Binding Broken Hearts

Introducing Jesus to Those Who Need Him Most

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The Value of One Part 9

It started on a very crowded city street during a life-saving mission. The slow moving crowd belied the urgency of the mission. People were pushing this way and that way in an effort to get to a dying young girl on the other side of the city.

And yet the urgency of the crowd did not seem to have the same effect on Jesus. If anyone in that crowd had been paying particular attention to Jesus instead of to the surrounding masses, one may have thought that Jesus was almost imperceptibly measuring His pace to ensure that He was in the right place at the right time.

And that’s when it happened.

Suddenly Jesus came to a came to a complete stop causing a chain reaction of bumping and tripping behind Him. The disciples who had been walking with Him realized He was no longer at their side and turned to see Jesus standing in the middle of the street.

And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” Luke 8:45

It took a moment for the disciples to register what Jesus had said. And then Peter spoke.

When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” Luke 8:45

On the surface, it looked like a pretty incredulous question. Truly, in the middle of that crowded city street, no one could help but be touched. Perhaps the heat of the day had affected Jesus more than anyone realized.

But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Luke 8:46

Out of all the mindless jostling of the crowd, there was one who touched Jesus with intentionality. And Jesus was not going to go any further until He acknowledged who it was that needed His help.

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. Luke 8:47

Earlier in this chapter, Luke the physician tells us that this woman had a health issue that had plagued her for 12 years. It was a health issue that had adversely affected every area of her life, isolated her from family and friends, and cost her every bit of money she had. With her last ounce of strength she had crawled through the crowd and barely touched the hem of Jesus’ garment satisfied that that tiny touch was enough.

But that tiny touch was not enough for Jesus.

And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Luke 8:48

Before the entire crowd Jesus acknowledged the faith of this woman and proclaimed that she had been healed. In essence, Jesus was restoring her to her community so that everyone knew she was “safe” to be in fellowship with again.

Jesus found the one person in the crowd who needed Him most. He met her needs in a personal, and yet public, way, and her life was changed forever.

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:4-7

What if Jesus had not been paying attention to His surroundings that day? What if He had been too busy to notice a woman in great need? What if Jesus had said that one woman’s pain was not worth stopping an urgent mission for? What if Jesus had thought that a wealthy man’s need was more important than a poor woman’s need? What if Jesus had simply let the healed woman walk silently away?

Remember, God values the “one.” God may ask us to pause in the middle of a mission that we think is of utmost importance and urgency – one we think should not be interrupted. We need to do it anyway. God may ask us to meet the need of someone that we just don’t see any value in. We need to do it anyway. God may ask us to take the extra step and help restore someone to his/her community but we feel we just don’t have the time to invest. We need to do it anyway. God hears the silent cries of those most folks pass by. He feels the pain of those whom society deems insignificant. God needs us to be willing for Him to interrupt our best laid plans so that we can engage in His best plans for the hurting world around us.

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