Just A Touch

Janice M Mathis
May 4, 2020
2 min read

Updated: Oct 11, 2020

Today while praying and reading my devotion, God put on my heart Matt 9:22.

Jesus turned and saw her “Take heart, daughter” he said, “ your faith has healed you” and the women was healed from that moment.

I was reminded of a picture I have from my trip to Israel in October 2015. (read my blog post Pray Continually from my visit to the Western Wall). Today this picture is from the Encounter Chapel in the Duc in Altum center in Magdala. This picture tells the story of a women who had been ill for a long time. She moved through the crowds to get closer to the Lord and touch the hem of his cloak.

As the scripture says Jesus turned and saw her. Take heart, daughter your faith has healed you” and the women was healed from that moment. As I continue to reflect on this painting and the encounter this woman had with Jesus, I realize this scripture reveals so much of God to us.

Jesus turned and saw her, our El Roi, our God who sees us.

He healed her, our Jehovah Rapha, our God who heals.

Jesus said to her your faith has healed you. God knows all about us. He knows our hearts, thoughts, and desires. He knew her faith! As Psalm 139:2 reminds us, you know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from a far.

He called her “daughter.” Abba God, our loving God the Father.

Today many of us face challenges and so much more living in the middle of a pandemic, but I want to encourage you. Our Loving God, the Father, Sees us; He Knows Us; He Heals us.

The woman in the bible pushed her way through the crowds, she wanted to get closer to Jesus. She had faith and she encountered Jesus.

I pray that your faith will be strengthened and that you have encountered our loving God the Father.

Here are a few more pictures from my visit to Magdala. It is a Holy Site on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and thought to be the birthplace of Mary Magdalene. The Duc in Altum is a spiritual center overlooking the Sea.

In the Encounter Chapel, where the picture of the woman touching Jesus’ cloak hangs, the floors are the stones from a recent excavation of the ancient port city, Magdala, where many fishermen brought the catches to market.

How cool that I stood on the same stones where Jesus once walked!

The Sanctuary or Boat Chapel overlooks the Sea of Galilee and the Alter is a boat. And the name Duc in Altum, means, Put Out in the Deep. I hope you enjoy the pictures and I look forward to sharing again with you soon. xoxo!