Interludes

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

Luke 8:42-44

 Interlude: “A short period of time when a situation or activity is different from what comes before and after it.” —Cambridge Dictionary online

While an interlude is most often associated with music, I find the crescendo of joy in biblical interludes notable. Jairus, a VIP in the local synagogue, has come and pled with Jesus to save his only daughter who is dying (8:41-42). And Jesus is on his way to do just that. The crowds are crushing in on His progress. In their midst is this one woman who has been bleeding for 12 years. Not a single woman I know would be happy with a 12-year period, not to mention being shunned by society (Leviticus 15:19-28). “If only I can get close enough to touch Him,” she must have said to herself.  

And immediately her bleeding stopped! Imagine her joy—just a touch of His cloak and the bleeding stopped!  And Jesus stopped: “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me” (8:46). Jesus had time and love for this social outcast. In the press of the crowd He sensed the touch of faith. And He wanted not only the woman, but everyone who heard the story to know it was her faith that made her whole—both physically and spiritually (8:48).

In the big picture it seems to me we are in the greatest interlude of all, from Eden to Eternity. God’s intent was not that we’d so quickly be tossed out of paradise to spend our days in disarray. But we chose to sin, so we are in limbo as have been God’s people from Adam down through Abraham to Moses to Daniel till Jesus. Ah, but this one will end in the perfect peace of eternity future.

Jesus has time for each one if us. Interludes are important to Him. Reach out and touch Him to draw on His peace. Pull your friends into your interludes to catch a glimpse of the glory of heaven.

Nancy P

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV Translation 1973, 1978, 1984, unless otherwise noted.