Focus: His Virtue Still Flows

Text: Lk.8:46

"For I perceive that virtue is gone out of me."

The story of the nameless woman of issue of blood is a real story of human suffering and divine salvation.

Let's learn a couple of things about her.

*Her misery

Mark tells us that she "had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse" (Mk.5:26). On one hand, the doctors did their best, except that their best was not enough to save the day for her. On the other hand, the doctors worsened her condition. They, more or less, experimented with her health condition. The synoptic Gospels tell us that she was in this mess for twelve years. She woke up one morning with a heavy menstrual flow that refused to stop for days, weeks, months, and years. Twelve years of menstrual flow nonstop! What should have ended in a matter of days lingered for many years.

She was physically disorganized, mentally distressed, emotionally exhausted, socially ostracized, spiritually weakened, and totally messed up. She was not just suffering from a disease, she was plagued (Mk.5:29). Her sickness was a scourge from the pit of hell.

*Her moment

Mark reports, "When she had HEARD of Jesus, came in the PRESS BEHIND, and TOUCHED his garment" (Mk.5:27). A divine moment happened to her. She heard good news about Jesus Christ, and as you know, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Next to hearing the word of God is saying the word of faith. Matthew says, "For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I SHALL BE WHOLE" (Mt.9:27). She was sure of receiving her healing once she was able to locate and touch Jesus. Her only doubt was if she could have access to Jesus. Interestingly, the Greek tense used implies that she kept telling herself the same thing over and over again. She would not stop confessing her faith until she reached and touched Jesus. Faith hears, heeds, speaks.

The question now is: what are you telling yourself? Tell yourself that Jesus Christ has the answer you need. Tell yourself that you will find the answer you seek in Jesus Christ. Tell yourself that Christ is the right person to go to. Tell yourself that Jesus can restore your health and fix your life. Tell yourself that going to Jesus Christ is the right thing to do. Tell yourself that you will succeed in getting to Jesus. You will succeed in reaching and touching Him.

The next thing to hearing and saying is that she turned her moment into a momentum. She saw and seized her divine moment. She took action and traveled a long distance to get to Jesus. It was a journey of miles and a journey of faith, hoping against all odds, enduring so much pain, and holding on to till she was finally free. Finally, she came to where Jesus was, but He was surrounded by a huge crowd. The crowd was her last obstacle to overcome, and by an act of faith she pressed her way through and touched Jesus' garment. Amazingly, she succeeded from behind. She touched Jesus Christ by faith.

*Her miracle

Luke says, "And Jesus said to her, "Daughter, be of good comfort: THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE; go in peace" (Lk.8:48). There was tenderness in Jesus' voice. He described her as 'daughter.' Jesus accepted and gave her value.

You could imagine how she felt hearing that word 'daughter' from the lips of Jesus Christ. She could feel the power of it in her soul. The nameless lady was indeed Jesus' daughter. O sweet Jesus!

She connected with, and collected from Jesus Christ her healing. Luke says that "she was healed immediately" (Lk.8:47).

Jesus Christ possesses healing power inside of Him, and she drew from it as much as she needed.

In fact, in another chapter of Luke, we read, "And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all" (Lk.6:19). 

His virtue is for all, not just for one. Let nothing keep you from drawing from His inexhaustible virtue.

Mark says, "And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?" (Mk.5:30). Jesus felt her touch, for power left Him. There is a flow of virtue for a touch of faith. From Luke's perspective, we read, "And Jesus said, Who touched me? When ALL DENIED, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the MULTITUDE THRONG thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, SOMEBODY hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me" (Lk.8:45,46). Jesus says in essence, 'It's not everybody's touch; it's somebody's. It is not the touch and throng of the multitude that took power away from me, but the touch of a particular individual.' Her touch was intentional and fueled by faith. She placed so much value on the touch, and it resulted in her recovery.

*Her meekness

Her meekness and maturity made her decide to come out clean, with nothing to hide. Mark reports, "But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and TOLD HIM ALL THE TRUTH" (Mk.5:33). It's not enough to be healed in your body; your soul needs to be healed as well. Doctor Jesus cures holistically. He is the master of wellness and wholeness therapy - the doctor who specializes in total healing of body, soul and spirit. The Greek word used for such healing is 'sozo,' because it is tantamount to being saved for time and eternity. She told Jesus the whole truth publicly, keeping nothing back. There and then, Jesus effected and sealed her healing of soul and body (Mk.5:39). 

There is healing and deliverance in knowing and telling the truth. Form a habit of honestly telling yourself and Jesus the truth. Confess your faith and live by it. I assure you today that the virtue of Jesus still flows to all who come to Him by faith.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter