When grimy hands touch a bar of soap, why do we assume the hands become clean, instead of saying the soap is now dirty? Silly question I know. Technically I guess the soap does take on some of the dirt, but we still use the same bar the next time we want to be clean. Consider this passage about uncleanness touching the pure one.
Mat 9:20-22 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, (21) for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well." (22) Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well.
This account is found as Jesus is on his way to raise the dead daughter of a ruler who has come to ask Jesus for help. Jesus is on his way to accomplish a great spiritual miracle. This woman was suffering. Not only did she suffer from this physical condition, but this condition must have had an isolating effect on her life. She was perpetually ceremonial unclean. She could not go to the temple. She couldn't be touched by those going to the temple. She must have been avoided in large part, and for twelve years. Then an amazing thing happens. She considers Jesus. She thinks she can be healed if only she can touch the fringe of his garment. Wait, this could be disastrous. A Jewish man like Jesus gave great significance to the fringe of his garment. God had commanded in the law:
Num 15:37-40 The LORD said to Moses, (38) "Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. (39) And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. (40) So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.
The fringe of Jesus garment would have had these tassels which were a reminder to obey the righteous requirements of the law. They represented a setting apart, a holiness before God. Some of the Pharisees would extend the length of these things out of pride and self exaltation. "They were really holy!" So this unclean woman thought she could be made clean and whole if she could be connected, even slightly, to the righteousness of Jesus. And she was right!
It is an amazing thing when uncleanness touches Jesus. Any other person she touched would have been left ceremonial unclean and need to begin the regimen of washing. Not Jesus. Her uncleanness touched Jesus righteousness and she was cleansed. Her bleeding stopped. This is an obvious picture of sin. We all carry an isolating uncleanness that keeps us from approaching God. The way to be brought close is to be made righteous, clean and whole by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Let us reach out to Him today.
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