Tassels & Shadows

Throughout the gospels, Jesus performed many miracles. In Matthew 9:19-26, Jesus is on his way to raise a girl from the dead when a woman touches the fringe of his garment. This woman had been bleeding for twelve years. She would have been considered unclean by her community, an outcast. We can read in verse 21, the woman believed that if she could simply brush the tassels of Jesus's cloak, then she would be healed. In Mark's account of these events, we read that there was a crowd surrounding Jesus. It would have nearly impossible for Jesus to notice the woman touching his clothes. Still, Jesus feels the healing power leave his body and turns to ask, "Who touched my garments?" The woman comes forward fearfully and tells Jesus that she was guilty of touching his cloak. Jesus's response to her is, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."

In Acts 5, after Jesus has ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit has baptized the disciples, Peter becomes well known for performing miracles in the name of Jesus through the Spirit of God. Verse 14 tells us that many people came to faith in Jesus through the work of Peter. The faith of the people was demonstrated in verse 15 that says, they carried the sick on cots and mats into the street in hopes that Peter's shadow would pass over them and they would be healed.

The point is faith. Faith is what healed the bleeding woman and led her to Jesus’ tassels. Faith is what drove people to the streets for Peter's shadow. Faith is how we are saved by Grace. Ephesians 2:8-10 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." This is the formula for salvation in Jesus. This is the desire of my heart, that every person should have relationship with the God of the Universe, through faith. I want to have enough faith to reach for tassels in a crowd or shadows in the street.