As Jesus made His way through the throngs of people surrounding Him, He suddenly stopped and asked, “Who is the one who touched Me?”
 
Although it seemed obvious, His disciples answered that the crowds were pressing upon Him. But Jesus insisted, “Someone touched Me.” He was certain a particular person had touched Him, because at that moment, divine power had gone out of Him.
 
A woman stepped out of the crowd and confessed to Jesus that she had deliberately touched Him, and something wonderful had happened to her.
 
For twelve long years she had been suffering from an uncontrollable hemorrhage, year after year losing more blood. She had seen many physicians and spent all she had, but nothing helped. Then she heard about Jesus. Desperately making her way through the crowd, she came close to Him, believing that if she touched even the fringe of His garment, she would be healed. And when she touched Him, her flow of blood stopped. His divine power had been transfused into her. With tender lovingkindness, Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be well from your affliction.”
 
This story in the Bible portrays our real condition. We’re afflicted with a disease that inevitably issues in eternal death: the inward disease of sin. How much suffering and damage this sickness has caused us! Try as we might, we can’t get rid of it. Just like the woman in the story, the many “physicians” we resort to of philosophy, self-help programs, and other methods are ineffectual. We need Jesus to heal and save us.
 
In order to save us, God Himself became an approachable—even touchable—man, Jesus Christ. Jesus came to live among those sick with sin. Then He, the sinless One, died on the cross for our sins. The Bible says that Jesus’ redeeming death heals us of our affliction of sin.
 
Jesus also resurrected from the dead and became the life-giving Spirit to give us eternal life. As the Spirit, He’s available here and now, able to enter into and live in all who repent and believe in Him.
 
But merely hearing about Jesus or being in the crowd milling around Him won’t save you. Like the woman, you must come to Jesus in faith, believing in all He did for you. Your sins will be forgiven, and He will impart His eternal life into you. You can touch Him in faith right now by praying this simple prayer:
 
“Lord Jesus, I need You. I’m a sinner. I believe in all You did for me on the cross. Thank You for dying for me to heal me of my sins. I receive You as my Savior. Come into me and give me Your eternal life. Amen.”