Miracle of Miracles

"Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for 12 years and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched the hem of His garment. For she said, 'If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.' Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of the suffering. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, 'Who touched My clothes?' But His disciples said to Him 'You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' And He looked around to see who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the truth. And He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.'"
(Mark 5:25-34)

I have always loved this passage of Scripture. And, like many others, have often wondered how Jesus knew the specific moment the woman touched Him because she only touched the hem of His garment, not His body. And, all of this took place in the midst of a throng of people!

I cannot wait to share with you what the Lord showed me!

Are you ready?

I wondered why she touched the HEM of His garment. A cross reference took me to Numbers 15:38-41. The Lord is speaking to Moses, "Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners (along the hem) of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them...and be holy for your God. I AM the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I AM the Lord your God."

According to Jewish custom and religious law, the men wore an upper garment folded into a quadrangular shape. Tassels were put on each of these corners to remind them to do God's will. I believe this may be referring to what we know as the Jewish prayer shawl. The prayer shawl was (and is) worn over the head and shoulders during prayer in the synagogue, but it remained on their person at all times. A tradition you may not be familiar with is a garment, rectangular in shape with a hole cut out for the head. This is worn, even today, over the outer garment to remind the Jewish man, to follow God's commandments. A tassel is on each corner, two hang in the front and two in the back symbolizing north, south, east and west - God is everywhere. I believe this is the garment Jesus was wearing, otherwise the woman would have had to fall to the ground in order to touch the hem of His robe.

Why would God require a blue thread placed in each tassel?

In the tabernacle, blue was the color which symbolized the One True God. It reminded the Jews of the heavens. When they looked up into the blue sky, their gaze carried them to thoughts of their Creator.

Isn't this fascinating? Oh, how I love the Word of God!

OK...back to our Scripture passage.

The woman knew that if she touched the hem of His garment, she would be made whole. I now believe that is because the garment represented the Word (the Law) of Almighty God! Remember? The tassels were put on the hem so that His children would know and remember that He is Holy and that He is the One who delivered them out of Egypt!!

She knew His garment represented God's covenant with her. It represented His Word.

That bears repeating: She knew His garment represented God's covenant with her. It represented His Word.

Who is the Word of God? Jesus!!
A little bit louder now...Who is the Word of God? JESUS!!

That's how Jesus felt the power go out of Him when she touched His garment. She was desperately reaching out to God's "Word" and His "Word" realized it!

It makes total sense to me now.

In verse 34 Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace..."

The actual concept of faith here comes from the Greek word, pistis (pis-tis) meaning "confidence, persuasion, reliance in God and all that He says." The woman knew she could rely on God's Word and now, miracle of miracles, she had met God's Word in the flesh and He had made her whole.

Child, reach out and touch the hem of His garment and be made whole. You can fully rely on God's Word. He IS the One Who has delivered you. He IS the Lord your God.

Praise You, Lord! I get so excited when You show me something new in Your Word! Thank You Father. It is my prayer that others will catch this excitement which You have ignited in me and share the sheer joy of finding hidden treasures in Your Word, like the one today. Your Word is alive. It satisfies the longing soul and sets the captives free. Thank You, Lord.