«Daughter, » he said to her, «your faith has made you well. Go in peace» (Luke 8:48, NLT).
God commanded Israelite men to dress a special way. On the edge of their clothing, they were to place tassels and tie them with blue thread (see Numbers 15:38). The tassels, or tzitzits, had an important spiritual meaning: they represented God’s commandments.
Tzitzits were so special for a Jewish male, that only their family members could touch them; only their parents, wife or children. When the Bible says that the woman who was suffering from blood flow went up to Jesus and touched the edge of His robe, what it is actually saying is that she was daring enough to touch the tzitzit Not only was she not Jesus’s relative, but she was also unclean because of her illness!
The woman had many reasons to feel afraid and ashamed. She had been sick for twelve years, she had ignored the laws of cleanliness by mingling with the multitude (and by contaminating everyone she brushed up against), and she had touched the edge of the robe of a man who was not her relative. In the culture of her day, where reputation and honor were fundamental, those were unpardonable crimes. When Jesus turned around and asked «Who touched me?» she must have feared being humiliated in public for her actions. However, Jesus was also about to heal her soul. The first word Jesus uttered to her was: «Daughter.» With that word, He did away with all her shame for her brave act of faith.
In Unashamed, Christine Caine comments, «How surprising! She had come to find relief from her suffering, and not only was she healed, but she also received a new identity! Jesus received her into His family. . . He intimately and tenderly connected her with Himself.» Jesus cleansed her not only from her illness, but also from her shame.
Sometimes we hide and want to go by unnoticed, like that woman. Like Adam and Eve in Eden, we fear that if God saw us naked, He would put us to shame in public. But God’s intention is always to heal us; both from our illness, and from our shame. The Bible says God never rejects those who come to Him (John 6:37). We can go to Him confidently, even if we have unclean hands, and touch the edge of His robe.
Lord, You receive me, heal me, and take away all my fear and shame. I am Your daughter. Blessed be Your name!
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Take From: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2022
«NO FEARS»
BY: VANEZA PISSUTO
Collaborators: Alexandra Pérez & Angelica Cuate.
