El-roi – the God who sees me. If Jesus expresses the very character of God, does he also see me? See individuals? As I pondered on this question, my mind was filled with instances where Jesus did see individuals. Sometimes he initiated contact, sometimes the individual reached out to Jesus. But without exception, Jesus saw them!

As Jesus went with him (Jairus, a synagogue leader), he was surrounded by the crowds. A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Luke 8:42b-48

At times, I desperately need to be seen but I am afraid. Afraid of what people will say if I am bold, if I reach out to Jesus. But I need to be seen, to be touched, to be acknowledged.

Jesus not only knew that someone touched him, but touched him with need. The woman in the scripture cited above needed something desperately. She maneuvered into place and figured she would just touch him and slip away. She was so filled with faith, though, that her touch released something inside him. He knew. He wasn’t going to let it go unnoticed. He acknowledged her.

It might even be fair to ask if her healing was sealed when Jesus acknowledged her faith. I don’t know, but I believe being seen was important for the woman.

How about you? Hoping you can sneak in and touch Jesus’ garment without drawing attention to your need? Afraid to come forward and be noticed? This woman had everything to lose, and yet she didn’t. She gained both physical healing and emotional wellness. She was a new person inside and out.

Jesus is El-roi – the God who sees me! And he sees you, too!