Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

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Healing in His Wings

March 16, 2023 by Ellen 3 Comments

Dust hung in the air as He walked with purposeful strides, talit flapping like eagles wings. 

She saw Him coming. She had spent everything on doctors and medical care. Still, there was no healing for her body. She was condemned as unclean. No one wanted to be near her. Everyone was fearful they might accidentally touch her. This was no way to live, was it? But what more could she do? She was out of money. She had nothing. But she had heard about Him (Mark 5:27).

 And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Luke 8:43-44 NASB

Why, oh why did she reach for the hem, or fringe of His cloak? If she wanted Jesus’ divine healing, why didn’t she touch His hand, His arm or even His foot?

“The Encounter” mural in Encounter Chapel, Duc in Altum, Magdala, Israel. Photography: John Chauvin

Could it have been shame? Jewish law declared her ceremonially unclean due to her bleeding issue (Leviticus 15:25-27). She wasn’t permitted to enter the temple for Jewish religious ceremonies. Anything or anyone she touched became unclean, including Jesus. Oh, how she must have wanted to hide somewhere, anywhere, instead of grasping for hope from His hem. 

It was certainly desperation. After twelve years of suffering, and spending all her money, she longed for a miracle. Jesus was her only hope. She knew things about Him that gave her hope. What was it that she knew? 

By diving into scripture, and studying the original language, we see that the woman didn’t simply touch Jesus’ hem. She touched the braids or tassels attached to His garment, His talit, or prayer shawl.

The word fringe in the original Greek is kraspedon, meaning border or fringe.⁠1 The Old Testament equivalent of this word is kanap⁠2 , meaning the hem, edge or wing. 

The fringe or tassels of the shawl were constant reminders to walk according to God’s laws and His Word.

“Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.” Numbers 15:38 NASB

“You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of your garment with which you cover yourself.” Deuteronomy 22:12 NASB

The tallit was also associated with a person’s authority. Thus, the woman knew that Jesus walked according to God’s laws, and He was a man of authority. She had heard of Him and how He healed those who simply touched His clothes⁠3. 

Perhaps she also knew God’s Word and what it said about a coming Messiah.

“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings;” Malachi 4:2 NASB

Many commentators believe that the Sun of Righteousness refers to Christ. But the most amazing part of Malachi 4:2 is the word “wings.” The original Hebrew word is kanap, the same word that means “fringe” in Luke 8:44. The woman very likely knew there was healing in His “wings” or the fringe of His garment. And so she stretched her arms in faith and reached for the small bit of fabric. When she did, she touched Jesus, and He healed her.

It’s beautiful how the Old Testament and New Testament intersect, complementing each other and telling a beautiful story of healing and redemption. The Old Testament speaks to a Messiah coming to save His people. The New Testament introduces us to this Savior. When we dig into scripture, we see many connections – all pointing to Jesus.

God’s word is timeless and will always be relevant in our lives. Because haven’t we all walked in this woman’s shoes? Desperate, destitute and desiring healing? We need a healing, hope filled touch from Jesus. We come to the end of ourselves and do the only thing we know will help. In faith, we grab the hem of His garment and cling to Jesus and His Word.

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1 2899.  κράσπεδον kraspĕdŏn, kras´-ped-on; of uncert. der.; a margin, i.e. (spec.) a fringe or tassel:—border, hem.

 James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 43.

2 3671 kânâph, kaw-nawf´; from 3670; an edge or extremity; spec. (of a bird or army) a wing

 James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 55.

3 and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.

 New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 14:36.

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Silent Night: A Christmas Story of Peace

December 13, 2022 by Ellen Leave a Comment

December 14, 2020

Silent night, holy night. I’m not sure I’ll ever hear this beautiful Christmas carol without thinking about this day two years ago.

The sweet instrumental notes of Silent Night drifted from Pandora. I found myself humming along with the song. Then, these words caught my attention: Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace. 

Oh, how my heart ached. All day long I had been in an attitude of prayer for my critically ill sister, hospitalized in another state. Not long after the song ended, I got the news that she was indeed sleeping in heavenly peace, in the arms of her Savior Jesus.

Bittersweet? Maybe. Tears, for sure. Sad tears, joyful tears. Because I knew without a doubt that she was healed and whole. And safely home. 

The choice I had to make was this: Would I weep and moan and become angry that God didn’t heal her this side of heaven? Or would I let the heavenly peace, the sweet peace of Jesus, rule in my heart (Colossians 3:15)? Would I quiet my heart and recognize that all is calm and bright? 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 NIV

Before He went to the cross, Jesus gave His followers a gift: His peace. We have this peace available to us today. This gift of shalom (Hebrew) has a much richer meaning than our English word “peace.” Besides an absence of turmoil and conflict, it also conveys a meaning of health, welfare. The heavenly peace offered by Jesus is knowing that God is sovereign and in control. He has our best interests, our welfare, at heart. 

I’ve come to realize that in all areas of our lives, we need to embrace God’s heavenly peace. Whether it’s upcoming travel around the world, a job situation, a personal heath crisis or family issues, scripture tells us not to be anxious (Philippians 4:6). 

That day two years ago, I chose God’s gift of heavenly peace. I know it’s a good gift, because I know God. HE knows what’s best for us, and what was best for my sister. 

Today, I still choose to rejoice, knowing my sister is standing in love’s pure light. I choose to sing “Hallelujah, Christ the Savior is born” and He died to give us life. A life that extends far beyond this earth. Eternal life. Because of Jesus. 

And when my sister and I reunite in eternity, we will rejoice and sing together these beautiful words:

Silent night, Holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin, mother and child

Holy infant, tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace

Does Christmas bring you joy or sadness? If your Joy to the World is more of a Bah, Humbug!, how can you see your circumstances through an eternal perspective? What one thing can you do to seek the things above (Colossians 3:1) and store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20)?

Blessings,

 

 

 

Looking for an Advent Devotional? Click here for Abiding Joy.

Do you know Jesus?

 

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