Summoned by Name and Seen in a Crowd (Part 3)

Towards the end of the summer my husband and I attended a crowded event with our kids. There were hundreds of people in the heart of the downtown area of our city. We explained to each of them (ages 8, 6, 4, and 2 at that time) how extremely important it was that they held tightly to our hands as we walked through the crowded sidewalks packed with people.

The sight of so many bystanders was overwhelming. The crowd enveloped us as we headed to the event; filled with excitement and apprehension, we crossed the busy streets.

Have you ever been in the midst of a large crowd and felt completely invisible?

As we continue through the series of the nameless women in the Bible, today’s story features a woman who felt lost in a crowd that closed in around her.

She was a woman who suffered from irregular bleeding for twelve years, and had heard like so many others in her town, that Jesus was passing through. He was on his way to heal a dying girl of an important synagogue leader (Luke 8:40-42).

The crowd was so thick in the area that it nearly crushed Jesus and his disciples. The nameless, suffering woman must have felt invisible in such a large crowd. People like her, who were plagued with issues of bleeding were considered “unclean”and had to be ceremonially purified  (Leviticus 12:5).

She may have felt rejected, dejected and unwanted within her community. Not only had this woman gone to several doctors for help, she had run out of money–and her condition only grew worse (Mark 5:26).

She realized that reaching out to Jesus was her only chance. Her only hope of true healing.

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 5:27-29)

The woman was healed!

She felt in her body that she had been freed from her suffering.

Did you catch how Jesus addressed her? She was not a stranger to him. She was not a nameless face in the eyes of her Savior.

He called her daughter.

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” (Mark 5:34)

When you feel invisible, unwanted and rejected by others, know that you are summoned by name–you are his daughter. Reach out and touch the hem of his garment today.[bctt tweet=”Reach out and touch the hem of Jesus’ garment today.” username=”christinbaker12″]

The Greek word touch in this passage means to “fasten one’s self to, adhere to, cling to” (source).

When the situations in your life swirl out of control, cling with all your might to your Healer.

Hold fast to him, and don’t let go.

When you reach your arms out and touch Jesus, you will find strength and healing for your soul.

He sees your suffering. He knows your pain.

You are summoned as his daughter, and he will never let you go.

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