There is a super-dramatic event, which I consider life transforming and thought provoking in the book of Luke 8:44-45. We can see one or two lessons from the event.

There was a woman who had a haemorrhage (an escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel, especially when profuse) for twelve years. Twelve long years mean about 4,380 days. She was weak, she was financially down and she was rejected. Even doctors could not help her situation; they made it worse by ripping her off her wealth. According to the Mosaic Law, she was an unclean person.

One eventful day, she saw Jesus in the midst of people who are crowding him. She then by herself, thought within herself… “if only I can touch the helm of his garment’, I will be made whole” She did just that! How this weak and sickly woman squeezed herself through the crowd to reach the helm of his garment beats me, but she finally did. Immediately she did, Jesus knew.

And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.” But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.” Verses 45 and 46

There are a lot of lessons one can learn from these golden verses, but for this discuss, let’s place spotlight on the question of Jesus ‘who touched me?’ and the response of Peter, “the people are crowding …you”. I am persuaded that Peter was surprised at Jesus’ question ‘who touched me’, because it sounded funny to ask such question in the midst of an unmannerly crowd. Even a CCTV will miss the answer.

One lesson stands clear: touching Jesus is not the same as crowding him as misunderstood by Peter. It is possible we crowd Jesus, without touching him. That is the biggest surprise some will face on the judgement day. It is possible we are numbered in the 500,000-capacity church as part of the multitudes without having a definite contact daily with the Lord. We can be part of the Faith family but not be faithful. Little wonder Jesus expressed a concern:

…But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?" (Luke 18:8b)

Yes, he may find a church crowd, but would he find you and I still very active in the pure undiluted Faith? Our Lord is sensitive to our faith in him.

It is a very busy world. We cannot afford to miss his touch for a day.

According to Lisa Harper, “God wired us for touch.” Medical studies have proven that physical touch boosts our immune systems, improves our psychological states, and can literally save lives.

If this is true of physical touch, it is truer of spiritual touch. And if Jesus will meet you in faith when he comes, we must not just crowd him, we must keep being regularly connected to him daily.