Do you remember how your parents could get you to behave with just one look? It might have been a look of disappointment, or the “you’re going to regret this later” look. It is amazing how a look can carry so much power.
During the courtship process looks are important. If the guy looks like he is more interested in the ball game on the TV above her head in the restaurant than in what she is saying, look out. If the woman is pouty, or the guy angry over the smallest things, warning bells should be going off. Those looks are important signals about our inner world.
I wonder what look Jesus had as He was scanning the crowd that day. His disciples think that He is being overly sensitive about being touched. They want Him to take a chill-pill. But Jesus keeps looking.
I don’t have any selfies from that moment in time, but I can be Jesus was looking with compassion and acceptance. He was trying to find the woman who needed restoration to community. I imagine she has her head hung down, avoiding gazes. She would have done that for years. She didn’t want to bring any unwanted attention her direction.
I imagine she glances back in Jesus direction after she is healed and is working her way back out of the crowd. Jesus is looking, looking for that one person. Perhaps whispers in the crowd start to circulate. Jesus wants to know who touched Him. She can’t escape. She must turn and confront what she has done.
I think His face was filled with compassion and acceptance. I think she saw His face and came back in hopes she would be accepted.
What face do you imagine Jesus has toward you? When you are caught living in grace, how do you picture Jesus’ face? Is He approving of your trust and reliance on Him? Or does He look with a disapproving, disappointed face in your direction? We learn to expect certain reactions from other people growing up.
Some people learned the lesson that I am not accepted if I ever make a mistake. Some learn that others can’t be trusted to be there when you really need them, so you learn not to expect any support.
Others learn to never show weakness because others will see the weakness and take advantage of it. In the process they learn that they don’t deserve love and care. They deserve to have bad things happen to them.
We don’t know much about this woman, but something happened that day that changed her life. Are you willing to let the LORD reshape your image of yourself and your image of others?
The Arnold Journey 