Some Information on the Woman with the Issue of Blood and "Touching the Edge of His Garment"

43 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. 45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’" 46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. 48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:43-48)

Thoughts from my friend, Kurt: (who I hope will one day post on his blog):
One of the things that I find extremely interesting here is that the woman went for the edge of his garment. You have to ask yourself “why is it recorded in such detail”? Why did the author (as well as in the other Gospels) point out this fact….she touched the edge of the cloak/garment? Is it significant?….does it tell us something about this woman and her faith?...the faith that Christ commends? Is there a link between her reaching out to the edge of his garment and to Christ calling her “Daughter” (which is the only woman recorded in scripture as being called Daughter by Christ)?

Malachi 4:2 “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”

This is a prophecy of the coming Messiah. The Jews knew this well. The Messiah would come with healing in his wings. The Hebrew word for wing here is Kanaph which can be translated: wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt wing, extremity skirt, corner (of garment)
The Jews looked forward to the Messiah who would have healing in his Kanaph, his wings, in the corners of his garment. The woman here was demonstrating her belief and faith in Jesus as that Messiah who had come with healing in his wings. Jesus recognized her faith. He called her Daughter... that is a pretty endearing, relational term for Jesus to use of a stranger... but he knew that her action was one of faith in him as Messiah.

Here is summary on this from this site: http://www.mfrbc.org/thisthat.html

HEALING IN HIS WINGS
In Jesus' day, Jewish men wore a simple tunic both at home and at work. The tunic (tallit) served as protection from cold and rain. Hanging from the end of each of its four corners (‘wings’ or ‘Kanaph’ in Hebrew) was a tzitzit in obedience to the biblical command. Through the centuries, during times of persecution, Jews were often forbidden to wear the tzitzit on the outside of their garments. This forced them to wear a small four-cornered tallit under their shirts. This is a thin garment rectangular shaped with a large hole in the center. When the 'mini-tallit' was under the clothes it served the same purpose as was originally prescribed-as a reminder of the laws of God. During the first century there were a few Messianic concepts and scriptures associated with the tzitzit concerning the Messiah. One was that these knotted fringes possessed healing powers. The tunic was worn and when in prayer it would be draped over the head as if under the 'Lord's Wings.' This made for the thought that the corners of the tallit (tunic) were 'wings.' This tradition has its roots in the prophecy of Malachi 4:2 where the Messiah is said to be coming with healing in His wings. Certainly the woman with the issue of blood knew of these traditions, which would explain why she sought to touch the corner (the wings) of Jesus' prayer garment. The same word used in Numbers 15:38 for corner is used in Malachi 4:2 for wings (Kanaph). With this understanding in mind, an ancient Jew under the prayer shawl could be said to be dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and under the shadow of His wings (Psalm 91:1-4). When one realized the significance of this concept to the first-century Hebraic mind, it becomes clear why this woman was instantly healed. She was expressing her faith in Jesus as the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings and declaring her faith in God's prophetic Word.

Whining

I am tired of my children being ill.
I don't want to be ill right now.
I do not like January.
My baby's bottom looks like hamburger.
How soon will Spring arrive?
I miss going to church.

A "Crossless" Call

Liver and Onions
A great article exposing the unscriptural nature of a "crossless" call.

Human Merit

What is human merit when spoken of in a theological sense? How about Paul - what did Paul view as human merit? When Paul spoke of salvation by grace though faith and dispelled the notion that salvation could be obtained by human merit, what would Paul's audience have thought he was referring to? Is there a chance that amatuer theologians of today have a more complete definition and scope of what is included in human merit than the apostle Paul did?

What are your thoughts? Post your favorite Scripture on the subject if you want.

Matthew's Way with Words

"Immorality is subject to the law of diminishing returns."

I think that is such a great quote ... and so true. Anyone who has had substance abuse problems or any other addictions can certainly attest to the truth of it. Good insight, Matthew. He said that in the post linked below.

Bacchanal by Lawrence Alma-Tadema

A New Endeavor?

The boy in this pencil drawing is my one year old baby. He has been sick with intestinal distress for about 4 days now. I think he may finally be getting over the illness today. He was very listless over the weekend which had us concerned. Today, two of the other children are home from school with the same thing. The papa had to miss work on Friday and Saturday due to this bug.

I drew this portait by looking at a photo that was taken when I was in CA this past October... when he was nine months old. I am going to be doing portraits of all of our children using pencil, watercolors, pastels and mixtures of those media. I want to then use them as samples to show other parents in my community and perhaps be commisioned to do portraits of their children. I hope I can make a go of it!

Tangled Up In Blue

There was a special on PBS the other day about Bob Dylan. It had all this footage of concerts and interviews from when Dylan was just a very young man – just starting out in the music mainstream. He was very political; I was not aware how very political. I have heard there are a lot of things about his shenanigans as a young man that were very bad, but the program was not about that – it was about his performance persona. I have always enjoyed Dylan’s music. I know he has an odd voice and that some people find his vocals grating, but I think his style has a certain charm.

As John and I watched these interviews and performances we were struck by what a neat person he was – how unique! .. and so very creative and talented. God made him that way. I was thinking about how each person has their own unique personality and presence. God made each human being, saved and unsaved, with beauty. Yes, we are sinful creatures, but we are all made in the image of God and there is intrinsic beauty in that. Some He made very unique and gifted with talents that bless others. Talented/gifted artists and musicians are some of those.

We, as Christains should not be afraid to recognize that unsaved people have a beauty as they reflect the image of God. When I was first a believer, I hung around with a very cantankerous older fellow who constantly saw the bad in everyone around him. For a time this attitude filled my thoughts too. I remember we would be in a restaurant with several people at a table. He would talk about the unsuspecting people at other tables. He would comment on what kind of people, being sinners, which they were. I remember him looking at an older woman across the room one time and whispering under his breath, “I know how they are… with their blue hair.” I thought it was kind of a funny statement and I sorta chuckled, but at the same time, I thought, “How does he know how that woman is? She may be the godliest person in this restaurant.”

Over the following years, as I evaluated my own attitude towards others, I came upon a way of looking at the unsaved that has really helped me to love and respect them as I think honors God. I try to see them as they could be if they knew the Lord. I try to imagine their faces alight with wonder at the Person of Christ. It is a motivator for evangelsim.

When I was watching Bob Dylan perform as a young man and talk to the interviewers, I thought about this interesting creation of God: “I wonder what he would be like as a saved man?” There is some question as to what Dylan's saved/unsaved status is now. I have two albums the vocals of which sound very much as those from the heart of a convert, but I don’t know him personally, so I cannot really opine.

God created these people all around us, friends. He loves them... no matter what our theology says. I think He sees them as they could be too – if they were born from above. He knows just how they would be. He loves them. Their beauty is a a reflection of His person. Anything beautiful in man is there because it is a reflection of the One who is altogether beautiful. God protects that. Yes the righteousnesss of man is as filthy rags, but we mustn’t look at the unsaved as rotting flesh. They are made in the image of God.

Thank God for His creation - and for His recreation - of those who are made in His image.

An Interesting Quote From the Koran

Those whom Allah wills to guide, He opens their breast to Islam; Those whom He wills to leave straying, - he makes their breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus does Allah lay abomination on those who refuse to believe.

The Qur’an: Surah 6:125 (Islam)

Now let us look at the quote with some corresponding jargon from protestant Christianity inserted (in parentheses).

Those whom Allah (in his plan) wills to guide (the elect), He opens their breast (regenerates, effectually calls) to Islam; Those whom He wills (in his predetermined plan) to leave straying (passes by), - he makes their breast close and constricted (reprobates), as if they had to climb up to the skies (makes salvation an impossibility): thus does Allah lay abomination (eternal damnation) on those who refuse to believe.

I think it is interesting how in the first part of the quote Allah is opening the breast and he "wills to guide" certain ones while he leaves others straying. Yet, in the last sentence he condemns those who "refuse to believe." This sounds contradictory. How can they refuse to believe Islam if they have been willed to be guided by Allah and have had their breast opened? On the other hand, what else could they do but "refuse to believe" if they have not been guided by Allah and have not had their breast opened? I suppose if I were to talk to a Muslim scholar about this he would be able to explain how it is not as contradictory as it sounds.

Eureka! It bit me in the face....

Unashamed of Grace

A profound observation by Matthew on the whole discussion between lordhip salvationist or calvinists and free-gracers or non-calvinists. A short read. Go give us your two cents.

Some meandering thoughts

Are angels made in the image of God?
The Bible doesn't say they aren't, but I always assumed they weren't.

Is a blog a para-church organization?

"A" may be true because of "B", "C" or "D" or all of these. What is the fallacy of logic when, based on that, one says: If "A" then "B" is necessarily true.

Why would a parent gossip about another parent's child?

Mutts are really the best kind of dog. A dog that doesn't bark is a true a gift from God.

How dramatic are mood swings for those who live in Alalska? (SAD - seasonal affective disorder )

Why is Ted Kennedy allowed to be a Senator of the United States Congress?

Snow is so white.

Internet communication is so limited, it is missing a big part of the humanity of the people involved in it.

When you apologize for something, wouldn't that preclude you from brining it up years later and blaming it on the person you apologized to?

Why can't I make light red without arriving at pink?

I am so glad that summer comes around every year.