WHO TOUCHED ME?

TEXT: Mark 5:25 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,
27 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?

INTRODUCTION: The Hem of His Garment
A hand, grimy and wrinkled, timid, yet urged on by hope, stretches forth and the tips of the fingers touch the hem of the seamless robe.

Just a touch to the hem of his garment and her greatest desire is found; No! not in the hem of his garment, but in his words as he turns around.

“Daughter, be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole!: She came seeking health for her body; she left with peace in her soul! Just a touch to the hem of his garment or the gentle feel of his hand, or to hear him say, ever so softly, My child, I understand.”

But why should I longingly yearn for a touch, when he bids me to come and abide, and he promises never to leave me, No matter whate’er may betide? Much more than a touch is his presence; More than a touch is his love; More than a soft spoken word is his promise of my joining him someday above.

I need not covet a touch to his garments, but instead, let him live in my heart, so that he may reach out and touch others. Of his work, he’ll make ME a part!

I. The question of the disciples
Mark 5:31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

Out of all the multitude who may have been in contact with him, the woman was the only one changed; Why?
A. Ans: She recognized her need. Others were in as great a need of a saviour as she, but she was the only one who acted.

1. Why do some come to church, hear the gospel and return to their old ways?
Mark 4:3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

2. You, who are saved, were rescued from sin only when you acknowledged the fact.
Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Lu 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

II. A closer look at the woman and her need.
A. She knew there was no one else to whom she could turn.
Mark 5:26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

1. You may try all manner of remedies for sin, but only one will work.
Acts 4;12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

2. The devil and his crowd will squeeze you dry, but they can’t help and indeed don’t want to. Counselling, works, rituals, etc: the devil loves these for salvation, because they lead people blindly into hell.

B. She made no pretense of offering anything. She came only with a faith born of her deep need and humility. Anything else would have been rejected and somehow, she KNEW that THIS would work!
Mark 5:28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
‘Just As I Am’: 'In my hand no price I bring, simply to thy cross I cling' (From Hymns Just As I Am and Rock Of Ages respectively)

III Who Touched Me?
He was on a mission at the time which might have seemed much more important. The ruler of the synagogue had a need also! Jesus was on his way to raise his daughter from the dead!
Mark 5:22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

A. The lesson of the small things.
Mat 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

THE GREAT AND THE SMALL

When I see the light'ning flashing
And hear the mighty thunder roll;
When mountains shake and tremble;
Then peace flows o’er my soul.

When the oceans mighty billows
Crash upon the shore,
And the wind, instead of gentle breeze
Blasts with awesome roar;

Then sings my soul “O joyous peace!
For the power thus displayed
Belongs to Him who keeps me;
I shall not be dismayed!

One tiny little raindrop;
One small grain of sand;
One wee seed, a delicate bloom;
Each touched by the Master’s hand;

A blade of grass, an ant, a lark;
All his, however small;
He knows each tiny insect;
He sees each sparrow fall!

And though I be unworthy
And often go astray,
The One who watches ‘small things’,
Will guard me night and day!
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B. The evidence from Calvary
Here he was; in the midst of carrying out the plan of the ages!
Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

1. Yet, He took time to honor his mother.
Jno 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

2. He took time to hear the plea of one who by his own admission was unworthy!
Lu 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

3. Even the most unworthy of all were remembered;
Those who crucified him.
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

C. History records his notice of the unworthy who come by faith.
Consider the ‘object lessons’ here today; in the pulpit and in the pew!

IV Virtue; ie (dunamis) POWER has gone forth from me!
A. To reach out to him is to make contact with a power which transcends all the output of all the earth’s energy sources, for it can do what no other power can!

1. It can take away sin!
Jno 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

2. It can comfort the anguished soul.
II Cor 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

3. It can give hope in a hopeless world!
Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;