June 2nd, 2018

Boldness in Healing

“Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians.  She spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, ‘If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.’  Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.  And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched My clothes?’  But His disciples said to Him, ‘You see the multitudes thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’  And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.  But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.  And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well.  Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”  Mark 5:25-34

Mark’s account of the woman with the issue of blood provides us with the most information.  Let’s focus first with the woman.  She is:

•        Nameless;
• Suffered a physical illness for 12 years;
• Suffered from many physicians;
• She was poor, as she had spent all her money in pursuit of a healing;
• Her illness was worsening;
• She was considered unclean and impure for those 12 years {according to Leviticus 19:25}; and,
• She was an outcast of society for 12 years, for anyone who touched her would become unclean and impure.

She has tried everything she could that was man-made, to no avail.  She was at the end of herself.  And then she heard about Jesus, followed Jesus, and touched Jesus.  She reached for the hem of His garment, the fringes, and she was healed!  This was the boldest of moves, as whomever she touched would be considered impure!  Yet she persisted, out of her faith.  It was not the tassels themselves that contained the power – it was Jesus. The Word who became flesh had the power to heal. 

This nameless, voiceless, seemingly powerless woman had faith and exercised it.  She knew the fringes were symbolic of authority, of royalty, righteousness and purity.  The woman was constantly reminded of her affliction, recalled the commandments of God, and looked to a source of her potential healing.  Perhaps she reasoned that if she touched that hem, the fringes, it would be the good deed that would connect her to God – although she might not have known God in the flesh stood before her!  She could have been thinking that by reaching out for the hem of the kingly garment, she was reaching out for the King Himself. 

She may have called to mind the Scripture from Malachi 4:2 – “But to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings;…” and been reminded that the corners of the garment were considered as wings.  By touching the garment, the woman was demonstrating her faith that Jesus was the Sun of Righteousness who had healing in His wings!  She believed!  She expressed her belief!  She was healed!