By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Saturday, Jan 10, 2009

SCRIPTURE:
“A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 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.” (Mark 5:24b-29, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what we can learn about the woman?

Interpretation:
I asked myself why the woman wanted to touch Jesus secretly?
The disease she had would have made her unclean according to Jewish Law. This meant no one was supposed to touch her because whoever touched her would have become unclean. So, she must have figured that Jesus would not lay His hands on her to heal her because that would be touching her. She also knew He was a Rabbi and would be versed in the law.

"'When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period. Any bed she lies on while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period. Whoever touches them will be unclean; he must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening.” (Leviticus 15:25-27, NIV)

But, she was desperate and wanted the bleeding to stop which was occurring for 12 years. All the doctors she went to made her spend all she had but she was getting worse and not better. She heard about Jesus and the miracles Jesus had done. She figured she could touch the cloak of Jesus and receive her healing without His permission. Interestingly, there was a cause-effect relationship that occurred.

I asked myself what the cause-effect relationship was?
Because she believed and touched Jesus’ clothes she was healed immediately as the bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

I asked myself why that is significant?
Even though she did it secretly wanting to get her healing without making her situation public, healing power went through Jesus into her life to heal her.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. The woman received healing from her uncleanness because of her faith and belief in Jesus. She believed that Jesus could heal her even though her perception was if Jesus knew how unclean she was, Jesus would not have anything to do with her. How wrong she was because Jesus did heal her.

What I learned is that Jesus can heal whatever situation I am in too regardless of my misconceptions.

I ask you now dear friend where do you feel unclean this New Year of 2009?
Dear friend, the woman who was bleeding for 12 years definitely felt unclean and knew no Jewish leader would deliberately come to her rescue. She was desperate and figured she has nothing else to lose so in secret she touched Jesus believing His healing power could make her clean again, specifically heal her. Jesus did heal her.

You may feel what you have done or where you have been makes you so unclean. You may feel that no one wants to associate with you anymore so you do not even ask for help anymore but maybe desiring help deep inside. You know what though, no matter where you feel unclean, you can come to Jesus and receive your healing and be made clean. Yes, you can friend! You can be made clean for Jesus will clean you and make you new. Jesus healed the women suffering for 12 years. Whatever you are suffering, there is hope in Jesus friend. You are never out of His love and never out of His reach. You do not have to think that you are so unclean that Jesus would not bother with you because Jesus wants to bother with you in a loving wonderful way.

Though your sins are like scarlet,  they shall be as white as . Though they are red as crimson, they shall be as wool.

Friend, you were the reason Jesus gave His life. You were the reason He suffered and died. For the world that was lost, He gave all He could give. You can find a reason for coming to Jesus no matter how unclean your life has become. Yes, you can because of Jesus, my friend!

Name all the reasons before the Lord where you feel unclean and let Him clean you. Ask Jesus, 'Clean me Jesus'. Receive His cleaning in your life. He will clean you with His precious cleansing blood! That is so exciting friend! It is, for one drop of blood can heal you where you are.

Do not let the enemy make you feel like there is no hope left, for there is hope. The woman hoped in the Lord and so can you so you do not have to be trapped by Satan. There will be those who do not want to associate with you at all if you have any condition people think is contagious. But Jesus, will show His everlasting love for you by providing people in your life that will love you and pray for you. He will surround you with His love through those that love Him dearly. So friend, fear not what you are going through but come, come to the Lord Jesus and rest in Him and Him alone.

Satan will let you know all your mistakes and tell you there is no escape. Satan will show all your failures and come like a flood but he can be defeated by one drop of blood. I am talking about the Blood of Jesus Christ which will cover over you.

Sin will make us unclean  and we will want to hide from others because of that sin but Jesus came for the sick not the healthy. Jesus wants to heal you where you are. Jesus wants to forgive you of all your sin no matter how yucky you feel, no matter what you have done. Yes friend, the yuckiness of sin was covered by His precious blood when Jesus sacrificed His life for you and me so you can be clean.

Come to Jesus as you are and receive His healing and forgiveness no matter where you feel yucky. Jesus loves you so much! Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and came back to life on the 3rd day to save you. Yield to Him as you are.

May you come to know the love of Jesus in your life friend and believe! Amen!

“Unclean Now? Christ’s Leading Everyday Always Nurtures!” (U.N.C.L.E.A.N)/”Where do you feel unclean in life this New Year of 2009?”

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you so much for healing the woman who was bleeding for twelve years even though she wanted to receive her healing in secret without asking you for it. You still healed her through her fears. Thank you Jesus! Thank you for knowing everything about us and where we feel unclean. You Oh Lord are so loving towards us! When you were on your way to see Jairus daughter, you let your healing flow in the woman’s life! Thank you Jesus! If you in your busyness cared for the woman, I know you will care for us too. Thank you so much Jesus. You know where we have been and what we have done. Thank you for rescuing us and bringing us into your Kingdom. "Oh Lord, thank you we are the reason that you gave your life. We are the reason that you suffered and died. For the world that was lost, you gave all you could give and showed us a reason to live." By your blood we are made whole. Thank you for the cross and for your love!. We give our life to thee and ask thee to take care of us. Thank you that you will. Thank you we can belong to you. Thank you for hearing our prayer and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much that we are never out of your love. No matter what is tormenting us, you are there for us. When there are days we cannot get through and loneliness has gotten the best of us because we are isolated in our torment and sin, you are still there. Just as the demon-possessed man saw you, ran to you, and fell before you for healing, we can come to you too. Thank you Jesus! You made yourself available to the man with the evil spirit. Thank you Jesus for making yourself available to us now when we call your Name for we are never out of your love and never out of your reach. You Oh Lord know what we have done; you know what we will do. You know what Satan will do to entice us and torment us. We come to you Lord and ask you for your healing presence in our lives. Take any addiction and torment that people face and fill them with your power to live for you. We know you can do it Jesus. Only you have the power to deliver us from any torment and find peace in you. Thank you so much Jesus. We come to you now Jesus and ask you to forgive us of all our sin. Deliver us Oh Lord and cleanse us with your cleansing blood. We believe in you Jesus; we believe you are the Son of God, we believe that you died and rose again; we believe you are here right now standing in our presence with the power to heal now and the grace to forgive. Help us Oh Lord as we turn this song “I Believe” into a prayer to you Oh Lord. Thank you so much for coming into our heart and making our heart your home as we ask you in. Take us in Oh Lord and be our Lord and Personal Savior as you lead us and guide us. Help us to help others as you help us! Thank you so much Jesus you are in our heart making our heart your home. Thank you for living in us. Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus you have heard our prayers and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!