February 29 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Mark 5:25–34

Devotional

A woman with an issue of blood sought out the help of the Lord Jesus. She had wasted all her money by trying to find relief from doctors. Now she had nothing left. She had an empty purse and a worn out body. Nevertheless, she had great faith that she would be healed if only she could touch the hem of His garment. This woman came to Christ in refuge-taking faith and in His strength she was delivered. Those who reach out for Christ with their trembling hands will not be disappointed.

The suffering woman is healed and in the process she also learns more about the Savior. In a bustling crowd the Lord Jesus asked, “Who touched my clothes?” Jesus did not ask this question because He wanted to know the woman, but that the woman would learn to know Him. He knew her all along. What a difficult question this must have been for the woman!

It became quiet in the midst of the multitude and the eyes of this woman met the eyes of Christ. She knew what had happened to her and may have planned to go home in silence. Now noticed, she comes before Jesus. She opens her mouth and tells Him everything about her sickness, about all her attempts to find relief, and about her sudden relief because of Him. Imagine the friendly, loving eyes of Christ that drew out her story. The eyes of the great High Priest surely gave liberty to the grateful sinner to explain her heart before Him.

How necessary it is for a sinner to pour out his heart and his pleas before God. It is also prudent to share your joyful testimony when you have seen and tasted that the Lord is good. Herein Christ receives glory. The ailing woman kneels at the feet of Christ. She explains who she was without God and who she had become through Christ. That is necessary for all God’s children in every generation. The woman came back. She did not ignore God’s call and quietly go home. Therefore you, people of God, must also come back. After you have received tokens of His loving kindness, you must return to Him. You must realize that all spiritual blessings are only because of Christ. Without Him you are nothing. The closer you are to Him, the better it is for you.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.