Mark 5: 21-34

Clive Urquhart

I love the amazing story in the Bible about the healing of the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. It really shows the heart that Jesus has for us as people.

In the middle of another action packed day in the life of Jesus, He had just crossed over the sea of Galilee when a synagogue ruler came to Him in desperation. His daughter was dying and wanted Jesus to come to his house to heal her. As Jesus went with him, a huge crowd pressed around Him to see what He was going to do next.

There was also a woman there, hiding, who had been sick for 12 years. Because of her illness she was an outcast, she couldn't mix with society because she had been declared unclean.

She had heard about Jesus and the things He had been saying and doing. She thought if she could just touch the hem of His garment, (the tassels, which represent healing), then she would be healed. She thought that this might be her only chance of getting well because she had spent all her money on doctors yet was getting worse. As well as being physically sick, she would have been in emotional turmoil, rejected and isolated by family and friends. Her whole life would have been in ruins and she knew Jesus would be her last hope.

As Jesus walked by she made her move, risking her life she pressed through the crowd, coming out of her hiding place and touched the hem of His garment. At that moment, the Bible says power came out of Jesus and she was immediately healed.

Jesus said at that moment, 'Who touched me?' The disciples replied that loads of people are touching and pressing around you. Yet He said, 'No, somebody touched me in a different way. Somebody wanted something from me.' The woman came trembling before him on her knees because she knew as an outcast if she touched anyone, they would become unclean and the consequences would be death by stoning.

Jesus' response is brilliant. He called her 'daughter' and then said, 'Your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.'

Firstly, Jesus talks to her as family, giving her relationship; this is a new position she now has with God. He then says go, your faith has made you well. She had been completely healed, physically, emotionally and mentally. He doesn't talk about her past, tell her off or give her a hard time for 'interrupting' Him on His way to heal someone else. She can now go and enjoy a totally new start to life.

It's easy to think that God's more interested in other people or that He's not looking in our direction, or that He's too busy with others. This simple story shows the heart of God is constantly for us and always ready to respond and work in our lives. The woman made a decision that nothing was going to stop her receiving from Jesus.

Take a moment, put everything else on hold and worship and talk to Jesus; be in His presence. As you reach out to touch Him, He'll respond and meet with you.

Have an awesome day!