If I Could Just . . .  

By Danny Saavedra

“When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ ‘You see the people crowding against you,’ his disciples answered, ‘and yet you can ask, ‘“Who touched me?” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.’”—Mark 5:27–34 (NIV)

“If I could just . . .” Have you ever thought something that started with these words? If I could just get that promotion. If I could just make this shot. If I could just get married. 

Most of us probably run these cause and effect scenarios in our minds more often than we’d care to admit. We put our faith in a potential occurrence, believing it will change our circumstances. We believe this one thing taking place will be a miraculous fix to something that holds us back in some way. 

But the truth is that the reality will not match up with your fantasy. Your expectations will not be met. That promotion may improve your situation, but it won’t be the end-all cure to finding identity, belonging, and purpose. That game-winning shot may temporarily make you more popular, because you’re only as good as your last game. Don’t believe me? Ask any athlete. And marriage? Listen, if you’re not happy single, you won’t be happy married. Why? Because marriage is challenging. 

So, again, almost all “If I could just . . .” ideas will not yield the results we desire, except the one we see in our passage today! Here, a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years (Mark 5:25) said to herself, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” And guess what? The second she touched Jesus’ clothes, she was instantly healed! Isn’t that amazing?! When it happened, Jesus noticed that power had gone out from Him and so He asked who had touched Him.  

I believe He asked for two reasons: 1) He wanted to demonstrate the glory of God through the miracle that had taken place and 2) He wanted to look her in the eyes and affirm this woman in her faith; to send her on her way with a new outlook, with a new purpose, with a new identity and a sense of belonging! 

Can I share something with you? If you’re a believer, this same miracle took place in your life! At one time, you said, “If I could just come to Jesus, He will heal me.” And He did! He healed you of your sins and freed you from the curse of death! He set you free, called you His child, gave you His peace, and sent you out into the world to bring others to Him to experience the same healing, the same miracle of salvation! If you’re not a believer, you can be healed, saved, set free, and given peace! All you need to do is call out to Him.

DIG: What does this story teach you about Jesus and His power? What about His character?

DISCOVER: How have you seen His power in your own life?

DO: If you’re saved, thank the Lord for your healing and reflect on what He’s done in your life since that day. If you’ve never made the decision to put your faith in Jesus, but you want to be healed of your pain, your past, your fear, your loneliness, and everything else, you can today! If you have questions or are ready to receive Him, e-mail me at DanielS@CalvaryFTL.org and I’d love to walk you through it!