Transforming Encounters: The 40-Day Challenge (Luke)Sample

This event describes the encounter between Jesus and a woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years.

We don’t know what kind of bleeding she suffered, but we know she was considered, according to Old Testament law, an unclean person. Every thing or person she touched was unclean, and we can assume that she had not been in close contact with people.

The text tells us that the woman fought her illness unsuccessfully. Even after 12 years, no doctor could cure her. Not only had she lost all her possessions, but also her dignity. We can only imagine how physically and mentally exhausted she was due to her long illness, and how lonely and hopeless she felt.

And then a turning point comes in her life. In her despair, she gathers courage and takes a step towards Jesus and touches the edge of His cloak in order to be healed. She doesn’t care about the crowd, or the provisions of the Law, because she knows that Jesus is her only hope. At that moment, the bleeding stops and she feels that she has been healed.

Jesus also feels it and asks, “Who touched me?” - not because he doesn’t know, but because he wants her long-lost dignity to be restored to her in front of everyone.

It is good to dare and to give our burdens to Him, because an encounter with Jesus fundamentally changes everything for the better.

Decide today to take one step closer to Jesus, because only He can restore your long-lost dignity.