Mark 5:25-30
And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
The significance of today’s story is found in the unmitigated gall and audacity of a sickly woman to take it upon herself to break every rule, tradition, custom or protocol and grab hold of the Lord’s clothing. She wasn’t invited to join his party. She wasn’t famous, popular or of great authority. She was simply a certain unnamed woman. But she did what she did out of pure desperation. She impolitely pushed through the crowd, risked being caught where she shouldn’t be, and exposed herself to great embarrassment because she had issues.
How many know that when your issues are bad enough, you will be willing to do just about anything to rid yourself the trauma and heartache associated with being sick. Sometimes you just get sick and tired of being sick and tired. You might not believe it, but I’ve been there. You know why I preach the way I do? Know why I pray as much as I pray? Want to know why I stay to myself, and cling so close to Jesus? I got issues!
Now, I don’t mean to trivialize this woman’s issues. I’m in no way saying that my issues are the same, but the solution to ridding myself of issues is the exact same. Just like the woman with the issue of blood, the answer is getting to Jesus. You see, had the doctors been able to cure the woman’s disease, she never would’ve met Jesus. So, I’m definitely not trivializing her issues, but I’m thanking God for my issues. Had it not been for issues, I never would be pressing to Jesus the way that I am either.
Well, my issues aren’t physical issues but spiritual. And I tried to fix them with church and religion. Y’all told me that convention would fix it. Y’all told me the convocation would make it better. You told me that singing in the choir, playing the piano, preaching and teaching, shouting and dancing is all that I needed. But after all that, I find that I still got some issues. Let me tell you about my issues.
I’ve tried for more than 12 years to abide by the political correct standards set by church folk. I’ve done y’all’s workshops, Bible studies, men’s day, women’s day, friends and family and all the rest. Yet, I still got issues. I’ve tried singing it out, shouting it out, praying, preaching and dancing it out. And, after all that, I’m convinced the only cure for me is to get to Jesus.
You see, my issue is, I can’t be satisfied with a form of godliness with no power. That’s my major issue. There’s something inside of me disturbing my peace when I see a fantastic church building, in a broken down, destitute neighborhood. I can’t just ignore the plight of the homeless, helpless, incarcerated and impoverished. I can’t rest knowing I have the blessedness of the gospel of salvation and there are millions that don’t know who Jesus is. My heart bleeds for those that don’t know the Lord. There’s something telling me I can do something about it if only I can get to Jesus. Money is not the solution, Jesus is. People are not the solution, Jesus is. I bet you if I can just touch the hem of his garment, things gonna change forever.
So, forgive me if I’m rude. Forgive me if I’m short with you. Forgive me if I’m not congenial, affable, friendly or inclusive, but I’m on my way somewhere. I got a congenital blood condition called holiness, and holiness without, no one can see the Lord. Y’all don’t understand, I just gotta do this.
There are people behind me that I’ve knocked over on my way to Jesus. They’re mad, talking about where does he think he’s going. Why couldn’t he just wait in line with the the rest of us. They’re mad; but they’re watching; some hoping I don’t make it. Then there are those in front of me. They have no idea what’s coming. They are in for an abrupt change. I’m coming, and if by chance I run into them, I’m sorry, I gotta get to Jesus cause I got issues. And then there’s all of you. Now you got a choice. You can either join me and be a first hand witness at what Gods about to do, or get out of the way. Either way, I’m on my way to Jesus.
People of God, It’s in my blood. I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I can’t rest, I can’t function. I’ve got to get to Jesus. I need his virtue. I need his power. I can’t wait in line. I can’t abide by protocol, decorum and standard operating procedures. I’m making my move, and I’m making it now. If I got to go it alone, so be it. But there’s something on the inside telling me to go ahead. There’s something in my blood. I got issues that only Jesus can resolve
God Bless
