Interpretation:
I asked myself why did the woman want 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.

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

I asked myself what is significant about her healing?
Even though she was sick for 12 years when she touched the cloak of Jesus, she was healed IMMEDIATELY. She received her freedom from this sickness at once even though she did it secretly without making her situation public. It was her belief in Jesus and the faith she had that brought her freedom and healing. But Jesus in His love did not want her healing to remain secret because he wanted to restore the woman publicly. That is so amazing because he wanted the woman to be part of the community she was ostracized at. If she received her healing secretly only she would have known but now those around Jesus know too.

Implications:
I asked myself what are the important implications for my own life?
Just as Jesus restored the woman publicly from her uncleannes by healing her after she struggled for 12 years, Jesus wants to restore me too in my struggles. I should not commit the same mistake the woman did for 12 years by just depending on man in my struggles whatever those struggles are like. What I learned is some struggles whatever they maybe cannot be helped by human beings alone no matter how many years go by. We will continue to stay in the same place. What we need is supernatural intervention from the Lord Himself. When the Lord intervenes amazing things happen. That does not mean I don't take man's help because the Lord can use humans too to bring healing but we need His direction and intervention as the woman needed.  Even if I seek the Lord secretly looking for my freedom in an area of struggle, the Lord Jesus could heal if He chooses too. But what is more amazing is when Jesus restores and heals publicly. This is what happened to me in my brokenness where I found healing in Christ but most importantly what it means to have freedom in Christ.

I am reminded  of  what Pastor Hugo,  Pastor Mike,  and Pastor  Josh used to share that  when the Lord restores us, He may not take us back to the exact situation we are in but He could restore us for a better position. The important thing is we find our freedom in Christ not in our status, not in our relationships, not in our identity, not in our career, etc but our identity in Christ. He alone can give us freedom His way.

Even though the woman was sick for 12 years when she touched the cloak of Jesus, she was healed IMMEDIATELY. She received her freedom from this sickness at once even though she did it secretly without making her situation public. The woman received healing and freedom 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. She wanted to receive healing in secret but Jesus made her whole publicly.

Twenty years ago, I was a prisoner to my brokenness and begged the Lord Jesus to have freedom from the misery and brokenness.  I was crying for deliverance from the pain and for restoration. My heart was broken on Independence Day of July 04, 2005 when I was really excited about pursuing a relationship to marriage. I still remember how I walked from Point State Park all the way to Squirrel Hill while talking over the phone to convince her, we were right for each other.  When she heard the word marriage, she wanted to halt the relationship and did not want me to call her anymore. It was very painful especially when her response was a classic clique, "It's not you, it's me!"

In tears, I turned to the Lord Jesus for help. While I was sleeping, I saw a figure dressed in a white robe heading up a mountain. When I woke up, the words 'Don't be afraid, just believe' kept coming to me. These were the same words Jesus used with Jairus when his 12 year old daughter died. Jesus did bring her back to life and restore her after healing the woman who was in bondage.

That made me realize that Jesus was seeing my pain and my brokenness and wanted to bring healing into my life from the dead relationship. I still held out hope that Jesus would resurrect that relationship. But more than that, it made me reflect on the dream of why Jesus went to the mountainside. From the Bible, I learned that Jesus went to the mountainside to seek Father God and pray for wisdom.

It dawned on me that I was so eager to pursue an earthly relationship without seeking the Lord completely. For I had never read the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation to know the heart of God and the relationship He desired with me.

So, with the promise, 'Don't be afraid, just believe', I chose to read the entire Bible in 40 days from July 04, 2005  to August 15, 2005 expecting to know the heart of God, growing in my relationship with Him believing He would help me to pursue a godly relationship for marriage. It just so happened to be between America's Independence Day and India's Independence Day when I finished through the entire Bible.

While reading the Word, I made my criteria of finding a bride to be so hard that only the Lord Jesus could meet that criteria for me. I did that because I was so exhausted through the years looking for a bride to be but things falling short on their end or my end.  I knew if the Lord chose a match for me then it would lead to marriage. Thank you Lord.

So, as I went through the Word, I wrote down 40 questions that I would ask any relationship I pursued on Indian Matrimony sites especially Shaddi.com It was also during this time that the Lord Jesus gave me the signature verse for my life and any relationship: "But life is worth nothing to me unless I use it to do the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus, the work of telling others about God's mighty goodness and love!" (Acts 20:24, NIV)

Only after finishing the entire Bible, I started using the matrimony sites again but this time asking the 40 questions one at a time at different intervals of the relationship. Only when I was satisfied with all 40 responses and the prospective match was satisfied with me would I take the next step.

I only pursued matches where I felt the woman loved Jesus more than me. It is that person I wanted for my wife. I even made that clear on my Shaadi profile stating that my mommy prays that I find a wife who loves the Lord Jesus more than me. Thank you Lord.

My first four criteria were so hard that I knew only the Lord Jesus could fulfill them. I asked the Lord Jesus for a woman who is born-again and beautiful on the inside and the outside, her age had to be in the 28 range with weight being in the 112 - 122 lb range, her language had to be Telugu, and she needed to be willing to locate to Pittsburgh and have a desire to do ministry with me at Oakland International Fellowship church. The other 36 were secondary criteria to be met. Because of criteria that were not met on either side, matches faltered for 3 more years. On the 3rd year, it felt like there was a resurrection in a relationship that could lead to marriage.

I had to hold on to the promise of God: 'Don't be afraid, just believe' regarding marriage prospects for 3 more years. In those years, there were times I was hasty and made mistakes discounting the questions, etc because I wanted to get married so badly and nothing was happening. So, I rationalized and was willing to forgoe the questions if someone was interested in me to marry me. I am so thankful that Jesus did not leave me to my own decisions.

He reminded me of the promise he made to Abraham and Sarah about having a son in their old age but as the years went by, they started to feel hopeless and leaned on to their own understanding when Sarah asked Abraham to take Hagar as his wife so they could have a son. This is not what God had in mind for them because he wanted to give Abraham a son through Sarah even though they were 100 and 90. I realized I cannot give up but keep pursuing in faith taking to heart, "Don't be afraid, just believe"

 When I pursued a relationship in February of 2008, a wonderful woman satisfied all the criteria I had set in those 40 questions. After that, I involved my mommy and  Pastor Hugo who read through all 250 pages of my correspondence between me and her.  It was very important to me to get my mommy's blessings and my pastor's blessings before pursuing a relationship leading to marriage.

 Both of them gave me their blessings to marry her. On July 04, 2009, I communicated with her over the phone for the first time, exactly four years after being a prisoner of my brokenness.

In that year, our small group Living Acts was so instrumental in praying for my relationship with her and encouraging me to call her often. Especially Edwin, Marie, Kristen, Bryan, Lydia, and Steve were involved in my pursuit of her other than Pastor Hugo. Later, Calvin and Elise counseled me on this match one day. I am thnakful for also Pastor Ed's prayers.

I was 99% sure that she was the one for me from our correspondence but never had seen her in person since she worked in Saudi Arabia as a registered nurse. After 25 years of not being in India, I went to India to see her.

Before coming to India, I remember her telling me, "When you and I see each other in person for the first time and it does not lead to marriage, don't be sad. If we are meant to be together by the Lord Jesus, no one can come in the way and snatch that away from us. The Lord is good and He will work everything out for our good. Don't think this trip was a waste if it does not work out. You still can see all your relatives that you did not see for 25 years." 

On Friday, July 23, 2010, I was so excited to see her in person in a sweets store. The irony of that is that I have a sweet tooth. When I asked what I can get her, she asked me for ice cream. We ate a chocolate ice cream bar together. I told her that I wanted to marry her.

Her response was, "Not so fast, even if you are willing to marry me, my family needs to meet you and agree, my pastor needs to meet you and agree, and my church community needs to meet you and agree."

I was so nervous especially since I was fluent in English but not in Telugu. When I tried to speak Telugu to her family, I was requested to speak in English and have her translate. Then, they came to my mom and dad's place in India and gently interrogated me on how I would take care of her.

Loving the Lord Jesus so much, I wanted to take care of her as a princess. So, I told them I desire to take care of her as it states in Ephesians 5:25-28: "And you husbands, show the same kind of love to your wives as Christ showed to the Church when he died for her,  to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God's Word; so that he could give her to himself as a glorious Church without a single spot or wrinkle or any other blemish, being holy and without a single fault. That is how husbands should treat their wives, loving them as parts of themselves."

On, Friday, July 30, 2010, the Lord Jesus blessed this prisoner of a broken-heart 5 years earlier, with the most wonderful bride in Chandraleela. She is a PLUS wife in every way being 'Prayerful, Loving, Understanding, and Supportive (PLUS)'. Now 20 years later I am blessed with loving daughters in Esther (12) and Evangeline (10)

When I wanted to get married, I was mainly looking for a woman who loved Jesus more than me. I did not ask the Lord for an educated woman; I did not ask the Lord for a rich woman; I did not ask the Lord for a woman who could speak English; and I did not ask the Lord for a city girl. These all were unimportant to me but knowing her love for Jesus alone could make a difference in our married life, I knew.

Yet, the Lord Jesus in His wonderful grace and mercy gave me more than I asked for. I just mainly asked for a woman who loves Jesus more than me being beautiful on the inside and outside, age range 28, language Telugu, and willing to locate to U.S. to do ministry with me.

What I recevied from the Lord Jesus is all that I asked for AND an educated woman who is a Registered Nurse (RN); who has come from a rich family of LOVE than money (best in-laws I have by the Lord's grace); who can speak not only Telugu, but Hindi, Malayalam, Arabic, and English understanding Tamil and Kannada too, and grew up mostly in the city.

Even after marriage, freedom to be together eluded us for almost 17 months because I had to come back to the states exactly 1 week after our marriage and she was stuck in India because of visa issues during the Obama administration. After 17 months, she came to the states with me on New Year's Eve of December 31, 2011. We turned to the Lord in prayer through the months in our brokeness, hardship, suffering, etc for deliverance to be together in the states. The Lord heard our cry and gave me opportunity to be with her in India in December 2010, June - Sept 2011, and again in December of 2011.

Relatives would jokingly say, "Ramesh, has not been to India in 25 years but for and after marriage he has come already 4 times'. Lord Jesus made it possible for me. I have never missed a Christmas celebration without her by my side reminding me of the freedom Jesus gave me from my prisoner of brokenness who needed deliverance. Since she came to the states, we have not missed a July 04th celebration too!

Now, we have been blessed to have two precious daughters in Esther (12+) and Evangeline (10+). To this day, Chandraleela has been so prayerful, loving, understanding, and supportive. It has not always been an easy journey in marriage but very difficult at times but the Lord Jesus has not abandoned us and has helped us through so much using my mommy, Pastor Hugo, Pastor Bucknell, Pastor Josh, Pastor Mike, Pastor Lake, Pastor Jesse, Elder Calvin  & Elise,  and Edwin and Marie.

I am still reminded of what Pastor Hugo used to tell me about marriage. He told me that when we love our lives deeply, she will become more and more beautiful as the years go by. He also told me if an offense is committed, then that needs to be multiplied by 10. Even after that forgiveness should govern a marriage. Pastor Josh would always tell me, "Listen, Listen" to your wife. More than anything, it has been prayer and His Word to get us through supplemented by reading books on marriage :)

This all would not have been possible if I did not find my freedom in Christ to move on that day of July 04, 2005. This would not have been possible without the help of God's Word from Genesis to Revelation. Thank you so much Jesus. It brought me tears of joy to reflect on where I have been on this day and where the Lord Jesus has brought me to. Thank you Jesus.

I share this experience with you because bondages could be different such as the woman's bondage to constant bleeding for 12 years, Jairus bondage of losing his 12-year old daughter, to my bondage of a broken relationship that needed deliverance, etc that needed the freedom offered in Christ alone. Christ intervened in those situations and brought healing in His timing. The Lord Jesus can do that for you too my friend!

With Jesus, even if I did not get married, I am confident that I would have found healing in Christ and would have found freedom because Jesus came to set the captives free :)

Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted and to announce that captives shall be released and the blind shall see, that the downtrodden shall be freed from their oppressors, and that God is ready to give blessings to all who come to him." (Luke 4:18-19, TLB)

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17, NIV)

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17, NIV)

I ask you now dear friend where do you need F.R.E.E.D.O.M to move on?
Dear friend, I don't know what bondage you are faced with that needs freedom to move on, but the Lord Jesus does. He wants to free you and bring healing into your life so that you can have freedom. Yes, He does friend. Come as you are and find freedom in Him in His perfect timing for He will grant it to you. Yes, He will friend! Thank you Jesus! Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and release the captives. Jesus came to give blessings to all who come to Him! Yes, He did!

Tell the Lord the area of suffering or bondage that you are in without giving up. Tell him the freedom that you desire from the captivity that you face. He will hear friend as you turn to Him. So bring it all to Jesus for His healing touch and intervention. He will intervene in your life as you turn to Him. Let the word of God, "Don't be afraid, just believe" resonate in your life on this Independence Day of July 04, 2025.

Just as the woman felt unclean and unworthy, you also may feel what happened to you, where you have been, what you have seen, etc makes you so unclean and unworthy. You may even feel if people knew who you really are and what you have done, no one would want to associate with you anymore so you do not even ask for help but maybe desiring help deep inside. You even give up on community because you are a prisoner to your own sin.

But I have Good News for you friend and it is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yes, friend, the Lord Jesus loves you so much and wants you to find freedom in Him. No matter who shuns you, the Lord Jesus won't just as He did not do that to the unclean woman because He loves you so much.

No matter where you feel unclean or in bondage to, you can come to Jesus and receive your cleansing and be made clean because He will wash you with His precious cleansing Blood to give you a new beginning. Come just as you are and find your freedom in Christ for He already paid the price for your Redemption and freedom....

If you are in need of deliverance from your sin or bondage, now is the time for deliverance. Don't wait for some other time. It is appointed for man to die once and then the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

We all need freedom from our sins that have plagued the world. The Good News is that in Christ, freedom is available, freedom that comes from Him and not of the world. Whenever we turn to Him, no matter what is happening around us, we will know we are in His Arms of Love. Thank you Jesus!

"God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. And so we need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea." (Psalm 46:1-2, TLB)

Whatever area you need help in, you need to examine your own life and bring your weaknesses before the Lord especially all the sin that entangles you so He can rescue you and give you freedom. Thank you Jesus.

You can find FREEDOM in Christ. Yes, you can friend! As I have found FREEDOM in Christ in different areas and will continue to find FREEDOM as I wait upon the Lord, so can you. I know you can.

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 need to give up! 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. He wants to! Yes He does friend!

Though your sins are like scarlet,  they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red as crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18, TLB)

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. (This song is based on David Meece's: We were the Reason')

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! What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and burdens to bear. Yes friend, come as you are this July 04, 2025 weekend to the throne of grace and find help in time of need. Thank you Jesus!

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 and give you FREEDOM. Oh yes, it can friend!

Never ever think what you have done, what has happened to you, where you have been, or what you have seen is out of the reach of our Lord and Savior.  When Saul of Tarsus murdered Christians, the Lord still restored him and he became the Apostle Paul. Having gone through the Book of Philippians, I saw how the Lord Jesus has given Paul freedom. Even in his chains, He found joy in Christ and proclaimed it to the Philippians.

With Jesus, we can find joy and strength too. Thank you Lord! Please come as you are friend!

Please, do not let the enemy make you feel like there is no hope left, for there is hope. The woman hoped in the Lord, I hoped in the Lord, and so can you so you do not have to be trapped by Satan.

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.

On the other hand, 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. (Song 'One Drop of Blood' by Ray Boltz)

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 and find FREEDOM in Jesus to be freed of your suffering. Jesus loves you so much that He died on the cross, was buried, and came back to life on the 3rd day to save you. Yes He did friend! He wants to save you friend by His grace. Come as you are and yield to Him as you are.

This July 04, 2025 weekend, as you enjoy the fireworks that blast through the sky, the sound and blasts of freedom will be exciting but when the fireworks are gone and you leave the celebration, where will your heart will be?

Let it be in the Lord and in the Lord alone! Help us Jesus!

Fireworks
(c) 2011, By Ramesh C. Reddy

After the fireworks in the sky
Will you feel low or high?
With sin, the soul will die!
You ask me why?
Your heart will experience sin's blast
That continues to last
Bringing to remembrance your shameful past
But this sin you can cast
To the One who wants to receive you fast!
Jesus is His Name
And for your freedom He came
Your life will never be the same
For He will give you a new aim
By doing His wonderful part
When you give Him a start
By giving Him your heart
So Satan's fiery arrows you will dart
And experience fireworks for your soul
That will always keep you excited and whole
Being covered by Christ's precious blood
That absorbs the sin that comes like a flood
Now you will always be clean
Upon the Lord & Savior when you lean!
Amen!

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

"Forever Remembering Emmanuel''s Eternal Deliverance Over Me! (F.R.E.E.D.O.M)/"Where do you need F.R.E.E.D.O.M to move on?"