A Woman’s Faith

Mark 5:24-34 KJV

“[24] And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. [25] And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, [26] And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, [27] When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. [28] For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. [29] And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. [30] And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? [31] And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? [32] And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. [33] But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. [34] And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”

Isolated and Hurting:

Mark 5:24-25 KJV

“And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. [25] And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, [26] And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse”

This woman is hurting mentally and physically.  She not only his hurting but she is physically separated from society due to the illness, the issue of blood.  This issue of blood which she was suffering from was most likely a chronic, 12-year hemorrhage.  She likely suffering from a severe menorrhagia (prolonged menstruation) or a similar gynecological disorder.  Menstruation was a condition according to the law that made a woman spiritually unclean and required that woman to separate herself from society.  So for 12 long years of anguish she has endured, suffered and felt the pressure from her peers of being different. 

The Levitical law spells out when a woman must separate herself due to their menstruation.  The book of Leviticus 15:25-28 KJV described the requirements for a woman in this status.

“[25] And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean. [26] Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation. [27] And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. [28] But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.”

So by being spiritually unclean this woman couldn’t be involved in any spiritually activities which God’s people were entitled.  Uncleanness placed a person was in a state that made them unfit to enter the Tabernacle/Temple, offer sacrifices, or participate in communal worship.  In order to be rejoined to the spiritual community she would have to stop bleeding and then wait seven days and on the eighth day offer a sin offering and a burnt offering.  Leviticus 15:29-30 KJV indicates this,

“[29] And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. [30] And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.”

Note: The rules of uncleanness were designed to protect the holiness of God’s sanctuary, ensuring that only what was “clean” approached Him.

Once again, this woman was hurting and she was isolated from her spiritual community due to her state of uncleanness.  This lasted for 12 long years.  Furthermore she did everything in her earthly power to resolve her condition she went to many different doctors and the Bible tells us that she spent all the money she had to seek a resolution to her medical condition but not one doctor could help resolve the bleeding.

One thing I can tell you about this woman was that she was determined to be healed and she was giving up on seeking a cure.  She was not lying down and giving up.  She had hope that she would one day be reconnected to her spiritual community.

Determined to be Healed

Mark 5:27-29 KJV

“[27] When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. [28] For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. [29] And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.”

She heard of Jesus as the text shows that  His works of healing the sick were proclaimed abroad.  We see in an earlier verse that His works were known in Decapolis.  Mark 5:20 KJV

“And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.”

Decapolis is 15 miles from Capernum which is the city Jesus was walking towards to heal Jairus’s daughter.  However along the way this woman with the issue of blood was not going to allow Jesus to pass by without being healed.

• She would not be stopped by the crowd that surrounded Jesus

• She would not be deterred by the 12 years she suffered in this condition

• She would not be curtailed by the stigma of her condition

• She would not be hindered by the law that stated anyone touched by someone who was unclean would be unclean

Her mission that day, after hearing that Jesus was there, was to pursue Jesus and obtain her healing.  Her plan was to simply to touch the hem of his garment.  Her faith was so immersed in her deep belief and trust that by just touching Jesus clothes that she would be healed from her condition.  THAT DAY SHE WAS HEALED! 

The Bible states in Hebrews 11:1 KJV “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” 

• She didn’t know how

• She didn’t see how

• She didn’t know where

• What she did know is when she touched HIM she would be healed

Healed By Your Faith

Mark 5:34 KJV

"And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."

Jesus, in the midst of the crowd expressed, “Who touched me”.  He felt His Holy power outflow from himself and knew that even in the mass of people a person with faith had touched HIM.  He sees this woman and states “thy faith hath made thee whole”.

She didn’t want to be exposed she simply wanted healing.  However Jesus exposed her before the people and let her know it was her faith. 

Notice what Jesus did:

• He did not merely heal her body.

• He restored her identity, dignity, and peace.

• He reconnected her to the spiritual community

• By calling her “Daughter”, Jesus publicly accepted and restored her.

Application:

 It is our:

• Faith in God

• Hope in God

• Trust in God

that moves us through life's trials, tribulations, and troubles. Just like the woman with the issue of blood, our faith can change our condition. When we reach out to Jesus in faith,

He can make us whole.