Empty Hands of Faith
Mark 5:25-34 NKJV
[25] Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, [26] and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. [27] When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. [28] For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” [29] Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. [30] And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” [31] But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” [32] And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. [33] But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. [34] And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
We all need healing.
We are all hurt.
Maybe It’s physical, emotional or spiritual.
All of us have been both the victim and the culprit.
Jesus can restore. He can heal.
How desperate are you?
We come to the Lord in different ways and means of desperation.
Desperation is the loss of hope.
Lack of hope ends up in despair.
Some express that desperation with a loud cry and some with a silent groan. But whatever way we come to Him in those times He hears.
Not only does He hear, He responds.
There’s two ways of reaching the ear and the heart of the Lord.
Faith and trust.
Faith is to believe.
Trust is to rely on the ability, and the strength and the power. Trust is having confidence that what you have faith in will happen.
They both complete each other.
This woman is searching for answers. Going from one to another to the next. I can just imagine her thoughts. Having Failed hope!
“Maybe this time. Maybe this will work.”
One fails, then the next one will work.
Being tossed back and forth worse than you started.
All she wanted to do was to find a solution to her sickness.
No hope, because there was no solution.
It gets tiring. Mentally exhausted. Physically worn. Spiritually drained.
Just to be made whole and well again.
We all need a healing touch of God.
This woman suffered more than just the pain from the issue of blood according to the Law.
This woman was desperate. Her condition made her ceremonially and socially unclean, and this was a significant burden to live with for 12 years.
Since she was seen as unclean, she wasn’t allowed to go into the Temple to Worship God! No encouragement, no hope.
Every aspect of her life would be affected.
Desperation.
Jesus can heal not just the physical hurts and pains. Not just the restoration of the body, but Jesus heals the different types of brokenness, physical, emotional and spiritual.
Psalms 51:12 NKJV
[12] Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
The Son offers Spiritual Restoration by the Sacrifice on the Cross so we can be restored to the Father through repentance and forgiveness
By His stripes we are healed.
Through the promises Jesus gives us gives us faith for today and hope for tomorrow. This helps restore our emotional hurt and pain.
Psalms 23:3 NKJV
[3] He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
He is able to sympathize with any and all who are willing to accept it.
II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Anyone!
Anytime!
Anywhere!
If any man is Christ, Christ can heal and transform and restore them.
The women believed!
If Jesus could restore Jarius’ daughter.
If He can raise Lazarus from the dead. If Jesus restores the sight to the blind, make a lame man walk. Then He could do it for this desperate unclean woman with nothing else to give but her empty hand of faith!
Desperation comes with a desire.
There has to be a desire to change.
There had to be that last glimmer of Hope.
There must be the willingness to give up your own will and conform to His.
Taste and see that the Lord is Good!
The women with the issue of blood had nowhere else to turn. It was desperation turned to faith.
If I could just touch the hem of His garment!
I know I will be healed.
The woman had to come to a place in her life that she reached for Him!
In One amazing moment this Jesus would heal 12 years of pain and sorrow.
Yes Jesus still heals. Not just the sickness of the body but the sickness of Souls!
She came with empty hands of Faith and was healed.
Sometimes that’s all we have, but it is all we need!
The faith, the hope and the desperation that Jesus is the answer.
This woman’s condition was embarrassing.
She wouldn’t even come to meet Him face to face. She would wait until He passed by.
We allow our guilt, shame and embarrassment to stop us from reaching for the Hem His garment.
“Who touched My clothes?”
It wasn’t because He didn’t know who touched Him, the one thing Jesus does ask from us is confession.
The others in the crowd were excited to see Jesus. To touch Him as He passed to go heal Jarius’ daughter.
The crowds of people were excited to see the miracle worker. This woman was desperate for the miracle He could do for her.
That’s the difference. It’s the difference between seeing Jesus out of curiosity and seeing Jesus as Savior.
Until you understand your personal need for Jesus, His miracle working power will be withheld from you.
But when you come to the end of your rope, when you come to Him with the empty hands of faith, desperate for salvation, His power to save will spare no length to restore and heal.
The exchange for this healing is to be in service to Him and His Kingdom.
My ask from you today is this.
Reach out your empty hand of faith and see what the Lord will do with a little faith, a bit of trust and a lot of desperation!
Believe that He is your only hope!
Belive that He is the only one to make things right!
Pastor Ed
