"...If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." You probably recognize these words from the story of the woman in Mark chapter five, who had had a bleeding disorder for twelve years. She had spent all she had on doctors, and only grew worse. She came to Jesus, expectantly. She believed He could heal her, under one condition. She had to get close enough to him to touch him. This may not have been an easy task, considering these words from the text: "A large crowd followed and pressed around him."
This morning while I was down on the floor praying, I longed to feel the presence of the Lord. I reached my hand out and said something like, "Oh Lord, If I could just touch your clothes." Immediately this verse came to mind: "...God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms..." Ephesians 2:6 It's as though the Lord was reminding me that I don't have to fight through a crowd to get near Jesus. I don't have to hope to get a chance to touch him. Through God's marvelous grace, I am presently seated with Jesus. I have access to his presence all of the time. The ultimate healing he is working in me is of the eternal kind.
The Bible tells of a time some men brought a paralyzed man to Jesus on a mat. Jesus said, "Take heart, son, your sins are forgiven." Matthew 9:2. Jesus gave the man the best gift possible. He was operating from an eternal perspective. Some people who overheard, didn't think Jesus had the power to forgive sins. Jesus said, "...I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." Then he healed the man physically too. Jesus' main concern was the man's spiritual growth and development. Being seated with Jesus in the heavenly realms, I continually have access to his transforming power in my life. I have the wonderful privilege, like John at the last supper, of reaching over and leaning on him.
In Matthew 8:8, a centurion comes to Jesus and asks him to heal his servant. He tells Jesus he is not worthy for him to come to his house, then he asks him to "just say the word" so his servant would be healed. Again, our greatest need is spiritual wholeness. We don't have to wait on Jesus to say the word for us to be made whole. Colossians 2:10 tells us..."in Him you have been made complete."
In case it's not clear, my point is this: I spend a lot of time asking God for things he has already given me. What would my life look like if I really became aware that I am seated with Christ, in a place of authority over my temporary problems, and that I am absolutely, totally complete through identification with him? It might actually free me from self-absorption, and free me to obey Philippians 2:4... "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
