Monday, January 7, 2019

"How Bad Do You Want It?" by Margaret Slaughter


How Bad Do You Want It?

“Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment.  And immediately her flow of blood stopped.  And Jesus said, ‘Who touched Me?’  When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, ‘Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’  But Jesus said, ‘Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.’  Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.  And He said to her, ‘Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well.  Go in peace.”
–Luke 8:43-48 NKJV

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A well known life coach, Iyanla Vanzant can often be heard telling people, “Beloved, I’m not going to fight you for your healing.”  What she is trying to tell them is, you have to want your healing more than I do.

In our subject scripture, the woman with the issue of blood was in a state of desperation.  She was determined, against all odds, to get her healing. Based on tradition and customs alone, she was forbidden to be in public because of her menses.  “If a woman has a flow of blood for many days that is unrelated to her menstrual period, or if the blood continues beyond the normal period, she is ceremonially unclean.  As during her menstrual period, the woman will be unclean as long as the discharge continues.  Any bed she lies on and any object she sits on during that time will be unclean, just as during her normal menstrual period.  If any of you touch these things, you will be ceremonially unclean.  You must wash your clothes and bathe yourself in water, and you will remain unclean until evening.  When the woman’s bleeding stops, she must count off seven days.  Then she will be ceremonially clean.” Leviticus 15:25-28  She was considered ceremonially unclean, and had been for twelve long years.  Living in isolation from her family, friends, and the community.  No family gatherings for birthdays, holidays, or celebrations.  No physical touch for twelve years.  Broken, and broke.  She had “spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any”.

Imagine her desperation.  Then she heard Jesus was passing through.  She risked it all to be in the crowd that day.  By faith, she risked punishment for her actions, as well as making all she touched ceremonially unclean, including Jesus.  She probably thought, ‘just a small touch and I’ll be on my way, no one will know.’  But Jesus knew.  He felt the power leave him with her touch, and immediately she was healed.  Instead of punishment, she received healing and compassion for her faith.  And He said to her, ‘Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well.  Go in peace.”  What are you willing to risk for YOUR healing?
Margaret Slaughter

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