Who Touched Me?
Or why am I so afraid to let others know that I am a Christian?
Recently, I came across two articles written by two bloggers about their hesistancy to express their faith. I am one like them. Sometimes, I find it really difficult to express my beliefs about my God for fear of offending other people. (Yeah, times have changed. Before, you can offend others by expressing your unbelief. Now it can be the other way around.) Or isolating them. Or coming across as some kind of holier-than-thou person. Why is this so?
Because our faith is one of the most cherished possessions that we could ever have in this world. We can have riches. We can be popular or someone important in public life. But without faith, we can still be nothing. We treasure this faith of ours as if it were our very lifeline. Now if people ridicule us (or belittle the very faith or God we believe in), do we not feel that they are trampling on our most precious gift?
So rather than flaunt it, we find it more convenient to tuck it away to where no one can diminish its value. What does God have to say on this? I found inspiration on the Gospel scene where Jesus asked people in the crowd "Who touched me?" when he was on his way to Jairus' house. Obviously, Jesus was not being sarcastic or slighted (because the bleeding woman did not ask his permission to touch him)? Nor was he playing dumb or stupid because obviously he would know who touched him if he felt power surged out of him. So what does Jesus really want to say in that scene?
Jesus was really giving the frightened woman a chance to speak out in the crowd, to share what she really felt and what really happened to her when Jesus came to her and healed her. Why would she be afraid? Because she was a woman, she was poor and she was old and sick. And we all know that women like her were not esteemed in that society. People looked down on her. Now to speak about her faith, her conversion would be tantamount to suicide. She knew that they would sneer at her, reprimand her and tell her to go back home where she truly belonged.
But Jesus showed not only compassion towards her by healing her. He empowered her as well to speak out, to admit and to proclaim what miracle happened to her. Jesus was saying, "Go ahead woman, speak out. Be not afraid, I am with you."
Now, isn't that comforting to know?
Son of the Prodigal.
And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by any one,came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!" But Jesus said, "Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me." 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. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."
Luke 8:43-48 The Revised Standard Version
Prayer with instrumental music http://www.mamarocks.com/he_touched_me.htm
Recently, I came across two articles written by two bloggers about their hesistancy to express their faith. I am one like them. Sometimes, I find it really difficult to express my beliefs about my God for fear of offending other people. (Yeah, times have changed. Before, you can offend others by expressing your unbelief. Now it can be the other way around.) Or isolating them. Or coming across as some kind of holier-than-thou person. Why is this so?
Because our faith is one of the most cherished possessions that we could ever have in this world. We can have riches. We can be popular or someone important in public life. But without faith, we can still be nothing. We treasure this faith of ours as if it were our very lifeline. Now if people ridicule us (or belittle the very faith or God we believe in), do we not feel that they are trampling on our most precious gift?
So rather than flaunt it, we find it more convenient to tuck it away to where no one can diminish its value. What does God have to say on this? I found inspiration on the Gospel scene where Jesus asked people in the crowd "Who touched me?" when he was on his way to Jairus' house. Obviously, Jesus was not being sarcastic or slighted (because the bleeding woman did not ask his permission to touch him)? Nor was he playing dumb or stupid because obviously he would know who touched him if he felt power surged out of him. So what does Jesus really want to say in that scene?
Jesus was really giving the frightened woman a chance to speak out in the crowd, to share what she really felt and what really happened to her when Jesus came to her and healed her. Why would she be afraid? Because she was a woman, she was poor and she was old and sick. And we all know that women like her were not esteemed in that society. People looked down on her. Now to speak about her faith, her conversion would be tantamount to suicide. She knew that they would sneer at her, reprimand her and tell her to go back home where she truly belonged.
But Jesus showed not only compassion towards her by healing her. He empowered her as well to speak out, to admit and to proclaim what miracle happened to her. Jesus was saying, "Go ahead woman, speak out. Be not afraid, I am with you."
Now, isn't that comforting to know?
Son of the Prodigal.
And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by any one,came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!" But Jesus said, "Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me." 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. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."
Luke 8:43-48 The Revised Standard Version
Prayer with instrumental music http://www.mamarocks.com/he_touched_me.htm
posted by sonoftheprodigal @ 10:59 PM
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