 62, 47 years later, I have flawless skin. I say it that way, not to brag, but because my skin is the miracle.
Because of the disfiguring acne I had at age 15, my skin should be pockmarked and scarred. But that spring day, I was so moved by Dr. Rouner’s words as he read from the word of God I wanted to touch his robe for healing, like the woman in the bible touched Jesus’. By the end of the service, I would hardly stay in my seat. I got up out of my seat. Walked down to front aisle to the front of the Church and touched his robe!!! My intent was to ask Jesus for healing of my skin. I hated it. Nothing helped it. It was uncomfortable, painful, embarrassing and disfiguring.
Dr. Rouner… told me later, he might been stopped in his tracks. No one ever had walked to the front of this independent Congregational Church! But I came up at the perfect time in the flow of his sermon and the service. Lovingly he asked if I wanted prayer. All I could do was nod. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. He then turned to the congregation to ask if others wanted prayer for healing or a touch from Jesus. This was 1970! Other people came forward. We stood up front, held hands, while he prayed for us all. This was the first time in church history there was any type of alter call.
The Holy Spirit moved that day. Dr. Rouner has told me many times since, that it had a spiritual impact on the church. People still refer to that day. It is she Spirit of the Lord at work. When Dr. Rouner prayed for me, the still small voice within told me He would give me “new skin”. I didn’t understand immediately. And I had a few more humbling years ahead. But, by the time I was 20 I had very pretty new skin. Not only did the crusty, icky acne clear, but there was no trace of it ever being there! No pits, that others get from this type of hereditary affliction, no life long scars. Just pretty, pink skin. Without dermabrasion, or botox! Which they didn’t have then! 🙂 I have received many compliments on my skin through the years. I remember always and often say: It is my gift from Jesus!
If you need a miracle, or know someone who does ~ usually for something more serious than this ~ please do not be afraid to ask.
Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ is the same, Today, Yesterday and Forever!
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