Jesus is on his way to heal the daughter of Jarius when something unexpected occurs. A women who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, secretly touches Jesus’ cloak and she receives physical healing. Jesus seems to be aware of the secret miracle. Jesus stops walking and begins to ask, “Who touched me”. This is an odd question as there are crowds pushing around him on all sides. Still, Jesus asks, “Who touched me?” 

Why is it so important that Jesus interrupt his journey to Jarius’ house? Why must the ‘secret miracle’ be made known before everyone? Because Jesus is keenly aware the healing is not yet complete for this unnamed woman. 

Who is this woman? She was a social outcast due to her illness causing her to become unclean. (Lev 15:25-30) For twelve years she languished in isolation as one who was alone and poor. Jesus knows she has suffered more than just physically, and so he calls the women out not to rebuke her, but to continue her healing. Jesus refers to this otherwise anonymous outcast as “daughter” before the crowd. By doing so, Jesus ensures that she knows that he has restored her to the community, and also that the community recognizes that Jesus has restored her to it.

In the same way, Jesus desires to holistically heal us in his work of salvation. This includes the dysfunctions we can experience in our relationships. Jesus wants to restore us to community! This involves the work of Jesus calling us to bravely step out from our isolation into being fully known and fully loved.

 As we consider the journey from loneliness to belonging, what might it mean to ‘step out’? What barriers might be causing us to shrink back?  How can we rewire our relational circuits? How can we take that step towards what Jesus has for us?