Is instant gratification biblical? Lev 15 In this section God gives the prohibitions, the instructions for cleansing and the once again “separate but not equal rule” for those whose bodies have had a discharge. In the middle of this chapter we come across the discharge from a woman in particular with all of its drama of adding the “unclean, unclean” status. But, let’s put our focus on the woman in particular because Jesus meets such a woman in the gospels. This is a woman who, like the Samaritan woman at the well, is clearly revealed as one who faced the rejection and maybe even persecution from the physical and spiritual community.
She has each day to choose where she goes, with whom she interacts, the times she goes to the well to gather water for the washing, which has for twelve long years, not achieved the intended purpose. She feels their stares, their whispered words behind her back, and her feelings of abandonment. She has seen the Dr.’s now for 12 yrs who have sapped not only her energy but her bank account. She is perhaps homeless, family-less, friendless, and without hope. Her priest has declared her unfit for worship and this is the longing of her heart. She, like the Jews of WWII, wears a Yellow Star defining her as “unclean”, rejected, contaminated. She hears, like them, “Unclean Jew”. She is not only personally unclean, but all that she touches is considered unclean, and whoever comes in contact with her is contaminated.
In the midst of this she hears the rumor that that Jesus the healer has come to town. She hears the whispering women speaking of how just a touch will bring about an instant cure. Really? And so a plan is set into motion with covert actions, a plan to disguise her as a person, the hiding of the Yellow Star, a scarf to conceal her anonymity from the crowd and the Master. She quickly and with some effort, melds into the crowd searching for Him, pushing to gain a position by where she can just touch the hem of his garment. And then it all happens…and the world stands still. She touches and instantly like the speed of light, a snap of a finger, a blink of an eye the rushing fire of His power moves through her being and she knows without a shadow of doubt that she is healed! Healed! As her mind gathers momentum to what this will mean she is brought back to reality with the words of the Master: “Who touched my garment”. But, Master, look at the crowd, they are all pushing against you! NO, one has touched me, Who is it? In a moment as all eyes move about the crowd silence is deafening. She discreetly with fear and trembling breaks free of the crowd, who now recognize her as the “unclean woman”, and a hush and whispers follow her. But, as she falls at his feet and bears her heart she hears not condemnation but "My daughter, your faith has healed you…go in peace”. Eight days later, following the rules and instructions of Lev 15, we see this same woman now clothed in new garments as she walks into the same priest who declared her unclean. She brings two offerings; a turtledove and a pigeon and offers to have her status of “unclean” revoked. The Yellow Star is torn from her old garments and it is tossed upon the brazen altar…Priest listen to my testimony! I met the Master and I am clean!
As this woman was unclean and in need of cleansing, so are we unclean in our state of sin. It is only the Master’s touch that will instantly cleanse us. We have sought counselors, Dr’s, sage friends, but it is only Jesus that can cure us! How desperate are you? Are you bold to seek instant healing? Come to Jesus!
