"Pressing In" 30 inch X 40 inch Giclee print on canvas

Pressing In a better understanding by Bill Marks

Most people don’t know it but the translation that we hear quoted when the woman with the issue of blood was healed would be much more meaningful with a more historical and biblical prospective.
Matthew 9:20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment;
21For she kept saying to herself, If I only touch His garment, I shall be restored to health.
In the first century AD (when Jesus was alive) most Jewish men, like Jesus wore as their outer garment what was known to them as a talit or prayer shawl and it had a fringe on it that is described in Numbers 15:38 Speak to the Israelites and bid them make fringes or tassels on the corners in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and put upon the fringe of the borders or upon the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. 39 And it shall be to you a fringe or tassel that you may look upon and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, that you may not spy out and follow after [the desires of] your own heart and your own eyes, after which you used to follow and play the harlot [spiritually, if not physically], 40 That you may remember and do all My commandments and be holy to your God. To a Jewish follower of the Law of Moses it was a reminder of the Law and the benefits that were available to them. It represented the Word of God. So this Jewish woman who had been sick and was almost out of hope only had her belief in the Law and its benefits. She knew that according to the common tradition of her day a woman in her condition out in public could be stoned to death by the religious system that had developed around the Law, or by faith she could “look on and touch” that blue cord or fringe (tsitsit) which represented the benefits of the Law (the Word of God) and the Word would make her whole.
Now look at John 1:1-14 IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. 2 He was present originally with God. 3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. 4 In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men………………..14And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth. As this scripture describes the Word of God as being with God from the beginning and then came to Earth as Jesus Christ. Jesus was the Word of God that created the Earth and all that was in it from the beginning.
So this Jewish woman saw the Old Testament “Word” being worn by the New Testament “Word” and reached out in faith and was healed. I think that is so neat! But wait! If you look over to the end of Mathew 14 the story continues in verse 35 and 36 you find out the rest of the story. Matthew 14: 35-36 And when the men of that place recognized Him (Jesus), they sent around into all the surrounding country and brought to Him (Jesus) all who were sick 36 And begged Him (Jesus) to let them merely touch the fringe of His garment; and as many as touched it were perfectly restored. Seldom do we see this reference to the others who were healed by touching the tsitsit of His talit.