Interpretation:
I asked myself what we learn about the disciples?
The disciples wanted Jesus to let go of the situation because there were so many crowding against Jesus and it could have been anyone who touched him. They were leaning on to their own understanding.

Observations:
I asked myself what we learn about the women after her healing?

Interpretations:
I asked myself why Jesus asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
Jesus already knew who touched His clothes but I believe He asked this question for the benefit of the crowd. As the disciples said, there were so many crowding against Jesus, so anybody could have touched Jesus, but Jesus is not interested in the unintentional touching of his clothes when people brush by Him. Instead, Jesus is very interested in the one who intentionally touched His clothes.

More than the crowds, I believe it was mostly for the benefit of the woman Jesus asked this question to restore her fully in front of the crowd. The disease she had would have made her an outcast of those who knew her and they would not want to have anything to do with her. Even if she told those who knew of her condition that she was healed, they would not have believed her more than likely because she had spent all this money on doctors and was getting worse. Now all of a sudden, she is healed. They would have a hard time believing that especially since her healing was not done publicly but privately because of her own faith.  They would have still kept her away for a couple of days from them and Jesus wanted to address that. Also, Jesus is making a point that He who makes people clean has the final authority to declare someone clean or unclean.

Interpretations:
I asked myself why it is significant what the woman did?
The woman wanted her healing in a private way without asking Jesus for healing because of the stigma attached to her disease. Now after Jesus deliberately takes time to look for the one who intentionally touched Him, she comes to Him from the crowd, falls before Him at His feet, trembles before Jesus in fear, and tells Him the whole truth of what happened to her in front of all the onlookers showing us not only her gratitude to Jesus for what He had done for her but also revealing to Jesus and the crowd her own private faith in Jesus that she was afraid to make public. Now however that changed for her. It is also possible she came out of fear not knowing what will happen to her if she did not come forward.

Observations:
I asked myself what was the cause-effect relationship here?
Because the woman had done three things:

 The result is Jesus tells her three profound things:

I asked myself why it is significant that Jesus called her daughter and spoke three powerful things to her?
 I found it so significant because Jesus was letting her know that she belongs to Him. Jesus does not want her to be afraid. She has nothing to fear. Yes, she had a bad life and suffered for 12 years where earthly doctors could do no good for her and made it worse but now she has met the Great Physician who loves her so much that He adopts her as His own daughter giving her INDEPENDENCE from her disease and the life she had.

It is not for any good works she did, that Jesus calls her daughter. If anything what the woman did was against Jewish law to touch someone with the disease she had but Jesus looked beyond her actions and showed her His unconditional grace. Jesus healed her and restored her by His free gift of grace. It is His grace that brought her INDEPENDENCE.

Jesus also knew that she had faith in Him and it is that faith that healed and saved her. When she comes to Jesus, she is trembling with fear and Jesus calls her daughter, go in peace! Whoa, that is so amazing! Jesus does not want her to live in oppression or fear anymore. Those days are gone. That is so amazing and exciting! Praise the Lord! Jesus wanted her to be in peace and be freed from her suffering. Those days of oppression are gone. Jesus wanted her to find INDEPENDENCE DAY  in her. The more I learn about Jesus, the more I see His love for humanity and His love for me! My prayer is that I will love Jesus more and more not for what I can get out of Jesus but for who He is! I am so touched that Linnea and Annette are praying for me that I always experience the depth of God's love in my own life.

IMPLICATIONS:
I saw important implications for my own life which are two-fold: BONDAGE & INDEPENDENCE! No matter what bondage I am in and how many years I have been in bondage to something, it is not beyond the power of Jesus to release me and set me free to give me INDEPENDENCE from that bondage. I praise the Lord for that. Jesus is all about restoring people from their bondage and has done that for me too in different areas of my life. I praise the Lord for that. I can also know that I can always turn to Jesus for my freedom especially INDEPENDENCE from the bondage of slavery and death due to sin that pervades humanity. Jesus will be my freedom.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.C.E:
As America celebrates Independence Day from being in bondage to the British colonialists, I am so excited to be celebrating my own INDEPENDENCE on this day.  I had severe asthma until 12 years of age until I found Jesus or should I say, Jesus found me. Jesus did find me and restored me to physical health and spiritual health as he did for the woman who was cleansed of bleeding. I saw my life transform before my eyes, as Christ the Lord became part of my life giving me a new beginning. It was not just freedom from asthma but having FREEDOM IN CHRIST. Through the years, I have let things of the flesh get in the way to enjoy my FREEDOM IN CHRIST. This INDEPENDENCE has to do more with being delivered from the bondage of slavery to sin and death than anything else. I am so thankful that Jesus saved me by His grace to give me freedom in Him. That is so exciting to know. I still have shortcomings in my life but know freedom is beyond physical healing. The best INDEPENDENCE I can have is being freed from the oppression of Satan and resting in the Arms of Love of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When I rest in Him, I will find my true freedom in Christ.

I have found freedom in Christ because when I do things for Christ and His glory, I am so happy because I see the Lord using me to make a difference in people's lives. That encourages me more. I am honored and touched to be used by the Lord to share the freedom He offers with others and to see their lives turn around. The first sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I ever did was in 7th grade to help others find freedom in Christ. I wrote to my Reizenstein Middle School classmates, "Jesus loves you, Jesus loves me, if you want to know more about Jesus, watch WPCB channel 40" which was published in the Valentine's Day edition of a school magazine. You too can have INDEPENDENCE from bondage no matter what has happened to you or where you have been. Look at the woman's situation and others who Christ healed physically and spiritually and come to Him for He loves you more than words can ever express.

You and I are in the same boat as the woman was without Jesus' healing in our lives. When God looks at us without Christ's covering over us, God sees us as unclean no matter how many good things we think we do. Even if we did 99 good things and 1 bad thing, we are unclean in God's eyes.

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.  No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins. " (Isaiah 64:6-7, NIV)

Here filthy rags actually refers to the uncleanness of the cloth that has the blood after a woman's menstrual cycle. That is how God sees our good works apart from having Christ in our life. Imagine what the woman went through for 12 years without Jesus in her life. Now she finally became whole and healed because of Jesus' intervention after she sought Jesus. In the same way, when we seek after Jesus Christ, we will be made clean too. Our good works that we do won't be seen as unclean anymore because they will be sponsored and endorsed by the King of Kings and Lord of lords who helps us by the power of the Holy Spirit. That is so exciting for me that I had to share the testimony.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17, NIV)

Amen!

I ask you now dear friend, how can you find I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.C.E in life?
Dear friend, many try to look for INDEPENDENCE in so many places thinking if they were away from their parents they can be free, if they are divorced they can be free, if they did not have to obey God's Word they can be free, etc thinking their freedom is held in bondage but friend true freedom can only be found in Christ. We can truly be free only when we rest in Christ and allow Him to change and transform our lives as the woman did even though she had 12 years of bondage. I have been freed from so many things because of Jesus Christ in my life. The things the Lord Jesus has not freed me from yet that deal beyond spiritual healing, I know He has His reasons but I can rest in His grace for His grace is sufficient for me. In my weaknesses, He is made strong and I can get my strength from Him. You too can get your strength from Him.

No matter what profession you are in, you cannot find true INDEPENDENCE apart from Christ. My medical friends know even doctors need the touch of Jesus Christ and the power of Christ in their practice to bring freedom in Christ or INDEPENDENCE from bondage to others. I am so thankful to Jesus for Annette, Ryan, Cathy, Antonia, Steve, Jeremy, Luke, and Yohko who have allowed Christ's love to permeate their lives to make a difference in this world as medical students, residents, etc showing the love of Christ to the patients they come across as they are given opportunities. They do that because they know too that true freedom is only found in Christ and His Word. Only Christ alone can give us INDEPENDENCE from bondages whether spiritual, physical, emotional, relational, or mental.

Friend, God's Word is not their to restrict your freedom but is their to give you INDEPENDENCE from what holds you bondage because He who created you knows what you need and His Word has the answers to your life.

No matter what you are going through or where you have been, take this INDEPENDENCE DAY to find your freedom in Christ because He wants to free you. Yes, He does friend. Come as you are! Come to the fountain of blessing and ask the Lord Jesus to reign in your life. He desires to do that and wants to do that.  You are never out of His love and never out of His reach.

Lord Jesus loves you and will help you. We need to take His help daily for our growth for we all need to grow everyday in Christ for we will never reach that place where we can say, we are fully grown until 'He who began a good work in you will finish it to completion!' That is exciting to know friend.  May you rest in His Word knowing freedom comes from Christ.

Jesus went to the cross to help you find that freedom friend. May you find that freedom as you focus on the analogy of the Calvary Hospital of Salvation for you and me to have our INDEPENDENCE from the bondage of sin and death. Ralston, Ceclia, Heena, Kurnia (My brothers and sisters in the Lord), I hope you all enjoy this analogy the Lord helped me write in the past. I am not sure if you ever read it. If you do, please share it with your friends.

The deadly VIRUS has infected the mind, body, and soul spreading rapidly. You and I cannot do anything to heal ourselves of this virus except come to the HOSPITAL where the GREAT PHYSICIAN waits so He alone can heal us.

The sick are gathered from all corners of the earth and taken  to this hospital. This hospital is called CALVARY HOSPITAL OF SALVATION and the EMERGENCY WARD is called GOLGOTHA.

The GREAT PHYSICIAN is not like other doctors who can only treat patients with physical ailments but this GREAT PHYSICIAN is much more and knows He has to stay 72 HOURS for every dying person there to be healed who will come to the ER.

He knows what He has to do! This GREAT PHYSICIAN knew that only His PRECIOUS CLEANSING BLOOD can wipe away this epidemic VIRUS, so for you and me He went to the blood transfusion room where people were about to die. There He lay down on the bed made of WOOD. He who had no sin became sin for us desiring to save everyone who would come receive His PRECIOUS CLEANSING BLOOD.

The surgeons walk into the room. They turn this GREAT PHYSICIAN on His back. Instead of using an IV, a WHIP with sharp glass, etc is used to draw out the BLOOD from the GREAT PHYSICIAN'S back! It does not stop there but to elevate the head on the bed of wood, an unbreakable CROWN OF THORNS is used which draws more BLOOD.

As the head is elevated, the GREAT PHYSICIAN's hands are stretched wide on the wooden bed. Then the feet are bound together. This is done for the BLOOD transfusion to begin. Instead of using an IV, NAILS and a HAMMER are used. The NAILS are pounded through the hands into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so the BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. The NAILS are pounded through the feet into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so more BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. As the BLOOD continues to flow from the GREAT PHYSICIAN's body, the GREAT PHYSICIAN flat lines. Then the surgeons insert a SPEAR into the heart to make sure all the BLOOD is out. All the BLOOD is out!

Now this BLOOD was poured out into 'BLOOD DONOR' bags to be collected for anyone who wanted a transfusion to be healed of this deadly VIRUS known as SIN.

In essence, it is the BLOOD that was shed at Golgotha on the CROSS of wood that has the power to SAVE through Jesus Christ.

The BLOOD is available for all who would come to Him for NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD could become the antidote for humanity's deteriorating condition caused by the DEADLY VIRUS.

Now the CALVARY HOSPITAL OF SALVATION has a BLOOD DONOR whose BLOOD can be used to save everyone there from this PANDEMIC VIRUS.

Those dying need to be taken there to receive the BLOOD transfusion that is available. However, the BLOOD will not be forced upon those dying! THE PUREST RED ANTIDOTE is only given to those that are willing to receive the BLOOD TRANSFUSION so they could LIVE.

All that accept the BLOOD transfusion are being CLEANSED of this PANDEMIC VIRUS in their system that is infecting the mind, body, and soul. This BLOOD goes into the dying person's mind, body, and soul and eats away at the virus, cleaning them and making them pure.

This VIRUS is known as SIN. The BLOOD is the PRECIOUS CLEANSING BLOOD OF THE GREAT PHYSICIAN, JESUS CHRIST.

72 HOURS LATER, there is a commotion at the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE. THE GREAT PHYSICIAN is not there anymore and the ANGELS that visit tell loved ones who came there, that THE GREAT PHYSICIAN IS ALIVE.

Those at the CALVARY HOSPITAL OF SALVATION come to realize that His CLEANSING BLOOD will never run out. Anyone infected who wants to be healed can accept what JESUS did for them that one day on the CROSS of WOOD at CALVARY near the ward called GOLGOTHA and be covered in His precious CLEANSING BLOOD forever.

Friend, this happened 2000 years ago! It needed to happen only once! JESUS paid the price for you and me so that we could have the ANTIDOTE forever, for His cleansing BLOOD shed on the CROSS of WOOD will never deplete but will be available for all races of humanity forever until the JUDGMENT DAY.

We need to accept the ANTIDOTE through a TRANSFUSION before JUDGMENT DAY because after that the BLOOD won't be available anymore to SAVE.

Now is the TIME OF SALVATION while you are alive! Don't let the BLOOD JESUS SHED be in vain. JESUS became the DONOR for you so accept the TRANSFUSION free of charge. It is given as a GIFT OF GRACE!

You can forever be SAVED and allow JESUS to TRANSFORM you. JESUS did not remain in the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE forever but after 72 HOURS came back to LIFE to SAVE.  So let us accept what Jesus did for us and be SAVED! There is a reason it is called CALVARY HOSPITAL OF SALVATION!

Jesus did it so we can have a relationship with Him and find our freedom in Christ so we can have INDEPENDENCE from the bondage of sin and death. This is exciting to know.

"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:28, NIV)

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood." (Romans 3:23-25a, NIV)

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" (Romans 5:8-10, NIV)

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." (Ephesians 1:7-8, NIV)

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:13, NIV)

"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:19-20, NIV)

"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." (Hebrews 9:14-15, NIV)

"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:20-21, NIV)

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."(Luke 4:18, NIV) (My friends Daniel and Amy used this verse at their wedding which is one of my favorite verses too!)

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, NIV)

"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." (Ephesians 3:12, NIV)

May you all hold on to Jesus knowing INDEPENDENCE is Immanuels's Nurture Delivering Everyday People Experiencing Now Deadly Evil, Nullifying Captivity Everywhere!

"I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.C.E is Immanuels's Nurture Delivering Everyday People Experiencing Now Deadly Evil, Nullifying Captivity Everywhere!"/"How can you find I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.C.E in life?"

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you know the things I am overwhelmed with and you find time for me to help me. Thank you so much Jesus! You know how much I am governed my feelings and they dictate my life most of the time. Thank you that you will help me. And thank you Lord when the crowd was brushing against you as you were going to Jairus house to heal his little daughter who was dying, you noticed healing power going through you because someone touched you intentionally for healing. Thank you for healing the woman and calling her daughter and giving her a sense of belonging after 12 years of suffering. You freed her from her suffering when she came to you. She touched you and you healed her. Thank you Jesus! You know Oh Lord where we are suffering. Some are suffering because of a broken relationship in their life that only you can mend, others are suffering because of a loss of a loved one to whom only your comfort can get them through, others are suffering because of a lost job, career, World Cup game loss, etc. Some can seem trivial to others but you care for us in all our suffering. Thank you for that Jesus. You freed the woman and you want to free us. Most of all Oh Lord, all are suffering and being held captive to sin. We need your deliverance so we can have an INDEPENDENCE DAY from sin that captivates. We know you Oh Lord you can give us freedom, freedom from sin and make us win. You are all we need so help us to remember that when we are suffering in pain and silence for you know us inside out. Thank you for loving us so much that you will not keep us from your wonderful blessings as we wait upon you. Sometimes it is so hard to wait Lord when we want to have answers immediately, situations solved immediately, etc but we know our timing is not your timing nor or your ways our ways we like to see things done. So, please forgive us and help us to wait on you in faith so you will bring answers on the perfect date for you are never late. Thank you so much Jesus since you are directing our steps we need not try to understand everything that happens along the way. I love you Jesus and rest in you and wait upon you in my life to have peace from things that give me strife. I know you are my Prince of Peace and have called me to be your very own. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me. Help me to have a deeper relationship with you this INDPENDENCE DAY as I remember you giving me INDEPENDENCE. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!

May the Lord Jesus guide you in His love leading you! Amen!