[269]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT

This is a short poem resulting from thinking about just what a small touch did. I can imagine this woman being hesitant and withdrawing in shyness, hoping she’d be cured but nor causing trouble. However the Lord knew all things. God knows what is in the heart of man. {{1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV) “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”}} {{Matthew 9:4 (ESV) “But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?”}}

This story has nothing to do with healing from relics or charms or Lourdes or anything like that. This is all about faith, knowing that the Lord can meet your need. It also teaches that healing is in quietness, not in great showmanship meetings or fakery.

The poem might be simple but it covers the deep matter of faith and the Lord’s compassion. Here is the Gospel account of that event.

{{Matthew 9:19-22 Jesus rose and began to follow him and so did His disciples, and behold, a woman who had been suffering from a haemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and TOUCHED THE FRINGE OF HIS CLOAK for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment I shall get well,” but Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage, YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL,” and at once the woman was made well.”}}

The older versions use “hem” but the modern ones favour “fringe”.

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THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT

The hem of His garment; she touched just the hem -

The crowds all around, but she noticed not them;

But trembling, reached out, just a finger or two

For healing she knew would be perfect and true.

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The hem of His garment;

A faith that was real -

To Christ Jesus she went.

She knew He could heal.

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Twelve years she had suffered

With bleeding and pain.

Now faith would be answered

And wholeness she’d gain.

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The hem of His garment; faith’s lesson discern:

In pain or distress, it’s to God that we turn.

A finger outstretched from a hand’s faithful touch,

Is sufficient with God, achieving so much.

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8 October 2000 Ronald E Ferguson 11-11-11-11 and 6-5-6-5