Pondering the Hem of Jesus Garment

This morning I read these words in Mark 6:56, "Wherever He (Jesus) went--in villages and cities and out on the farms--they laid the sick in the market plazas and streets.   The sick begged Him to let them at least touch the fringe of His robe, and all who touched it were healed." (NLT1)

It started me on a search to see why touching the fringe of a garment, or the hem as many translations relate, was something that was done.  Wow.  I learned a lot about the tzitzit (pronounced Si-sith or TSI-tsis).  These are the tassels that Moses, directed by God, told the people to add to their garments in Numbers 15:38-40, "Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.  It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God."

These tzitzit were worn to be seen, by others as well as the person wearing them.  It would be like me putting on my "Jesus Girl" t-shirt, I am much more aware of my actions and words in public when I choose to wear that item from my closet.  I've often joked with Ken that we should not get one of those bumper stickers that declares we are followers of Christ because we would have to change the way we drive.  Hmm perhaps there is something to an outward symbol...

According to several sources the tzitzit was also used as a symbol for authority.  The point they made was that when David cut off the "corner of King Saul's garment" (see 1 Samuel 24) he was taking away his authority, that is why David's conscience pricked him about what he had done and he prostrated himself before Saul.  Everyone, including Saul, knew that David had been anointed by Samuel to be the next king, which is why Saul feared David. In the cave at En Gedi, David had literally taken Saul's authority and at that point he probably could have taken the throne as well.  But he didn't, instead he let God choose the time for him to receive the throne.  This act convinced Saul that David was telling the truth.  David's contrition at this time was an act that gave authority back to Saul.  Following that reasoning to touch the hem of Jesus garment, to touch the tzitzit, was recognition of Jesus authority to heal.  I find that all very interesting.  

But even more interesting to me; what really caught my attention today: "all who touched it were healed."  It did not matter who they were, what they had done, what their illness was, whether they were clean or unclean Jesus healed them all; no limits, no conditions.  Sometimes I live like I am not even in need of the Great Physician.  Sometimes I neglect to seek Him for His healing touch; thinking that I am not worthy.  Sometimes I even harbor thoughts that my wounds are too deep to be healed by a touch from Christ.  Oh foolish heart of mine, when will I ever develop the kind of faith that believes that all things are possible through Christ?

Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
Deb

The God Who Parts Seas

I am still thinking about Faith that Moves Mountains.  It is so easy to focus on those mountains and not on the One who actually does the moving.  This morning as I continued my reading in Exodus I came to the part where the Israelites are camped by the red sea with the Egyptian army bearing down on them.

From The Brick Testament-
can you believe someone has illustrated Old testament stories with Legos?
I've included a link at the bottom of this post where you can see the rest of the story and want to thank the owner for allowing me to share some of his images with you.

Talk about a mountain that needing moving!  The people of the LORD were terrified.  Pharoah's whole army was coming after them and they had no where to run.

The Isrealites were not happy campers at this point and turned on Moses.  So not only did Moses have an army coming after him, but an angry mob of his own as well.  To be honest, I have at times felt a bit like that crowd when I have faced some of my own mountains.  Is life really better here?  Sad to say there have been a couple of times in my life when I really doubted that God loves me the way He says He does.  Despite that, He is about to lavish His love on His people once again.

Remain calm, you say?  Don't be afraid, you say?  Sometimes the world is a really terrifying place.  Sometimes I feel like there is no escape.  But just like He has done so many times before, God is about to show both His chosen people, the Egyptians, and the rest of the world, that nothing is impossible for Him.

So the LORD directs Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea and the LORD parts it-even drying out the land for His people to walk on so they can cross safely to the other side.

I've tried to imagine what was going through the hearts and minds of God's people as they made their way across the bed of that sea.  What an incredible rush that must have been!

The Lord was not finished yet.  He stirred the hearts of the Egyptians and they gave chase and followed      the people of Israel right into the sea.

But the LORD brought confusion to the army of Egypt in the midst of the sea...

and then He directed Moses to once again stretch out his hand over the sea and let the waters flow back over the Egyptians.  The entire army of Pharaoh was wiped out; by God and God alone.  Not a single one of them was left when it was all over.

And it hit me.  God is in the business of moving mountains into the sea.  He is in the business of rescuing His people.   He is in the business of lavishing His love upon us.  It started before the world even began.  He had this plan.  A plan that involved choosing us, redeeming us, forgiving us, adopting us, and sealing us. (Eph. 1:1-14)  He has forever been in charge of it all.  There is not a detail that has escaped His notice.  His plan marches forward until that final day when every knee shall bow under the authority of Jesus Christ.  Not one of the mountains along my journey is too big for Him to move out of the way.  Do I want to have faith that moves mountains?  Then I have got to get to know the Mover of mountains.  In knowing Him I will find what I long for; a faith that does not doubt.

Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
Deb

 To see the rest of the story done in Legos click here.

Faith that Moves Mountains

I consider myself a student of prayer.  Like the disciples before me I have asked the Lord to teach me to pray; so whenever I come to verses like those in Matthew today I stop and ponder.  These are not new to me, but I still struggle with them.  Upon coming to a fig tree that had no fruit Jesus caused it to wither on the spot and He tells the disciples, "I assure you, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more.  You can even say to this mountain, 'May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and it will happen.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.  (Matt. 21:21-22, NLT1)

Believe and receive. It sounds so simple. Just last week I read another passage from Matthew, "I assure you, even if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move.  Nothing would be impossible." (Matt. 17:20, NLT1)  So it does not take much faith, just a teeny bit.  Makes me wonder what Jesus would say to me today, "Why do you doubt and not believe?"

There are some mountains out there that I would love to "throw into the sea," but no matter how much I pray for them to be gone they still loom large.  I wonder if the problem is in me and my lack of faith.  If I ask myself whether or not God can conquer cancer, I give a resounding yes.  So why do I have friends whose children are not being healed?  Why is there not victory for every one of them?  Why did a family have to bury their sweet little boy last week?  I know the "pat" answers, but I don't want the pat answers.  I want those mountains completely gone from their lives.  The more I know of God, the more I believe that He can do this, He wants to do this.  He is the God who lavishes His love upon us.  I've seen Him do the impossible in the past.  I've heard the triumphant stories.   And the only conclusion I have come to so far is that I have no formula for success but to pray. Oh, that my faith would unleash His great power!

“A man is powerful on his knees.” --Corrie Ten Boon

 "Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work."-- Oswald Chambers

Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
Deb