A Dusty Faith

     "Once they crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the men of that place recognized Him, they alerted the whole vicinity and brought to Him all who were sick. They were begging Him that they might only touch the tassel on His robe. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well."  Matthew 14:34-36

I love how these three verses are quietly and neatly tucked into the very end of this chapter. They follow the well known story of Peter's trek across choppy waters. Everyone is aware of Peter's doubt which caused him to sink and cry out for help, but very few people mention that Peter seemed to have been the only one in the boat with faith enough to take that first step.  Those verses, however, are not the center of focus today.

 After showing the disciples a valuable lesson in faith, Jesus and the disciples docked their boat and headed for shore. As they entered the city the citizens immediately recognized Jesus, and the town gossip spread the word of his arrival. People began to bring their sick loved ones to Jesus. They did not ask for medications or treatments. These people asked for a cure!

"They were begging Him that they might 

only touch the tassel on His robe."

 

Two observations:  First of all the tassels or fringe of his garment was not a decoration on his sleeve or an emblem on his shoulder. This was the fringe that swept the dusty dirt roads as he walked. This fringe had probably dragged a bit on the sea as he had walked out to his disciples. This fringe was the lowest place they could touch.

 

My point is this, the people did not ask, "Please, cure me and let me walk beside you." These people did not ask, " Please, heal me by letting me shake your hand." These people were saying how unworthy they felt in the presence of His holiness, and that they were willing to lay themselves down in order to be healed of their ailments.

 

The second observation is this:

 

  "And as many as touched it were made perfectly well."

 

These people were not only saying what they believed, they were showing it. These people didn't expect Jesus to say, "No, that will not be necessary. I can touch you and you will be healed." These people were willing to go to any length to receive the healing that Jesus offered, even if it meant that they would be required to humble themselves.

 

I wonder sometimes if when we pray, we say, "Jesus, please heal our...", "Jesus, please save our children from...", "Jesus, please provide for our...". And when we pray asking, we really believe that Jesus will and can answer those prayers; yet we never see those answers come to pass, because we are so busy asking for whatever it is that burdens us that we forget that our hearts are to be submitted to His will. I wonder if there is an area of our lives that we are not willing to let go of. I wonder sometimes, if we are not willing to truly humble ourselves in obedience and submission. I wonder if that is the reason we are not "...made perfectly well." I wonder what our prayer lives would look like, if we were willing to get a little dust in our faces, if we would truly lay down our lives for the healing  that Jesus still offers today.