Luke 8:42-48 But as he went the people thronged him. 43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
There was a great multitude gathered around Jesus and the disciples. They all wanted to see what was going on, hear what was being said, and be part of the action so to speak. It was tight and crowded, people pushing and shoving. The bible says that (Luke 8:42) the people thronged him. Peter said (Luke 8:45) Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee. Peter and his disciples could not understand why after seemingly everybody touched Jesus, why would he be asking Who touched me? Because though everybody was touching his garment, he distinguished the difference between a physical touch and a spiritual touch. There was something different and special about the contact this woman made with Jesus. (John 3:6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Let me get directly into my application. There is so much commotion in this world around Jesus. There’s a church on every corner. No other country in the world has so many bibles, spiritual literature, facilities, etc. dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ. But don’t let that fool you. Virtue is not going out everywhere all the time. You may be in eyes of all just one of the crowd. Outwardly, there’s not a whole lot to set you apart. But if you’ve ever (Matthew 9:20) touched the hem of his garment the way this woman did, you’ll know that there’s something different inside.
What I find interesting is that Jesus would not rest, until that which was performed inside, was made manifest to all. He insisted (Luke 8;46) Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. Now I don’t believe for one second that Jesus didn’t know who it was. He knew. He knows everything. He wanted everybody else to know. In fact, in Mark it says (Mark 5:32) He looked round about to see her that had done this thing. He asked the crowd who it was that touched him, but looked her straight in the eye. And the bible says (Luke 8:47) the woman saw that she was not hid.
Then the bible says (Luke 8:47) She came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. She came (Mark 5:33) fearing and trembling. It may be a fearful thing and it may not be easy, but if you’ve ever really touched the hem of his garment, if virtue has really gone out of Christ, it must be made public because it was done for all to see. You realize that (Ephesians 2:10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus… You are his masterpiece; his crown of rejoicing. You were never, no never, created to be hid. (Matthew 5:14) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
And notice that the bible says (Luke 8:47) She declared unto him before all the people… There’s only one place that could be done today. (Ephesians 3:21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. In the church. If you want to declare something to Christ, declare it before his body. (Colossians 1:18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. You can’t separate the head from the body. And you’ll never give Christ the preeminence lest he be exalted above the body. To ignore his body is to ignore his headship.
Jesus is (Revelation 1:13) in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. And we know Jesus told John that (Revelation 1:20) The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. And we know Jesus said (Matthew 18:20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. And we know that every saved individual is (Ephesians 2:22) Builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. So it seems to me that if you want to declare something to Christ, it’s gonna have to be before his body, the church. There’s no secret service here. You can’t become part of the body and not let the rest of the body know. Yeah, I’m a pinky toe, but I think I can be joined to the body without letting the rest of the body know. No. It doesn’t work like that.
And Christ has instituted a means in which this should be done. And that is baptism. And this is basic baptist doctrine. You get saved; then you get baptized. And you get baptized into the local assembly. That means you don’t vote, you don’t serve, you don’t take the Lord’s supper, you don’t do anything that saved and baptized church members do, until you’ve been baptized. Baptism is a public declaration of your salvation in Christ. It is an outward declaration of an inward reality. (Luke 8:47) She declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. For what cause did you touch God? And what did he do for you? Don’t take lightly the ordinances of God. Jesus said (Matthew 18:18) Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Interestingly, though it be another matter, the verse right before this one says (Matthew 18:17) Tell it unto the church!
(Luke 8:48) And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. Jesus says three things here. The middle thing is what has happened to her. And if you’ve been saved, this is what has happened to you. (Romans 4:5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Thy faith hath made thee whole. But now that she had come forth and made it public to Christ before all the people, Jesus says to her be of good comfort… and go in peace. Baptism doesn’t save you and will not make you whole; only faith does that. But you’ll never be comfortable in Christian service and you’ll never have peace without it.
A few final thoughts…
(Mark 5:18-19) And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. Jesus didn’t suffer him. He wants us to follow him, but first things must be first.
(Matthew 5:15-16) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. What is implied is that God doesn’t do it… And neither do men.
(Psalm 1:5) Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. I thank God and bless his holy name for my place in the congregation of the righteous. It’s a miracle of God. And it’s only by his grace I can boast such a standing. I touched the hem of his garment! God help us to not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, not to dishonor the head by ignoring the body. So many applications! The church! What a glorious thing that God has created! The church! The congregation of miracles!
Last thought…
He said Daughter… At Jesus’ baptism, heaven was split open so the Father could declare (Luke 3:22) Thou art my beloved Son in thee I am well pleased. So it’s not just us declaring to God and all what He has done for us, but God declaring to the individual and all his children the new beloved child of God that has come into the fold and the glorious standing in Christ that we’ve been given. Bless his name!