MIRACLES

Healing

One of Jesus’ miracles concerns the woman

who touched his hem.
Matthew's account shows Jesus'

compassion, and that his power

was not meant to be magical in this story,

rather it was the power of God

who responded to the faith of the followers.

Historically,

a hem represented a badge

of commitment or authority.
In ancient Mesopotamia,

“to cut off the hem” was to strip one
of his personality, authority, etc.

A husband could divorce his wife

by cutting off the hem of her robe.

A nobleman would

authenticate his name on a clay tablet

by pressing the hem on the clay.

The Gospel of Matthew
9:20-22

Just then a woman who had been

subject to bleeding for twelve years

came up behind him

and touched the hem of his cloak.

She said to herself,

"If I only touch his cloak,

I will be healed."

Jesus turned and saw her.

"Take heart, daughter," he said,

"your faith has healed you."

And the woman was healed from that moment.

Luke 8:43-48 gives a much fuller account .

The Gospel of Luke
8: 43-48

And a woman who had had

a flow of blood for twelve years
and could not be healed by any one,
came up behind him,

and touched the fringe of his garment;
and immediately her flow of blood ceased.

And Jesus said,

"Who was it that touched me?"
When all denied it, Peter said,
"Master, the multitudes

surround you and press upon you!"

But Jesus said,

"Some one touched me;
for I perceive that

power has gone forth from me."
And when the woman

saw that she was not hidden,

she came trembling,
and falling down before him

declared in the presence

of all the people why
she had touched him,

and how she had been immediately healed.

And he said to her,

"Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."