Scripture: Luke 22:31-34

C.I.: In Faith

I. The “Faith” that Touches Jesus (Luke 8:43-48)

A. “I’ve Tried Everything!” (verses 43-44)

1. This woman has a problem that alienated her from family, friends, and God.
a. (v. 43), “And a woman who had a hemorrhage for 12 years, and could not be healed by anyone
1) Under the law of Moses – this woman would be separated from everyone & everything.
2) (Lev. 15:25-31), “Now a woman who has a discharge of her blood for many days … she is
unclean. - …whoever touches what she has touched shall be unclean … you shall keep the
people of Israel separated from their uncleanness, - lest they die in their uncleanness by their
defiling My dwelling place.”
3) So for 12 years this woman has been estranged from everything important in her life.

b. It wasn’t as though she had not tried to help herself…
1) Mark writes (interesting that Luke the Physician did not say), “…and she had suffered many
things at the hands of physicians, and had spent all she had and was not helped at all, but had
grown worse,” (Mark 5:26).
2) Yet how many people are like this today? – People who are alienated from family & friends
because of problems in their lives – or people struggling with prevailing sins in their lives?!
3) And there will always be people willing to help (family, friends) – and others willing to take
their money (physicians, counselors, etc.).
4) So this woman probably felt abandoned by her family, her friends, and even her God!

2. Sometime, however, it takes “problems” to get people to finally come to Jesus.
a. God knows what is required – and He will in His live for us – provide it (Rom. 8:28).
1) After 12 years – this woman now knows that only Jesus can help her – with her problem!
2) She is totally committed to her faith – (Matt. 9:21), “For she was saying to herself, ‘If I only
touch His garment, I shall get well.’”
3) This is the same kind of faith required to be saved – salvation faith (cf. Mk. 16:16)

b. No telling how long she stood at the fringes of the crowd – no idea how afraid she may have
been at being discovered?
1) Yet she put her fears and her shame aside – and came to Jesus TOTALLY COMMITTED to
her faith – and when she touched Him – SHE WAS HEALED!!!
2) (v. 44), “…she came up behind Him, and touched the fringe of His cloak; immediately her
hemorrhage stopped.”

B. “Who Touched Me?!” (verses 45-48)

1. (v. 45), “Jesus said, ‘Who is the one who touched Me?’ And while they were all denying it, Peter said, ‘Master, the multitudes are crowding and pressing upon you.’”
a. At this time there were thousands who were following Jesus!
1) It doesn’t take much commitment to follow a crowd – (Matt. 7:13, 21)
2) What about today? – Churches large/small are filled with people wanting to see & hear Jesus.
3) But how many of them – are totally committed to touching Jesus – with their faith?!

2. Jesus knows the difference between “the crowd” – and those TOTALLY COMMITTED to Him.
a. (v. 46), “Jesus said, ‘Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.’”
1) A totally committed faith that touches Jesus – will always receive power from Him…
a. (Matt. 17:20), “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, - you shall say to this mountain, ‘Mover from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be impo.
b. (Matt. 21:22), “All things you ask in prayer believing, you shall receive.”

b. Is our commitment to Jesus – such that the power of God is working in our lives?
1) Is our faith touching Jesus – so that relationships are being healed – (I Pt. 3:1)?
2) Is our faith touching Jesus – so that sin’s power over us has been broken – (Rom. 6:22)?
3) Is our faith touching Jesus – so that our relationship with Him is closer than ever before?!!!

c. Thus, Jesus did not ask this question, “Who touched Me?” - because He didn’t know the answer.
1) Jesus asked “Who touched Me” – because He DID know the answer.
2) He wanted the people to see the difference – between a TOTALLY COMMITTED faith – and one that only wants – “to-be-part-of-the-crowd.”

2. A faith that is TOTALLY COMMITTED to Jesus – is one that is surrendered to His will.
a. (v. 47), “And when the woman saw that she had not escaped noticed, - she came trembling and fell down before Him, - and declared in the presence of all the people – the reason why she had touched Him, - and how she had been immediately healed.”
1) Being a “Secret Disciple” of Jesus – is not possible for those w/a totally committed faith!
2) (Lk. 12:8), “If you confess Me before men, I will confess you before the angels of God.”
3) Since those of us who have been saved – have also been healed of a terminal disease (called sin) – we too must tell all the people – that we have been healed/saved, (I Pt. 2:9)!

3. (v. 48), “He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
a. This woman’s TOTALLY COMMITTED faith - gave her 3 things besides her healing…
1) New Affiliation: “Daughter” – only time says this in the gospels – (Gal. 3:26-27)
2) New Approval: Before this her “faith” was only hers – now she has God’s approval for it!
3) New Attitude: No more fear or shame – Now she has “the presence of God” = PEACE!