“. . .and as many as touched Him were made whole.”
Mark 6:56b
“Reach out and touch.”
That’s the message in today’s Manna. But, only those who believe will do so.
Like the woman with the incurable blood disorder for 12 years, who’d “suffered many things at the hands of many physicians, spent all she had and was none better and grew worse”—but risked all to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe (Mk. 5:25-28)—so did the sick in Gennesaret reach out to Him that day when they heard He was near.
Had they heard about His encounter with the desperate, hemorrhaging woman?
Or, had they heard how He’d raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead (Mk. 5:35-42)? Or how He’d fed the 5,000 with only five loaves and two fishes (Mk. 5:32-44)? Or, how He’d walked on water to comfort His disciples during a storm on the Sea of Galilee (Mk. 5:45-52)?
We’re not told.
But, we do know their running to meet Jesus and reaching out to touch Him sprang from their desperate need and their simple, childlike faith in believing He could also perform a miracle in their lives.
Dear Pilgrim, can He do the same for you today?
Can this same One Who did the above-named miracles do one in your life today? Or, are you convinced the “Day of Miracles” is past and He doesn’t move that way anymore? Or, has unbelief hardened your heart (Mk. 7:52b), causing you to doubt Christ, His Love for you and His ability to do any “mighty work” in your life (Mk. 6:5-6)?
It wasn’t Jesus’ garment that healed the sick woman or the afflicted in our Manna.
And woe to those who place their faith in anointed handkerchiefs or false faith healers who take up love offerings in chicken buckets.
Healing comes from reaching out and touching the Savior with “fingers of faith,” whose tentacles of trust reach down to a heart of simple trust in Who He is and what He can do (Heb. 11:6).
His Power isn’t limited; neither is His Love for you.
Just as He asked blind Bartimaeus “What do you need from Me?” (Mk. 10:51), so He’s asking you the same question today: “What do you need from Me?”
Pause even now and ponder that question. Then, with “fingers of faith” reach out and touch Him. It’s not a matter of how hard you believe; it’s a matter of Who He is and how much you trust Him to be Him to you.
Trust Him.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated April 20, 2010
