March 8, 2008
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Luke 8:47-48
Thought of the Day
I am re-reading a good book that I have. It is written by Rob Bell and the name of it is Velvet Elvis. I like this book. Bell does a good job to me outlining and explaining what it means to live a life of faith. He explains what it means to be a child of God.
In chapter four he talks about restoration. One of the scriptures that he lifts up is the well known healing story about the woman in the crowd who reached out and touched Jesus’ robe. (Luke 8:40-48) Bell shares that he feels that the healing in the story is not the main point that Jesus was making. It was what He said to her as they parted ways. Jesus said, “Go in peace.”
This is how Rob Bell explains it. The word that Jesus would have used for peace in the Hebrew word shalom. Translating shalom simply as peace does not do it. The Hebrew understanding of shalom is the presence of the goodness of God. It’s the presence of wholeness, completeness. When Jesus tells the woman to go in peace, He places the blessing of God on all of her, on her entire being. For Jesus, being saved or restored to God involves all of you.
When Jesus says it to the lady in the crowd, He is also saying it to us. He bestows God’s blessings on all of us. He restores us. He saves us. Never ever forget that. Shalom.
Prayer
Lord, Thank you for Your healing and Your love. Amen.