“Jesus turned about in the crowd and said,

‘Who touched my clothes?’’’

–Mark 5:30

A number of years ago, Lori and I were sitting in a speech therapist’s office with one of our children. We had been there for a series of sessions and most weeks, the same woman sat with her daughter in the waiting room. She had the next appointment each time. We never knew her name, but always talked together about the children. 

After missing a couple of weeks, she returned one day and asked about our child. Her daughter was to have had tubes in her ears and Lori asked if that had happened yet.  “No,” she replied, “You wouldn’t believe what happened to me.” She then proceeded to tell of how her son had been killed in an automobile accident two weeks earlier. Lori immediately began to console the woman. I kept doing what I had been doing. 

What was so important that I couldn’t stop to listen? I was working on a bulletin for an upcoming worship service. Sadly, it was even the Easter bulletin, when the congregation would celebrate the most important day on the Christian calendar. My sermon was probably going to speak about how our lives were transformed by the empty tomb and that we were to live differently because of Jesus’ gift. 

Certainly, the contrast between the words I would speak on that next Sunday and my feigned deafness in the waiting room could not have been any sharper. I am embarrassed to say that I wanted the bulletin finished because as soon as we left the office I was playing golf. My plans and that woman’s grief had intersected, but I wasn’t willing to give way.  Instead, I only looked up periodically as Lori and she talked, while I continued to work.  Yet again, Jesus modeled a better way. 

Just prior to the verse cited above he had returned from the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee and found a crowd waiting. A synagogue leader rushed up and begged for help as his daughter was ill. Jesus immediately set out for the man’s home with the crowd all around him. In their number was a woman who isn’t named, but only described by her condition—a hemorrhage that has lasted for twelve years. Mark tells us she had sought the help of doctors, but had not improved. By this point in the gospel, Jesus has healed innumerable people. Word of those deeds must have reached the woman as she thinks “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 

As Jesus walks by, the woman reaches out and touches his cloak. She is immediately healed. Jesus feels power leave his body and turns all around asking “Who touched my clothes?’ The often-obtuse disciples respond, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” The woman knows who he means and comes forward in fear, telling him what she has done. In response, Jesus says “Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

As always, that Biblical narrative (Mark 5:24-34) has much to ponder, but I was struck by how Jesus changed his plans twice in response to human need. First, he set aside whatever his intention had been for that day (rest, perhaps?) and went to help the ill daughter.  While on his way,  he stops to speak with and bless the woman who had received healing from him. Jesus’ plans and human need did not always match, any more than they do for us, but he always opted to help.

I failed to do that in a waiting room decades ago and wonder if there are times when you have found yourself doing something similar. If so, I’d point you again to the one described elsewhere in Scripture as “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” The one who always knew when to put the needs of others before his own schedule. May we grow in doing the same.

Responsive Lord, thank you for reminding us that there are times when the more important thing is to set aside our plan for the moment or day. Help us recognize such occasions, too, and act. Amen.