Episode 016 – Seizing Tassels

Key Passage(s): Luke 8:40-48

In Luke 8, a woman grabs the corner of Jesus’ garment and is instantly healed. It’s a bizarre story, until you understand the stunning connections she’s making, and why she does what she does. But even more stunning is Jesus’ tender response, and the implications of his invitation for us to come to him for help and healing despite our uncleanness, hesitations, fears, and messes.

Discussion Questions

  • What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
  • How are you learning to read the Bible differently based on stories like these?
  • What struck you most about Jesus’ actions and responses in this story?
  • Where do you identify with this woman in your life (pain, fear, ostracized, courage, hope, healing)?
  • Where do you need to “seize the tassels of Jesus?”
  • What’s one step you can take in living out this truth this week?

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20 Comments

  1. Rick May 22, 2018 at 6:35 am - Reply

    Luke 8, to Numbers 15, to Malachi 4…what a journey and wonderful teaching! Thanks, Brad…very thoughtful and appreciated.

    • Brad Gray May 24, 2018 at 2:03 pm - Reply

      You are most welcome, Rick. It’s a fun journey!

  2. ERob May 22, 2018 at 7:51 am - Reply

    Thanks, Brad, so poignant and relevant!
    ERob

  3. Cliff May 22, 2018 at 7:57 am - Reply

    Thanks for bringing some insight to this passage. Too many times the woman is an inconvenience to the Jarius story…like a detour to something amazing. The focus in on the corner of the clothing is so incredible. It takes this woman’s “shot in the dark” effort look so much more intentional in every way. I need to keep being more and more intentional in how I connect with Jesus. Thanks, Brad!

  4. Yves Peloquin May 22, 2018 at 8:15 am - Reply

    She didn’t have to know Malachi 4:2. This kind of knowledge was reserved to the elite (male) who were able to read and had access to the rare manuscripts available. It is quite possible that knowing how impure she was (because of the bleeding) she didn’t dare make a verbal contact or directly touch Yeshua. Nevertheless this is a fascinating connection that you highlighted for us.

    Another thing to learn from this story. In one case we have Jairus (an important man from the synagogue) who came to Yeshua, fell at His feet and plead for his help. On the other case, an outcast woman silently touched the edge of His garment, expecting to go unnoticed. In both cases the Lord, unaffected by the difference of their rank in the society, was moved by the sincerity of each one and treated them as equal. So I retain that there is hope for everybody of us, God looks at the hearth and ignores the appearance, rank or wealth.

    Week after week you keep surprising us with your teaching.

    You are greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time

    Yves P.

    • Brad Gray May 24, 2018 at 2:07 pm - Reply

      Appreciate your kind comments, Yves, and agree with your connection between her and Jairus (status, etc.). I will mention, though, that this kind of knowledge was available to all, and not just to the elite. The synagogue welcomed all the Jewish people, and Malachi 4:2 was a prominent passage in the minds of the people. This woman, prior to her 12 years of bleeding, would have no doubt heard this passage in the synagogue, and within her larger community as well.

      Again, really appreciate your comments!

  5. Faith May 22, 2018 at 8:33 am - Reply

    Brad, curious about the clean/unclean element of this story. Would people be unclean if they unknowingly came in contact with someone unclean? Or were you unclean only if you knowingly contacted someone/something unclean? Also, was Jesus’ garment considered an extension of him,rendering him unclean? Fascinating teaching, Brad.

    • Brad Gray May 24, 2018 at 2:10 pm - Reply

      Hi Faith, you were only unclean is you were aware that someone unclean touched you. Because the issue of “clean and unclean” was so huge, people who were unclean had to stay away from the clean, or in the case of lepers (obviously unclean), they had to yell “unclean” when they were in the presence of the clean.

      Yes, Jesus’ garment was an extension of him, but the fascinating feature in the gospels is that Jesus is never made unclean by the unclean. His cleanliness makes the unclean clean, and not the other way around.

  6. William Black May 22, 2018 at 11:39 am - Reply

    What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
    How much we do not see going on.
    How are you learning to read the Bible differently based on stories like these?
    Always in context and Jewish understanding.
    What struck you most about Jesus’ actions and responses in this story?
    No mention of now u made me unclean.
    Apparently no one else received any Shalom without faith and action. She is the only one talked about here.
    “Power ? has gone out of Me” -this the only place this is stated this way?

    Where do you identify with this woman in your life (pain, fear, ostracized, courage, hope, healing)?
    Wife’s healing arthritis
    Where do you need to “seize the tassels of Jesus?”
    See no Christians wearing the commanded “law” items so nothing to actually touch so how does one receive the same healing today if needed and since Jesus is seated on the Fathers right hand??
    Since Jesus is TORAH, Emmanuel with us, in flesh, then where does the TORAH w the 613 commands minus blood ordinances come into play as TORAH was here?
    What’s one step you can take in living out this truth this week
    Re look at what TORAH, accessible via Jesus now instead of animals, still has to offer as it is called by YEHOVAH as everlasting?

    • Brad Gray May 24, 2018 at 2:11 pm - Reply

      Fun to see how you’re engaging the questions, Bill.

  7. JasonD May 22, 2018 at 12:29 pm - Reply

    Thank you Brad, that was pretty powerful. That passage has always been one of my favorites because I have always felt it demonstrated the power of believing even when we are at our lowest of lows. This woman only needed to touch the very edge of his garment and was healed because she believed in Jesus.
    You brought a perspective to this story I never could have thought of on my own…the tassels…Malachi 4:2….Wow!

    • Brad Gray May 24, 2018 at 2:12 pm - Reply

      Grateful you found the teaching so helpful, Jason.

  8. Lori Briesemeister May 24, 2018 at 7:21 am - Reply

    Every time I listen to an episode you share it moves me closer to Jesus & the awesome depth of God’s love for his children. Jesus came to not only save us but to show us just how powerful the grace & mercy of God is! How we walk through life reflecting this love to others is such an honor & joyful privelege. To know & experience that love is life altering! Thank you Abba Father for bringing Brad’s gifts forward for us. Amen

    • Brad Gray May 24, 2018 at 4:49 pm - Reply

      I deeply appreciate that, Lori. It is an honor indeed to join God in what He’s doing.

  9. Peter Dawes August 3, 2018 at 11:56 am - Reply

    It’s interesting to note that Jesus doesn’t say ” I have been made unclean, who touched me?”

    • Brad Gray August 3, 2018 at 5:28 pm - Reply

      Exactly. What should’ve made him unclean didn’t. That’s the beauty of the story. The unclean made the clean unclean. In this story, the unclean become clean by the clean.

  10. Christine Westy November 23, 2019 at 7:28 am - Reply

    Thank you Brad for all of your teachings. I first saw you teach at a Wednesday night at Orchardgrove. Sending you and your family prayers and hugs.

    • Brad Gray January 16, 2020 at 3:44 pm - Reply

      Wow, that’s a blast from nearly 15 years ago 🙂

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