“So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him…Now a certain woman …had suffered many things…When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment…‘Who touched me?’ And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman…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…’” Mark 5:30b-34.
This is a story of a woman who had suffered for over 12 years and had been desperately seeking healing from her despair. She had tried everything and no matter what she tried no resolution was found. To make matters worse her suffering was compounded by the fact she was considered unclean since the issue was blood. This led to isolation which I’m sure led to depression and hopelessness. Apparently, at some point she heard the buzz about Jesus and how He was in town healing the most hopeless situations. No doubt, she grabbed a garment that would most hide her face and condition and secretly moved in the crowd inching her way to Jesus. As she moved closer to Him, she caught a glimpse of His garment and knew this was her last chance to be healed. She fully understood the power that Jesus possessed and believed that even His garment carried His power to heal. As her weak little hand reached out, she touched the hem of Jesus and was immediately healed. As the crowd was pressing against Jesus, He immediately stopped and brought her secret suffering into public testimony. I have no doubt Jesus knew exactly who reached out to Him, but for the sake of bringing many people to salvation the timing was perfect for people to witness the miracle and begin following Him.
Who is touching Jesus out there today? Who fully understands that He has the power to heal? When our lives seem out of control with no hope, do we risk everything to get near to Jesus like the suffering woman? Do we move closer to His power or further away? I am sure the crowd who followed Him was full of healing needs…loneliness…illness…anger...bitterness...scoffers...prodigals…beggars.... But Jesus wasn’t too hurried to acknowledge the woman at the moment He discovered her great faith. God will always bless true faith on display, especially when the storm is raging. Whatever healing we need, there is comfort and mercy until the condition is gone. Sometimes this healing is on earth and sometimes in Heaven. I am reminded of a dear friend who lost her mother this past weekend. She shared with me the most beautiful and tender parting words as she left her mother’s side to go and get more clothes to stay with her. She said, ‘Before I left, I told Mom she had better not be there when I returned, that she had a much better place she needed to be, and Jesus, and other family members were all waiting for her there.”
Now that is a woman who has touched the hem of Jesus in the face of suffering. She fully understands that saying goodbye to her mother means her mother saying hello to face-to-face fellowship with her God...the ultimate healing. It is only through the comfort of Christ that we are able to accept whatever is His will. When we live our lives so close to Jesus that we can reach out and touch His hem, we will be healed of whatever it is that we are suffering. And just like the hemorrhaging woman the bleeding will stop, and our testimonies will be great!
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