Sermon #52 Luke Sermons

Title: “Who Touched Me?”

Text: Luke 8:41-48

Subject: The Healing of the Woman with an Issue of Blood

Date: Sunday Evening – May 13, 2001

Tape # W-41a

Readings: Merle Hart and James Jordan

Introduction:

Our Lord Jesus was on his way to Jairus’ house to perform a miracle of mercy upon his daughter, who was at the point of death. No doubt, word had gotten around in a hurry about what he had done in Gadara. Therefore, Jairus ran to the Master, fell down at his feet, and begged him to come to his house and heal his daughter. As they went along the crowds began to gather. You can imagine the commotion. Read verses forty-one and forty-two.

[Luke 8:41-42] "And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: [42] For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him."

You can imagine the excitement of this crowd. Here is a man, who claims to be God’s Messiah, the Christ, God incarnate. Everyone knows his claim; but he has begun to back it up and substantiate it by doing things that no one else could possibly do.

In Gadara, the devils themselves were constrained to publicly acknowledge him as the Lord their God, who had absolute power over them. Now, he is going to heal a young girl, whose father was a very prominent citizen in the community. This little girl was at the point of death. Everybody wanted to see the miracle. They followed the Lord as closely as possible, pressing him as he walked along. Everyone was excited. Everyone was curious. Everyone was filled with anticipation.

As they moved along, a poor, bent, anemic woman, a woman who had been plagued with an issue of blood for twelve, long, tormenting years, made her way through the crowd. I can picture her. She must not let herself be seen. She is unclean! She has no right, by law to even be in the streets. But she is dying. She has heard about the Lord Jesus. No one else could help her. She had tried everything imaginable. Yet, she believed that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Christ, the Son of God. She said, “If I could just touch the hem of his garment, I am sure, he would make me whole.” So she crawled through the thronging crowds until she got close. Then, weak and trembling, she stretched out her hand in faith, and touched the Lord Jesus.

As soon as she touched him, the Lord Jesus stopped dead in his tracts. He felt virtue, power and efficacy, go out of him. Therefore, he turned around and said, “Who touched me?” The disciples said, “You’ve got o be kidding. With all these people around, you are asking, “Who touched me?” Then, the Master said, “Somebody hath touched me!” Let’s read the story together, beginning at verse forty-three.

[Luke 8:43-48] "And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, [44] Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. [45] 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? [46] And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. [47] And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. [48] And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace."

Proposition: As this poor woman was immediately healed of her plague when she touched the Lord Jesus, so sinners are freed from the curse of the law and the guilt of sin as soon as they touch the Lord Jesus Christ by faith.

Divisions: As we look at these verses tonight and consider the events recorded here by divine inspiration, I want to call your attention o five things.

1. The Curse (v. 43)

2. The Crowd (v. 45)

3. The Cure (vv. 44-46)

4. The Confession (v. 47)

5. The Consolation (v. 48)

Because Mark gives us a more detailed account of this event, we will pick up some of the details recorded by him in Mark 5.

I. THE CURSE

[Luke 8:43] "And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,"

Mark 5:25-26 "And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, (26) And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse."

There is no greater evidence of the total depravity of all human beings by nature than the fact that we all incur disease, get sick, and die. All sickness, disease, and death is the result of sin and the curse of God upon the human race because of sin.

This woman’s sickness was a specific example of sin and the curse of God’s law upon us all by nature. Her sickness, her unceasing issue of blood, was something that made her ceremonially unclean. So it is with us all by nature. We are plagued with in. The plague of sin makes us unclean. Being unclean, we are cursed and barred from the holy Lord God. Look at what the Holy Spirit tells us about this woman.

A. She “had an issue of blood twelve years.”

· An Uncleanness (Lev. 15:25)

[Leviticus 15:19-25] "And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. [20] And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. [21] And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. [22] And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. [23] And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. [24] And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean. [25] And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean."

· A Disabling Sickness

B. This poor soul “had spent all her living upon physicians” of no value.

Mark tells us, she “had suffered many things of many physicians.” This poor soul had been to every doctor in town, including the quacks, the charlatons, the snake oil herbalists, and the faith healers.

· Dr. Decision

· Dr. B. Good

· Dr. Free Will

· Dr. Ceremony

· Dr. Right Church

· Dr. Excitement

· Dr. Emotion – Dr. Feel Good

She “spent all that she had.”

C. Yet, “she was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, neither could be healed of any.”

Religion without Christ will never help you. It will only put you in a worse condition.

II. THE CROWD

[Luke 8:45] "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?"

Myriads profess faith in Christ for many reasons. Multitudes claim to follow him for many reasons. How many there are gathered in churches across this land tonight, as it were thronging the Son of God, pressing him in hearing the Word, observing his ordinances, singing hymns of praise, observing all the outward duties of religious service. But few there are who touch him! Churches are filled, many overflowing, crowding to see some miracle, be entertained by some great performance, but few there are who touch the Son of God! Multitudes “go to church” for many different reasons.

· Curiosity

· Excitement

· Fear of Judgment

· Social Pressure

The crowds of people thronged our Lord; but only one person gained any benefit. Only one person came from behind and touched him. Only one person in this great crowd needed him. Only one person believed the Lord Jesus could actually cure her of her plague. Believing him, she touched him.

I wonder -- Is there anyone here tonight who needs the Son of God? Is there anyone here who believes him? Is there anyone here who will come to him and touch him?

Reach out and touch the Lord, as He passes by.

You’ll find He’s not too busy to hear your heart’s cry.

He’s passing by this moment, your needs to supply.

Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by!

III. THE CURE

[Luke 8:45-46] "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? [46] And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me."

Let’s look at Mark’s more detailed account.

Mark 5:27-30 "When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. (28) For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. (29) And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. (30) 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?"

Mark 5:34 "And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."

There are several things here which ought to catch our attention. Many reading this story miss the most important aspects of it. They put all the emphasis upon the woman. Inspiration puts the emphasis on the woman only as the recipient of mercy and benefactor of grace. But in so far as the act of mercy and the work of grace is concerned, the emphasis must be placed upon the Savior. This woman was made whole in exactly the same way every sinner saved by the grace of God is made whole. She was made whole by a fivefold work of God almighty.

A. A Work Of Providence

· Her sickness was not an accident, but a work of God for her soul, to bring her to Christ. That which was the destruction and death of others was for her the instrument of mercy.

· Providence brought the chosen sinner and the appointed Savior together at the time of love.

B. A Work Of The Word

Mark tells us that she came to the Lord Jesus in faith “when she had heard of Jesus” (v. 27), not before. I call your attention to this fact because it is very important.

No one is ever saved apart from the hearing of Christ, the hearing of the gospel. God never by-passes the appointed means of grace. There is no need for him to do so.

C. A Work Of Grace

The grace of God is not verbally mentioned in the text; but it is written all over it. Grace had chosen “a certain woman.” Grace caused the Lord Jesus to pass her way. Grace caused her to hear about him. And grace gave her faith and wrought faith in her.

[Ephesians 1:19] "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,"

[Ephesians 2:8-9] "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast."

[Philippians 1:29] "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;"

[Colossians 2:12] "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."

D. A Work Of Faith

This woman’s faith, like all true faith, was the gift of God. Yet, it was her faith. She chose to come to Christ. She chose to believe on the Son of God. She was made willing in the day of his power; but she was willing. She was caused to come by the sweet constraint of grace; but she did come.

E. A Work Of Omnipotence

The arm of God’s omnipotent, almighty, irresistible power brought this thing to pass exactly according to his everlasting purpose of love and grace toward this chosen sinner. The virtue that went out of the Savior to this woman was his own omnipotence.

IV. THE CONFESSION

[Luke 8:47] "And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately."

Mark 5: 33 "The woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth."

Our Savior did not ask, “Who touched me?” because he needed to learn who had done this, but because we need to learn the necessity of confessing Christ before men. “With the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” This woman came and told the Savior publicly, all the truth.”

· About Her Plague

· About His Power

· About Her Cure

It is not needful for us to blow the trumpet in the streets and force others to hear us when they choose not to listen. However, it is required that we identify ourselves with Christ and his gospel publicly. We must not be ashamed to confess Christ before men.

· In Believer’s Baptism

· In Conversation

· In Faithful Witness

V. THE Consolation

Here our Lord Jesus declares the source of comfort. It is faith in him.

[Luke 8:48] "And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace."

Mark 5:34 "And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."

Our Lord here commends faith, that great work of grace of which he is himself both the object and the author.

A. Nothing brings such glory to Christ as that faith which looks to Christ for everything.

B. Nothing is so useful to our souls as faith in Christ.

· We begin in faith.

· We live by faith.

· We stand in faith.

· We walk by faith, not by sight.

· We have peace with God by faith.

· We see the glory of God by faith.

· We must die in faith.

C. Nothing is so important as this - “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”

Application:

Let this be a point of personal self-examination for each of us. Is my faith real? Do I really believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? Is this gift of God mine?