Mark 5:27-29 (NIV) When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

Did you know that in the old testament, if a person was ritually unclean (which means they had a skin disease, discharge of bodily fluids, touched something dead, or ate an unclean food), they could not touch or approach another Jew?  If they did, it would cause them to be unclean too. The woman in Mark 5 was ritually unclean.  She had been bleeding for 12 years!  She had spent all her money on doctors trying to stop the bleeding, but they didn’t help. In fact, the Bible says, “She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors.” 

Can you imagine what her life must have been like?  She could not socialize with anyone in her family, any of her friends or go out in public. She was broke and she was in pain.  She must have felt lonely and depressed.  So, when she heard about the man they called Jesus healing people, she probably thought, “I’ve got to go see if he can help me too.”  But she had no money and she wasn’t even supposed to be outside in the crowd.  How would she convince Jesus to help her?   Despite all these doubts she went.  She had faith.  She went into the crowd, reached out and touched his cloak.  The courage this woman showed is unbelievable.  She left the safety of her home and reached into the crowd for her last chance to be saved.

How many people in your life are feeling the same way?  They are lonely, depressed, broken, and afraid but despite all these feelings (or maybe because of them) they are there reaching out for Jesus to save them.  How much courage and faith does it take for them to take that first step, to reach out?  You know, we are the physical hands and feet of Jesus today.  So, when God sends someone to you, at church, at work or at the gym, that needs a little Jesus, be ready to help them encounter Him.  

Lord, I know you are working in the lives of people all around me.  Please open my eyes and ears so that I recognize your plan and can be ready to help them encounter you.  Amen.